Marketplace All-in-One What CFPB cuts mean for you
Mar 17, 2026
Joel Jacobs, a ProPublica data reporter who covers consumer finance, explains shifting credit bureau complaint handling. He discusses rising dismissal rates at major bureaus. He explores how CFPB funding and staffing changes could affect consumers and the complaint database. He also recounts a striking credit-reporting nightmare that illustrates the stakes.
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Colorado Accountant’s Credit Report Horror
- Rebecca Shepard found $240,000 in student loan debt on her credit report that wasn't hers, which plunged her credit score.
- She disputed repeatedly with bureaus and the CFPB but got only a postcard from TransUnion saying they didn't think the dispute came from her.
Escalate Disputes With Certified Mail
- If a bureau rebuffs direct disputes, file a CFPB complaint and send a certified-mail dispute as backup.
- Rebecca Shepard tried direct disputes, used the CFPB, then sent a fourth dispute via certified mail after no resolution.
Big Bureaus Cutting Back On Relief
- ProPublica found Experian and TransUnion substantially reduced how often they provide "relief" in CFPB complaints.
- Relief means the bureaus made changes to credit reports in response to consumer complaints filed through the CFPB.