Singletary: Complaint database to remain open

Mick Mulvaney, the former interim head of the CFPB and now acting White House chief of staff, didn’t want to keep the database public despite the fact that the bureau is required to provide certain information to Congress about complaints and responses.

Consumer advocates contend that the complaint narratives potentially provide insight into illegal or unfair practices.

The CFPB is making changes to the complaint system, most notably adding disclaimers.

The bureau is also exploring how to put consumer complaints in context by adding market share and company size. The theory being large companies with a huge consumer base would of course have more complaints.

In the meantime, let me put the CFPB disclosure language in context with Mierzwinski’s assistance.

CFPB says: “This database is not a statistical sample of consumers’ experiences in the marketplace … Complaint volume should be considered in the context of company size and/or market share. For example, companies with more customers may have more complaints than companies with fewer customers.”

I say: Don’t let this clear shill for the companies deter you from looking through the information for similarities to your situation. Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint to view other people’s stories. Click “yes” to show complaints with narratives.

“The database has tremendous value,” Mierzwinski said. “That’s why industry wanted it shut down, not because it needed to be viewed in context but because it opened a clear window on the marketplace they wanted kept shut.”

CFPB says: We don’t verify all the allegations in complaint narratives.” And “Unproven allegations in consumer narratives should be regarded as opinion, not fact.”

I say: Well here we go — the old “alternative fact” defense, a line made infamous by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.

Yes, in telling their story consumers are conveying the situation from their point of view. But think about how unjust something must feel for someone to take the time to file a grievance.

“One complaint may not say much about a firm, but if as few as two or three consumers tell the same story, others might say, ‘that’s exactly what happened to me’ and file a complaint, too, which will lead to needed changes at the firm, or even to a pattern or practice enforcement action,” Mierzwinski said.

CFPB says: “Complaints can give us insights into problems people are experiencing in the marketplace and help us regulate consumer financial products and services under existing federal consumer financial laws.”

I say: The CFPB made the right call in not shutting down the consumer complaint database. Let there be light.