Four U.S. senators sent letters to the nation's major credit bureaus on Thursday demanding answers about a sharp decline in how often the companies resolve consumer complaints filed through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The letters were sent to TransUnion and Experian, the two bureaus that saw substantial drops in relief rates according to a ProPublica investigation published last month. The third major bureau, Equifax, did not see a similar decline.

Senators cited findings that TransUnion's rate of consumer relief dropped by roughly half by October 2025, while Experian provided relief to less than 1% of complaints in 2025 compared to nearly 20% the previous year. The senators called these findings "greatly concerning" and said they "raise significant questions about the legality" of the companies' practices.

What the Right Is Saying

TransUnion provided a statement saying it appreciates "the opportunity for meaningful engagement with policymakers regarding the robust and compliant processes TransUnion deploys" and that it would respond to the letter.

The credit bureaus have argued that many recent complaints are illegitimate. In statements to ProPublica, industry representatives noted a large volume of complaints filed by third-party credit repair organizations that charge customers to challenge negative information on their reports. Industry groups argue this influx of what they describe as frivolous complaints has strained their dispute resolution systems.

Conservative commentators have framed CFPB oversight expansion skeptically, questioning whether the agency should be so deeply involved in mediating individual consumer disputes with private companies. Some Republican-aligned think tanks have argued that regulatory pressure on credit bureaus could increase costs for all consumers by making credit reporting more expensive to maintain.

Equifax, which did not see a similar decline in relief rates, noted it had entered a settlement with the CFPB last year prior to President Donald Trump's inauguration aimed at fixing deficiencies in its consumer dispute processes. The company said it would engage with the senators' letter and that it works to make it easier for consumers to "correct any potential errors quickly."

What the Left Is Saying

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee and a key architect in the creation of the CFPB, led the letter-writing effort. Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Andy Kim of New Jersey, and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware also signed.

"The drastic drop in responsiveness means that American consumers may be getting denied a mortgage or housing simply due to an error on their report that your company failed to correct," the senators wrote to Experian and TransUnion.

Warren and her colleagues tied the timing of the decline to the Trump administration's attempts to conduct mass layoffs at the CFPB and roll back much of its oversight of the financial sector. The senators requested data on disputes, complaints, dispute handling processes, staffing levels, and correspondence with the CFPB, including communication regarding dropped and halted enforcement actions.

Consumer advocacy groups have echoed these concerns. "When regulators are weakened, consumers pay the price," said a statement from the National Consumer Law Center cited in coverage of the story. "Credit report errors can cost families thousands of dollars and derail dreams of homeownership."

What the Numbers Show

Consumer complaints about credit reporting have risen dramatically, with over 4 million filed last year with the CFPB.

TransUnion's rate of relief had remained relatively steady for several years before dropping sharply in summer 2025. By October, it was providing relief roughly half as often as previously.

Experian provided relief to nearly 20% of consumer complaints in 2024 but less than 1% of complaints in 2025, according to CFPB data.

The CFPB previously had been putting pressure on the credit bureaus regarding their complaint response rates before the administration shift.

Equifax's relief rate remained stable during this period. The company entered a settlement with the CFPB last year aimed at improving its consumer dispute processes.

The Bottom Line

The senators have requested responses and documentation from TransUnion and Experian within 30 days, including data on disputes, complaints, staffing levels, and correspondence with the CFPB regarding enforcement actions.

The investigation into Rebecca Sheppard, a Colorado accountant who spent nearly a year trying to remove a $240,000 debt she did not owe from her credit report, illustrates the real-world impact of these failures. Her credit score dropped roughly 85 points due to the error, jeopardizing her plans to move with her disabled father into a more accessible home.

TransUnion settled Sheppard's lawsuit shortly after ProPublica's story was published in March. The case remains pending against Equifax and Experian, which have denied the allegations.

What happens next: The credit bureaus face pressure to respond to the senators' requests while continuing to handle millions of annual complaints. Consumer advocates will be watching whether any congressional action results from this inquiry.