How to File a Complaint Against Capital One Bank

What is it? Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, so your first step is to make sure your claim can be filed. There are a few things you need to pay attention to: 

• Most small claims court limits range from $2,500 to $10,000. Meaning that if your claim is more than the amount your state allows, you may not be able to file your case in small claims court.
• Small claims court fees generally vary depending on the amount you claim against Capital One.
• There are two types of awards that you can seek in a lawsuit – monetary (a dollar value payment) and equitable (any non-monetary request). Most small claims courts can only grant monetary awards.

When to try it: You have time and energy on your hands, and you want the chance to make your case against Capital One in public.

What you need to do: Locate your local small claims court (find your state court website here) and follow the steps laid out by the small claims court online to learn how to file a small claims court suit. Each small claim court has its own procedure. Filing a small claims court lawsuit tends to be simpler than the regular lawsuit process.

What to expect: If you follow all the steps precisely and have a strong claim against Capital One, there’s a good chance you’ll get compensation. Additionally, Capital One may even offer you a settlement in exchange for dropping the civil suit against them.

See a similar guide on suing a financial institution in small claims court here.

What is it? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) is a federal government agency that regulates much of Capital One’s business. The CFPB provides an informal channel for consumers to submit claims and complaints against Capital One.

What happens to these claims depends on the internal procedures of the CFPB. You can find more information about these procedures here.

When to try it: You’re frustrated with Capital One and want to make your complaint available to the government and the public. A CFPB complaint is generally not a way to pursue compensation.

What you need to do: File an informal complaint on the CFPB’s public website by following the instructions here.

What to expect: Your complaint will be posted online in a public database. It may be used in setting the CFPB’s priorities for regulating companies like Capital One. The company may be asked to respond to it. You will not necessarily receive an individual response.

What is it? The Better Business Bureau (“BBB”) and its local chapters are private organizations that collect and publish complaints against a wide range of companies like Capital One. They give an aggregate rating for the company and its services based on those complaints and offer a chance for Capital One to respond to consumer complaints.

When to try it: When Capital One’s BBB page shows that it is actively involved in responding to complaints you have a higher chance of them reading and responding to your complaint against Capital One. Even if they are not, you can get your dissatisfaction out there on the internet.

What you need to do: Go to Capital One’s BBB profile here and follow the instructions for submitting a complaint.

What to expect: This depends on whether the company actively responds to its BBB complaints. If it does, you may receive a response directly from them, or via the BBB. You may be asked for further documentation or clarification on your complaint. Ultimately, it is up to Capital One whether they choose to acknowledge and offer compensation for your claim.

What is it? You can also choose to arbitrate your claim with Capital One. Even if your contract does not contain a mandatory arbitration clause, you can choose arbitration as your forum of choice. Arbitration is a way to resolve a dispute with a company without the formality and expense of having to go to court. It allows you to have your dispute decided by a neutral third party, rather than the company. The “arbitrator” – the person who decides your dispute – acts like a judge and has the power to issue binding decisions about your claim. You can read more about arbitration here.

Because this process costs Capital One money, often they’ll try to settle your claim once you put them on notice that you plan on taking them to arbitration. That’s what FairShake can help with!

When to try it: Any situation in which you believe Capital One has misled you, violated their contract with you, or violated the law can be pursued through arbitration. Typically claims involve a specific request for how Capital One can fix the situation, which may include financial compensation. FairShake will help you pursue claims up to $10,000.

What you need to do: Fill out our form below to start your claim against Capital One.

What to expect: For more details about arbitration, click here. Or start your claim below and let us help! Check out our other Capital One article to learn more: “All About Capital One Lawsuits”(For a list of companies we process complaints against, start here.)