Loan servicer · complaint record
Earnest complaints
Filed under Earnest Inc.
Consumers have filed 315 complaints about Earnest since 2015, 68 of them in the last 12 months (+39% on the year before). It answered 100% on time and closed 0% with relief for the customer - less often than a typical loan servicer. The most common problem is dealing with your lender or servicer. It is the 12th most complained-about of 47 student loan servicers this year.
Average response record. How it works
- Complaints on record
- 315
- Last 12 months
- 68
- Answered on time
- 100%
- Closed with relief
- 0%
- Last 30 days
- 3
- Rank
- #12 of 47
Since August 2015
+39% vs the year before
Industry: 68.4%
Typical loan servicer: 2%
Newest: Oct 26, 2026
Most complained-about student loan servicers
Earnest complaints by month
The busiest month was October 2024 (17 complaints). Complaints in the last 12 months are up 39% on the year before. Complaints rise with a company's size and with news, so compare trends rather than totals.
How Earnest answered last 12 months
- Closed with explanation68100%
"Closed with explanation" means the company replied but gave no money back and changed nothing. What each answer means
- Answers on time45/45100% on time
- Relief for customers0/400% closed with relief
- Complaint trend6/15+39% vs last year
What Earnest complaints are about
Top Earnest problems last 12 months
Inside "Dealing with your lender or servicer"
- Received bad information about your loan 57
- Trouble with how payments are being handled 53
- Problem with customer service 22
- Don't agree with the fees charged 14
- Need information about your loan balance or loan terms 11
- Keep getting calls about your loan 10
Where Earnest complaints come from
Most complaints: California (40), New York (31), Florida (24), Texas (21), Illinois (19).
Earnest compared with other student loan servicers
| # | Company | Score | 12 months | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AscentStudent loans | 46 | 81 | D |
| 2 | Georgia Student Finance AuthorityStudent loans | 13 | 76 | F |
| 3 | EarnestStudent loans | 51 | 68 | C |
| 4 | College Ave Student Loan ServicingStudent loans | 55 | 67 | C |
| 5 | Meritize FinancialStudent loans | 0 | 47 | F |
| 6 | LendKey TechnologiesStudent loans | 85 | 42 | A |
| 7 | Iowa Student Loan LiquidityStudent loans | 51 | 36 | C |
| 8 | MPOWER Financing, Public BenefitStudent loans | 40 | 32 | D |
Compare side by side: Earnest vs Ascent · Earnest vs Georgia Student Finance Authority · Earnest vs College Ave Student Loan Servicing · Earnest vs Meritize Financial
What people say about Earnest
All experiencesNo experiences with Earnest yet. Yours would be the first on the record - and the one the next person reads.
Share yoursLatest Earnest complaints
Full log| Received | About | Issue | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2026 | Student loans | Dealing with your lender or servicerProblem with customer service | Explained |
| Oct 21, 2026 | Student loans | Struggling to repay your loanCan't temporarily delay making payments | Explained |
| Oct 19, 2026 | Student loans | Incorrect information on your reportAccount information incorrect | Explained |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Student loans | Dealing with your lender or servicerReceived bad information about your loan | Explained |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Student loans | Dealing with your lender or servicerReceived bad information about your loan | Explained |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Student loans | Dealing with your lender or servicerProblem with customer service | Explained |
| Sep 21, 2026 | Student loans | Getting a loanConfusing or misleading advertising | Explained |
| Sep 17, 2026 | Credit reporting | Improper use of your reportCredit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize | Explained |
| Sep 7, 2026 | Credit reporting | Improper use of your reportCredit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize | Explained |
| Aug 23, 2026 | Student loans | Dealing with your lender or servicerProblem with customer service | Explained |
| Aug 22, 2026 | Student loans | Getting a loanProblem with the interest rate | Explained |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Credit reporting | Incorrect information on your reportAccount information incorrect | Explained |
Questions about Earnest
How many complaints does Earnest have?
Earnest has 315 complaints on record since August 2015, including 68 in the last 12 months and 3 in the last 30 days. That makes it number 584 of every company by complaints this year.
Does Earnest respond to complaints?
Yes. Earnest answered 100% of its complaints on time (within 15 days) and closed 0% with relief - money back or a fix; 0% ended with money back. The rest were mostly closed with an explanation only. Its Response Score is 51/100 (grade C).
What do people complain about most with Earnest?
The most common problems are dealing with your lender or servicer (167), getting a loan (37), incorrect information on your report (16).
Is Earnest legit?
Earnest is a real company with a public complaint record: consumers have complained about it 315 times and it answers through the official complaint process. Whether it is right for you depends on the details - see is Earnest legit? for the signals, red flags and how to protect yourself.
Are complaints about Earnest going up or down?
Up. There were 68 complaints in the last 12 months against 49 in the 12 before (+39%). See every month.
How do I file a complaint against Earnest?
Complain to Earnest in writing first and keep a copy. If it isn't fixed, file an official complaint with the federal consumer financial regulator - the company must answer, usually within 15 days. Our step-by-step guide: how to file a complaint against a company. Then share your experience here so others know.
Where do most Earnest complaints come from?
Most come from California (40), New York (31), Florida (24). Big states file more complaints, so the map shows complaints per 100,000 people.
Complaint records are public consumer complaints filed with U.S. regulators, checked (newest received Nov 15, 2026). Complaints are consumers' own accounts and are not verified; counts grow with a company's size. How the data works
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