The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced on March 14 that it is now sharing consumer complaint information with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC has an online database called Consumer Sentinel that contains consumer complaints. Law enforcement uses the database to track and respond to issues identified by consumers. 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act requires the bureau to share consumer complaint information with both the FTC and other state and federal agencies. In August 2011, the CFPB signed an agreement with the FTC, allowing the bureau access to consumer complaints in the Consumer Sentinel system.

The database is only accessible by law enforcement. The hope is that adding the CFPB’s complaint data to the existing database will increase its effectiveness.

“Our goal in sharing complaints with the FTC is to remove artificial barriers that stand in the way of efficient, transparent and effective governance,” Sartaj Alag said in a CFPB blog. “By removing these barriers, we are encouraging agencies to work together to better protect American consumers. We are excited about our collaboration with the FTC, and we look forward to maintaining a close and fruitful partnership.”