Quick path: call the lender first, then send a written complaint, then ask the tribal regulator to reconsider it within 90 days if you’re not satisfied. You can file with the CFPB at any point.
Common Big Picture Loans complaints
Public rating sites and the Better Business Bureau show the same issues again and again:
- Total cost. Borrowers are surprised by how much they repay. New-customer APRs start at 395%.
- Payoff amounts. The figure shown online doesn’t always match what’s needed to close the loan on a given day.
- Payment options. Some borrowers report limited ways to pay online.
- Loan terms and disclosure. The BBB notes a high volume of complaints about terms, rates and how they are disclosed.
- Marketing mail. Repeated pre-approval offers arrive after a loan is paid off.
For the positive side of the picture, see our full Big Picture Loans verdict.
Step 1: Contact Big Picture Loans customer service
Many problems, like a wrong payment date or a payoff question, can be fixed with one call. The lender lists:
| Phone | 1-800-584-4880 (listed as available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) |
|---|---|
| [email protected] | |
| Email response hours | Answered during business hours (Central Time). The lender’s pages list slightly different schedules, so check its contact page for current times. |
| Big Picture Loans, Customer Support, P.O. Box 704, Watersmeet, MI 49969 |
Write down the date, time, the representative’s name and what you were told. Representatives must verify your identity before discussing your account.
Step 2: File a written Big Picture Loans complaint
If a call doesn’t solve it, put it in writing. The lender’s dispute page asks borrowers to download its complaint form, complete it and email it to [email protected] or mail it to Big Picture Loans, LLC, P.O. Box 704, Watersmeet, MI 49969. The lender says it will look into the complaint and either answer your question or propose a resolution.
Keep your complaint short and factual: what happened, when, how much money is involved and the outcome you want. Attach payment records and screenshots.
Step 3: Ask the tribal regulator for an administrative review
Big Picture Loans is regulated by the Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Financial Services Regulatory Authority under the tribe’s Consumer Financial Services Regulatory Code. If you disagree with the lender’s proposed resolution, the lender’s procedure says you can request an administrative review by writing to the Authority within 90 days of the proposed resolution.
According to the procedure, your letter must include:
- Your full name as it appears on the loan agreement, plus your address, email and phone number
- A copy of your loan agreement or your loan application number
- A copy of the lender’s proposed resolution and any later messages from the lender
- A summary of what happened
- A statement requesting an administrative review hearing, whether you’ll attend in person or by phone, and whether an attorney will represent you
- Any other information you consider relevant
Mail to: Tribal Financial Services Regulatory Authority, P.O. Box 249, Watersmeet, MI 49969.
Don’t miss the 90-day window. Send your request by a trackable mail method and keep copies of everything.
Filing a Big Picture Loans complaint with the CFPB
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about lenders online at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at (855) 411-2372. You don’t need to finish the tribal process first. Include the same facts and documents you sent the lender. A federal complaint creates an independent record of the problem.
Reporting to the Better Business Bureau
The BBB lists Big Picture Loans, LLC in Watersmeet, Michigan, and the company is not BBB accredited. The BBB profile notes that the company responds to complaints and that its responses refer to its status as an economic arm of a federally recognized tribe. A BBB complaint won’t change your loan terms, but it adds to the public record other borrowers read.
How to stop Big Picture Loans automatic payments
If payments are coming out when they shouldn’t, or you need to switch how you pay, the CFPB explains your rights:
- Revoke authorization with the lender. Call and tell the company you’re withdrawing permission for automatic payments, then confirm in writing.
- Tell your bank or credit union. Say you have revoked authorization. Many banks have a form.
- Use a stop payment order if needed. To stop the next scheduled payment, give your bank the order at least three business days before the payment date. Banks commonly charge a fee.
- Watch your account. Report any payment taken after you revoked permission to your bank right away.
Important: stopping automatic payments does not cancel the loan. You still owe the balance and need another way to pay. Arrange that with the lender first.
Sample Big Picture Loans complaint letter
[Date]
Big Picture Loans, LLC, P.O. Box 704, Watersmeet, MI 49969
Re: Complaint, loan application no. [number]
I am writing about my loan dated [date]. On [date], [describe what happened in one or two sentences]. This caused [amount or impact].
I am asking you to [specific outcome, such as correct my payoff amount to $___ as of [date], refund the $___ payment taken on [date], or move my due date to [date]].
Copies of [payment records, screenshots, earlier emails] are attached. Please reply in writing within [number] days to [email/address].
[Your full name as on the loan agreement]
[Address, phone, email]
When to get outside help
- Legal aid. If you face collection action or don’t understand your agreement, a local legal aid office or consumer attorney can look over it.
- Past loans and class actions. If you borrowed between June 22, 2013 and May 1, 2024, see our lawsuit explainer. The official settlement site directs borrowers to class counsel about bankruptcy claims.
- Nonprofit credit counseling. If several debts are piling up, a counselor can help you build a plan.
Still paying on a loan? Our early payoff plan shows how to cut interest, and our alternatives comparison lists cheaper options for next time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I file a complaint against Big Picture Loans?
Call 1-800-584-4880 first. If that doesn’t fix it, complete the lender’s complaint form and email it to [email protected] or mail it to P.O. Box 704, Watersmeet, MI 49969. You can also file with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
What if I disagree with Big Picture Loans’ response?
Under the lender’s procedure, you can ask the Tribal Financial Services Regulatory Authority for an administrative review by writing to P.O. Box 249, Watersmeet, MI 49969 within 90 days of the proposed resolution.
Can I stop Big Picture Loans from taking money from my account?
Yes. The CFPB says you can revoke authorization with the company and your bank, and give your bank a stop payment order at least three business days before a scheduled payment. You still owe the loan and must pay another way.
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Sources
- Big Picture Loans Tribal Dispute Resolution Procedure: https://www.bigpictureloans.com/tribal-dispute-resolution-procedure
- Big Picture Loans contact details and disclosures: https://www.bigpictureloans.com/
- Big Picture Loans FAQ: https://www.bigpictureloans.com/faq/
- BBB business profile: https://www.bbb.org/us/mi/watersmeet/profile/payday-loans/big-picture-loans-llc-0372-90020477
- CFPB complaint portal: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
- CFPB: How to stop automatic payments: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-stop-automatic-payments-from-my-bank-account-en-2023/
- CFPB: Stopping a lender's electronic withdrawals: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-can-i-stop-a-payday-lender-from-electronically-taking-money-out-of-my-bank-or-credit-union-account-en-1605/
- Galloway v. Martorello settlement website: https://www.bplsettlement.com/