Consumer complaint received 2019-12-30
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: MA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Happy Holidays ; Please remove this unknown collection account from all the major credit bureaus for failure to provide me the required documents as requested per the laws under FDCPA. A Months ago, I initiated a dispute with the MidlandMCM directly asking for all the documents and disclosure so I can validate the accuracy of this alleged debt, but they failed to provide me ALL the required documents. But after reading several cases online, where the company was sued for a similar situation, and specifically a case of " State of Texas vs. Midland Funding and their other entities and group '', where the plaintiff asked for documents and they failed to provide them. The AG outlined what the plaintiff was asking for and their nature of business. Please see detail below : 9.3 The electronic portfolios of these charged off accounts acquired by Defendants contain limited categories of information about the debt. Typically, Defendants do not acquire the underlying credit agreements, payment history, or statements ( or " media '' ) but retain the right to purchase the documentation from the original creditor at a later date. 9.4 Defendants ' collection activities prefer " efficiency '' and profits over compliance with Texas debt collection laws. Defendants chum out millions of collection letters and millions of telephone calls from its call centers in Arizona, Minnesota and XXXX, often using incomplete and/or inaccurate electronic information purchased from original creditors. Consumers complain Defendants have targeted the wrong person for collection or are attempting to collect debts that have been fully or partially paid or settled. Consumers also complain that Defendants pursue them for collection of old debts for which they do not have any records and are beyond the statute of limitations and credit reporting periods. Defendants ' form collection letters contain very little information about the debt, no supporting documentation, and no proof that ownership of the debt has been transferred to Defendants. When a citizen contacts Defendants to dispute a debt or the amount of the balance owed, or to ask for additional information, little or nothing is done to investigate or verify the legitimacy of the debt. 
9.5 Consumers complain that when they tell Defendants they do not owe the debt Defendants refuse to provide documentation to verify the debt and turn the tables on the consumer to prove the debt is not owed or not owed in the amount alleged. Consumers complain that this practice has resulted in loss of credit rating, inability to refinance their homes, and even loss of job opportunities, in addition to the aggravation of being harassed by a debt collector who refuses to verify the debt. Some consumers pay Defendants just to avoid a false report to the credit reporting agencies or avoid the harassment of a lawsuit. The XXXX XXXX XXXX reports that over 15,000 consumers have filed complaints regarding Defendants ' collection practices.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief