Consumer complaint received 2019-03-19
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
In late XX/XX/XXXX, I received my first written communication from XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX about a purported debt owed to XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$3800.00}. I immediately contacted the company as instructed on the letter to dispute the debt and repeatedly requested to be provided with debt verification information ; however, after being on the phone for over 1 hour with 3 separate customer representatives, they continually dismissed my request for copies of debt verification information and flat out verbally refused to provide me with same. Accordingly, I was forced to disconnect the unproductive, circular, abusive call. 

On XX/XX/XXXX ( within the 30 days they provided as a deadline ), I sent a Certified Letter XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), which was duly delivered on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX to Midland 's " Front Desk, Reception Area, or Mail Room ''. To date ( XX/XX/XXXX ) I still have received NO communication, copies, or written debt verification despite written request for debt verification information as their letter advised I could write and they would provide. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received a Pre-Legal Notification advising that I may request information at no cost to me ( which I did on XX/XX/XXXX to no avail ). On XX/XX/XXXX I received a Pre-Legal Notification titled, " SECOND NOTICE '' ; however, it contained NO Statement that if I notify them in writing within the 30 day period that I dispute the debt, they will obtain verification of the debt and forward me a copy of same, nor a statement that they were a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. 

As my XX/XX/XXXX written request for information was willfully ignored ( violating 15 U.S.C. Section 1692g and Section 1692e ), I again contacted them by telephone at XXXX. I was on the phone again for over 1 hour with 5 separate customer representatives, before I was finally transferred to XXXX XXXX ( a purported Supervisor at Extension XXXX ), who confirmed receipt of my XX/XX/XXXX written request for information, but she would NOT explain and refused to explain why they violated my Florida and Federal FDCPA rights by refusing to provide me with copies of the requested debt verification information ( i.e., name and address of original creditor, account statement, complete transactional history, account number at time of charge-off, the charge-off balance, the claimed balance, list of all prior owners of this account and transfer information, documentation evidencing the transfer of ownership of the account to Midland Funding, complete transactional history reflecting purchase, payment or other actual use of the account or a signed document reflecting the opening of the account at issue ). She simply stated that they " had verified the debt '' ; however, would NOT explain to me what that verification process was, nor provide copies of proof of validation as their Pre-Legal Notification advised they would do and that my written request that they do so.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation