Consumer complaint received 2020-12-04
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: CO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Told you not to respond to a lawsuit they filed against you

Complaint:
1. Confirmed that a notice to settle the account was sent to a very old address, and they did not " receive any reply ''. The Summons to Appear in Court for their law suit was served as a knock on my door at my correct address. 

2. I called to pay the amount owed which I did not know was owned by the Company suing me and this is because they sent a letter to a very old address, even though in their Records that they submitted to the Court had my current address in the pages of evidence that I was liable for the dept. 

3. First Misrepresentation : I was told if paid via Wire Transfer ( lump sum from my bank ) they would give me a Paid-Off Letter and Close the Account in 1 Business Day. I sent the Wire Transfer on XXXX 2020 and called the next day and the account was not closed and they could not give me a Paid-Off Letter even though they could confirm they received the Wire Transfer and was told to wait another 24-48 Hours. I called the Following day and was told to wait another 24-48 hrs ( even after talking to management ). I called bay after day and they still did not produce the Paid Off Letter until a week and two days later and not willingly ; this was after demanding it multiple times and waiting for hours on the phone to speak with management.

4. I was told over the phone they would " request the Legal Case be Dismissed '' within 1 Business Day after the Wire Transfer. A week later after the transfer and even the Day Prior to the Court Date there was still no Dismissal at the Court House and the Case was still active and required my Action to show up for the Court Date.

5. Second Misrepresentation : Their " legal team '' had told me the case would be Dismissed on the Court Date on the XXXX so I wouldn't have to show up or take action. Out of extreme caution and since the company had misguided me through the entire process, I showed up to the Court Date where I had to file an answer by XXXX. I called the Case Court Clerk to see if the company had file to dismiss throughout the day until XXXX and they still had nothing requesting a Dismissal. If I had not showed up and filed my answer that day, I would have been automatically ruled against.

6. Two weeks later the Court is still proceeding on this case and I spoke to the Case Clerk and they confirmed that they still have nothing on file for a Dismissal and nothing from the Plaintiff suing me and that the Case is still ongoing. 

The worst case of misrepresentation was being told over an email ( by their legal team ) that I had no need to take action or go to court since the case would be filed to be dismissed. This is very malicious practice and I would have a Public Record of a Court ruling against by Default me if I had listened to their written instructions not to take further action.

7. The company updated Credit Report and still shows I owe {$200.00} ( from {$1000.00} ) even though I settled in full and the Paid Off Letter says I no longer have any obligations or debts with them. they are still reporting a Derogatory Report of {$200.00} which is inaccurate and continues to damage my credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation