Consumer complaint received 2019-04-29
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: IA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
I have a debt with Midland Funding, LLC, /XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX , for {$860.00}. To date, I have made 11 payments to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( 2- {$100.00} payments, 8- {$66.00} payments, & 1-  {$66.00} payment = {$790.00} ) and 1 payment to Midland Funding, LLC ( {$66.00} ). Making a total payment of {$860.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX Received Notice To Cure from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Set up payment plan with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, $ XXXX/Month XX/XX/XXXX - $ XXXX monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX - $ XXXX monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Went online to make payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. File number was not recognized being in the system. Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to make an over the phone payment and inquire about my file number not being recognized. Was informed Midland Funding, LLC to my account back on XX/XX/XXXX. There were no notes in my account as to why. It would be looked into, call back in a few days. 
XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX about account. They didnt know why Midland Funding, LLC took my account back. I need to call Midland Funding, LLC and setup/make a payment to them as they no longer had it. 
XX/XX/XXXX Called Midland Funding, LLC. Verified they did have my account back. Setup a payment plan of $ XXXX/month and made an immediate payment. 

XX/XX/XXXX Went online to make a payment to Midland Funding, LLC. File number was not recognized by their system. I called and was told the account had been sent back to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I would need to call XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and setup a new payment plan. 

XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and they verified they did have my account back. Setup a payment plan of $ XXXX/month and made an immediate payment. 

XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to pay the remainder of my debt. Was informed I owed {$260.00}. I went over the payments I made to both Midland Funding, LLC and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX with the gentleman I talked to. I was told that the payment I made to Midland Funding, LLC didnt not follow my account when it was given back to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. That they would need to contact Midland Funding, LLC about that payment. I asked if I could make my monthly payment of {$66.00}. And was told no because I now was putting my account into dispute. I verified that my phone call was being recorded so I could state again that I called to pay the remainder off. That because it is showing a higher amount that what I owe, then they are informing me I am disputing it. Wait a few days to hear back from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to inquire about my account and what was found. If XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX had resolved the issue with Midland Funding, LLC so that my account reflected the right amount owed. I was informed that a letter was sent to me on XX/XX/XXXX. With my payment history. As well as asking for a copy of the front and back of the canceled check to Midland Funding, LLC from XX/XX/XXXX. I explained that I didnt use a check to pay Midland Funding, LLC I used debit card automatic withdrawal from my bank account. And that I had proof. I was given an email address and asked if I could email my bank statement to them. That to wait till later in the day of XX/XX/XXXX to call XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. To give the paralegals time to receive my email and scan my bank statement into my account. I asked if I could make a payment and was told that I still had time, my due date was XX/XX/XXXX with a 4-day grace period. And hopefully everything will be corrected by then. 

XX/XX/XXXX Emailed bank statement proving I had made a payment to Midland Funding, LLC XX/XX/XXXX, along with the backstory as to why I was sending it. 
XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, due to high volume of calls, I was not able to get through to speak to anyone. 
XXXX 8 minutes, 2 seconds XXXX 7 minutes, 54 seconds XXXX 2 minutes, 51 seconds XXXX 9 minutes, 28 seconds XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX , due to high volume of calls, I was not able to get through and speak to anyone. 
XXXX 6 minutes, 10 seconds XXXX 9 minutes, 25 seconds XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX . I was told that this was an attempt to collect on a debt, and all calls are recorded. That I owe {$260.00}. I went through the entire back story again. The same story I told on XX/XX/XXXX & XXXX, XXXX. That I did receive the letter. That I emailed XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX a copy of my bank statement. I was informed that the paralegals and attorneys had gone over my account and that the letter I received was correct. That the letter showed that when XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX received my account back from Midland Funding, LLC, it shows the correct balance. After going over it a few times and explaining that it does not show my payment to Midland Funding, LLC, that the amount I owe them is not correct. That I had sent in the bank statement I was asked to send in. At that time did she notice that my bank statement was in fact scanned into my account, but it had not been looked at until that moment I made her aware of the email I sent on XX/XX/XXXX. After she concluded that in fact my payment to Midland Funding, LLC does not reflect my actual balance. She told me that she would be sending my account with bank statement back to the paralegals/attorneys for my account to be looked at, and that they would contact Midland Funding, LLC to see why my payment didnt follow my account back. Told to call back in the  beginning of the following week. She told me to go ahead and make my monthly payment and she would mark my account as to why it was late. 

XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, to inquire about the status of my account. Had Midland Funding, LLC gotten this taken care to reflect the payment that I had sent. I had to go through the entire backstory again. I was told my account had not been looked at by any paralegals/attorneys. That even though they had proof that I had made that payment, it would have to be Midland Funding, LLC to fix my account. And that their next step was that they would contact Midland Funding, LLC about my account. I asked them if it would be done faster if I called them myself. He said probably.

XX/XX/XXXX Day 22 since initial contact to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to pay the remainder of my debt. I emailed this time line along with all my receipts of payments to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. So they would have all the information as well as payment history to refer to when I call back. 

XX/XX/XXXX {$66.00} monthly payment to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Called Midland Funding, LLC at XXXX. I told them I was calling due to a debt that I have with them that they had sent to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to oversee. I was told I owed {$130.00}. I explained the entire story to them again. About the missing payment. I was told that a special team was working on my account and that I would need to call back at XXXX EST, to speak to someone about it. 

XX/XX/XXXX Called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX at XXXX. To inquire about my account. I was told that I owed {$130.00}. But my last payment would be {$66.00}. I told the gentleman that I when I hung up with him. I was making one more payment. The {$66.00} and I would not be making anymore payments. 

XX/XX/XXXX I was able to get all 3 credit reports for myself. Midland Funding, LLC XXXX  Midland Funding, LLC shows Closed on my credit report. 
Date of last payment XX/XX/XXXX. 
Date of last report XX/XX/XXXX At this time, my last payment was made XX/XX/XXXX. Owing {$130.00} Disputed XXXX, XXXX I didnt call until XX/XX/XXXX to pay the remainder of my debt off. At that time, the gentleman with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX continuously asked me if I was disputing the debt. 

XXXX Midland Funding, LLC shows my account is disputed Date of last payment XX/XX/XXXX Date of last report XX/XX/XXXX, Owing {$130.00} XXXX Midland Funding, LLC Shows disputed Date of last payment Doesnt show the last payment I made Date of last reported XX/XX/XXXX, Owing {$130.00} I never disputed the debt as I had been making payments. But I didn't agree with the amount that I owed due to their error.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief