Consumer complaint received 2018-12-15
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: VA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Notification didn't disclose it was an attempt to collect a debt

Complaint:
XXXX sold their XXXX accounts to XXXX. When I saw the notification in XX/XX/XXXX, I called XXXX and told them not to automatically renew the membership on that card as I did not want a new credit card or company as I was living overseas and did not need the XXXX membership anymore. ( I was home stateside on holiday when I saw the mail notification and called immediately ). I told the customer service rep that I did not call the number to activate the card and was cutting it up as we were speaking and the gentleman told me it was taken care of. The account would be closed. When I returned to the States in XX/XX/XXXX, I see in my junk mail pile envelops from XXXX. I opened one assuming it was the standard " come back to us '' bulk mailings and saw it was an outstanding bill for the {$60.00} XXXX renewal in XX/XX/XXXX plus interest and late fees amounting to a total of {$280.00}. I immediately called XXXX customer service who told me they could not help and I had to call XXXX. I called XXXX and they said I had to write the dispute department ( US mail or Fax only ) and they they would NOT have anyone reach out to me as it was my issue to resolve. The gentleman ( XXXX ) at  the call center ( XXXX XXXX in XXXX ) was very rude because, even though I gave him ALL my personal information, I could not verify the account number because I no longer had the card ( I destroyed it back in XXXX ). 
Two weeks later, I received a notice that my XXXX account was sold to a collection agency ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). I called XXXX back about the pending dispute and they would not discuss it with me or confirm they had any record of my previous calls. I called XXXX 's XXXX branch MCM and, once explaining my situation to the woman, she said she understood and would mark the case as a disputed claim and that I would get a follow up from them within 2-4 weeks with  instructions as to how and where to submit the dispute information. Instead, I got another notice in XX/XX/XXXX asking " how can we help '' you with a payment schedule. Another phone call, another explanation and another registering a dispute. XX/XX/XXXX, I get a letter from MCM with a copy of the XXXX letter saying they sold the account but nothing from XXXX referring to any dispute discussions I had with them. This is the first piece of mail or communication where I am actually privy to the account number that was assigned to me over a year ago. Finally my credit rating has been changed to " in dispute '' but there should be no issues with my normally outstanding credit rating if not for this account. 
Issues : - I never authorized the use of this account anywhere in writing or with signature. 
-the credit card was never activated - XXXX ignored my request to NOT renew my XXXX account - XXXX renewed my membership without my approval on a credit card that was not activated - XXXX was no help in resolving the situation and " sold '' my account to a collection agency within 1-2 weeks of receiving my call for a dispute resolution - XXXX   refuses to talk to me about an account that no longer exists with them - XXXX refused my request for a transcript or even acknowledgement that our phone calls transpired even though " this call may be monitored ...  ''

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief