Consumer complaint received 2019-06-17
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: Seized or attempted to seize your property

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX  XXXX and Midland Funding XXXX & Midland Funding has been harassing me for years. When I lost my job in XX/XX/XXXX, I made payment arrangement with everyone except XXXX XXXX and XXXX. Because XXXX XXXX and XXXX refused to make any payment arrangements. XXXX XXXX and their lender XXXX refused to make payment arrangements or even discussed making payment arrangements. After two months they sent me to a collection agency. I tried to contact their leadership ( XXXX XXXX and XXXX ) and they either refused to help or advised they could not help. I owed them {$1700.00}. I told them I am not trying to skip my obligations, but I need more time and can not make the minimum payment. 
All my other debt has been paid off except my mortgage and a home equity loan. However, both are current and in good standing. I owed XXXX Mastercard {$9000.00} & XXXX Visa {$11000.00}. Both are paid off. It took years, but I did it! Why would I ignore {$1700.00}? The harassing calls started quick and the original amount almost doubled to where it is now over {$4000.00}. At first, I answered the calls and say I will pay them back the {$1700.00}. Initially, I offered {$50.00} per month and later {$100.00} but they wanted {$3500.00} now in cash which I did not have. The calls were virtually seven days a week. 
We went to remediation in XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX timeframe and the XX/XX/XXXX representative refused to adjust their amount to the original debt. In Spring XX/XX/XXXX there was court date, but the bailiff would not allow me to enter because he said I was late. Everything was done without my presence. I did an amendment and met with XXXX & Midland Funding representative and Judge XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX/XX/XX/XXXX. I explained the situation and offer the same {$1700.00} original debt and pay them {$100.00} per month until paid I offered to other XXXX & Midland Funding representatives. 
The XXXX & Midland Funding representative and Judge XXXX said it sound reasonable to them but she nor him could not make a final decision until she presented the offer to XXXX & Midland Funding. I offered to make a good faith payment then and there and start making payments in XX/XX/XXXX. I was advised by both to hold on until the representative presented the offer to XXXX & Midland Funding and XXXX & Midland Funding will mail me the payment information. Which they, XXXX & Midland Funding, never did. If they would have the {$1700.00} would have been paid by now. I received no mailings from them until this week. When they sent me notice about garnishing my wages after the fact. 
At this point I can not afford garnishment nor {$100.00} per month. I will like to offer {$50.00} per month until the debt of {$1700.00} is paid off in 34 months. I am a woman of my word. I would prefer to pay XXXX XXXX or even XXXX this money, however, for them to send me to collection agency after two months speak ill of both organizations. 
They have contacted my former employer XXXX XXXX and have made repeated phone calls to my home number. However, they have been no mail communications which I was expecting since Spring of XX/XX/XXXX and that was to advised they would do a phone with the XX/XX/XXXX/XX/XX/XXXX meeting with Judge XXXX! 
Since then, I have received communications from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I received a letter-Monday, XX/XX/XXXX stating that they would garnish my paycheck by 25 %, however, they were already doing it. They contacted my employer, XX/XX/XXXX to initiate garnishment. No prior notifications. 
On Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter they are asking for {$4200.00}. I spoke to their representative XXXX XXXX on Friday too, around XXXX XXXX Eastern. In addition, I have another court date, XX/XX/XXXX in Judge XXXX 's office. XXXX XXXX  XXXX are requesting pay-stubs, bank statements and tax records from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX too. 
Thank you, Ms. XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief