Consumer complaint received 2016-03-16
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Not given enough info to verify debt

Complaint:
I was a college student in XX/XX/XXXX, I had a XXXX cell phone which I owed a bill on and failed to pay. This debt was originally just under {$2000.00}, the exact amount I 'm unsure of. The debt was eventually charged off, and here is where my troubles began. XXXX has sold this debt several times, including being sold to Asset Acceptance , LLC. They have re-recorded this debt several times in order to stay on my credit, and even filed a judgement against me. They have garnished my wages and even garnished my bank accounts. I requested several times my original debt amount in which they have refused to provide me with. I requested they provide me with documentation of how my money has been applied to the debt through the garnishments they have waged against me. They denied my request and the amount owed has doubled since the original charge off. Although I can not afford an attorney I have been advised by a legal counsel that a charged off debt can not increase from the original amount. Not only has this debt increased but as stated before I 've been garnished amounts which have not lowered the amount owed. They have continuously taken my money and have not applied it to the debt owed. To insult me even more they have also increased the amount owed, I recently received a bill from Midland Credit Management in the amount of {$4400.00}. I am a victim of predatory collection practices and I do not know what to do. The fact that a judgement has been filed against almost gives them the right to do whatever they want while increasing my debt without providing proof of the actual debt. As stated before, when the debt was first charged off it was just under {$2000.00}. Not to mention when my wages was garnished in XXXX they took over {$1000.00}, and did not apply it to the amount owed. I do not know what else to do, I can not afford an attorney and they have legal counsel on their payroll. As recent as last year they garnished my bank account and took everything out of it. They served notice to my bank and my bank failed to inform me, I woke up in the morning to check my accounts to find a zero balance in my checking and savings. When I called my bank they gave little information in which I had to go to my local courthouse to find out what was going on. After a few weeks and contesting the writ of garnishment I was awarded my funds back minus legal fees. Every few years Asset Acceptance , LLC comes after my pay and or bank accounts, please note they have failed to provide me with a copy of the original debt. The amount I recently received is higher than the amount reported last year when they garnished my bank account. I called MCM and have been told they do n't have to provide me with anything. I have previously filed a complaint with the Federal Reserve against my bank XXXX on the way they handled my garnishment. Specifically their failure to notify me of the garnishment in which I received no help. I simply need help with fighting this debt, this company is steadily increasing the amount I owe and it seems there is nothing I can do about. They have resold my debt and with each company that purchases it the amount goes up. When I ask for a copy of my original debt I have been mocked by the phone reps I speak with. Please help me or provide with the outlets I can tap in order to help myself. I have researched Asset Acceptance and have found that they have several class action lawsuits against them from their collection practices. Again, I can not afford an attorney or go through the nightmare of waking up with no funds in my bank.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation