Consumer complaint received 2019-05-01
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened to arrest you or take you to jail if you do not pay
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC. (VA)

Account XXXX Balance {$480.00} Since XX/XX/2019 I have been harassed without end night and day by the relentless collection agents of MIDLAND FUNDING LLC regarding debts, they have listed on my credit reports. The letters they flood my mailbox with tell me that they have filed multiple lawsuits against me in court even though I already mailed them several cease and desist letters to their correspondence address at XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX along with separate notices advising that Im having to file a bankruptcy and Im getting together my filing fees. When I have tried to call and get general information about their company after their never ending repeat dialing from spoofed phone numbers I have been treated in the worst possible manner. Furthermore, when their expertly trained collection agents have been able to reach me on their outbound calls, they have been callous, caustic and horrifically verbally abusive to me. Along with telling me that my credit score is going to be beyond repair so long as they hold my past due accounts, several of their agents flat out tell me Im going to lose my home and get further bad credit if I dont show up in court because they have already filed a lawsuit and I will be served a summons. When I attempt to get more information about their company when I call, I have been called a liar by their reps who answer, and they get extremely agitated and demand my full social security number ( which I have never provided on an inquiry call ). They have called my work provided mobile phone ( I dont  have a personal phone ), day and night and when they dont get anywhere with me they hang up in my face. When they call me they immediately demand my full name and ask me to give the last 4 digits of my social security number without even identifying who they are. I have had to do hundreds of reverse number look ups on the hundreds of phone numbers they spoof of other people 's phone numbers to harass me by calling me repeatedly back to back. I have been screamed at by both the male and female collection agents when I request to speak to a supervisor on their calls to me. I live in constant fear of this company and how they aggressively encourage, train and develop their collection agents to yell at and intimidate me. I am afraid to leave my home most days because the agents tell me that Im going to be served with the lawsuit both at home and on my job, and that if I dont show up in court Ill go to jail and they win anyway for people who dont show up and that Im going to end up paying them twice the money you owe us now you pay us because we have your debt accounts now because you couldnt pay your bills man. I could not believe what I was hearing and when I asked if their outbound calls were recorded, on both occasions the collection agents from Midland hung up on me. The original creditor, lowered my credit limits without notice taking me right to the current balance and heaped on overlimit and late fees after I explained that lowering the limit to the current balance was abusive because even with my payment, the next interest rate assessment would put me back over the limit. When the XXXX customer service representatives told me that would have to pay the account in full immediately or just deal with it, I sent them a letter at XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, FL XXXX them requesting them to stop calling me and sending me 5 to 10 text messages every day collecting on my accounts with them. In the notice I listed each account held by XXXX. I launched chat sessions on my accounts with them ( because the hold times were so long when I tried to call and when I did reach a rep they told me to pay the full balance because they were going to end up closing my accounts ). During the chat sessions I requested that they close my accounts and accurately report to the credit bureaus that I requested my own account closure. I explained that I would not be able to pay the accounts in full at one time but would have to seek bankruptcy protection due to the adverse actions placed upon me by their company and the demand from them for immediate payment of the balances in full. The chat reps confirmed my account closures online and when I called in to verify, an overseas phone representative told me the accounts were closed. Very shortly after receiving the cease/desist and notification of needing to file bankruptcy, they gave my accounts over to Midland Funding LLC and it has been an absolute nightmare. After dealing with the first 2 horrific experiences of being cursed at after demanding my social security number, verbally abused and hung up on I sent correspondence to XXXX at XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, including copies of the same notices I sent to XXXX bank because I didnt understand why that paperwork wasnt transferred or why the accounts were not noted for no contact. I got a call a few weeks later and this time a very nasty young woman said We already have the judgement against you, dont worry honey, well get our money and she disconnected the call because I demanded to a supervisor because I didnt feel comfortable giving my SSN to anyone who wouldnt fully identify themselves and the company they worked for. A reverse phone look up tied the number back to Midland Funding LLC. As the ONSLAUGHT of harassment by phone and mail continued from Midland Funding LLC even after notifying of them of my intent to file bankruptcy and to stop contacting me, I uncovered that this is their standard practice of dealing with all accounts that are sold to them. I sent a follow up letter to them this time a both their XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX  AND XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX letting them know again of my bankruptcy intent and to black list my social security number and bar any accounts past, present, or future from any kind of contact. They use call spoofing technology to display different phone numbers when they call but the numbers trace back to their harassment under any online search. The calls, letters, and threats continued and each time I ask the collection agents what is happening to the letters Ive sent them they make snide remarks, one of their collection agents laughed at me and said nothing is on your account, we dont have any record of ever talking to you, weve already filed a lawsuit against you so youll be served any day now and likely go to jail because youre so far behind - you might as well just make a payment with me now, dont you have anyone you can ask to lend you the money to take care of the debts you owe? we have a few accounts in our office for you, its best if you resolve it with me because time is running out and youre going to lose if you try to fight this in court. It costs you and not us.. After realizing that I wasnt going to get anywhere with them I had to have my job change my phone number. Despite all of the information presented on their website, the Midland Funding LLC collection agency DOES NOT abide by acceptable debt collection practices. I have gotten calls from people I know saying that they are getting phone calls from people saying they are looking for me and when they ask the person to identify themselves the caller would say tell him to pay his bills! and hang in up in their face. When I get the numbers the unidentified callers are calling from, they always trace back to Midland Funding. They actively train their collection agents to deceive, threaten, and intimidate the people with accounts in their offices. The corporate leadership of this company clearly rewards their employees for operating with reckless abandon and a complete disregard for any consumer financial protection laws in place. I am requesting a full investigation into Midland Funding LLC including a full review of their business practices and audit of other customer complaints like mine against their company. They can not be allowed to continue operating beyond the scope of required business practices for a debt collection agency. After consulting with a legal advocate attorney who is handling other complaints against Midland Funding LLC, I intend to seek all options including any compensation available to me based on the evidence I have accrued that documents in full detail their continued aggressive harassment, their collection agents verbal abuse and coercion using lawsuits against me, intimidation and failure to abide by a cease and desist even after receiving notice of my intent to file bankruptcy.