Consumer complaint received 2017-08-30
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.

Complaint:
Midland Credit Management In XXXX, I received a letter from Midland Credit Management stating that a debt I had was transferred to them. As soon as I read the letter, I contacted the company to verify to debt and try to make a payment. I knew the original credit card company even though the debt amount was incorrect so I called Midland to settle for the actual amount.
Midland told me that they could not discuss the debt nor attempt to settle the debt because apparently I had some type of lock on my account. 
I asked how do I unlock and get this settled ; they informed me to write a letter and fax it to them. So, I did just that within 2 days of the call. 
In return, instead of " unlocking '' my account and allowing me to settle this debt, they wrote a letter asking for my lawyer 's name and info. I called them again to inform them that I did not have a lawyer and wanted to know why they would even think that. The company in return asked my to write another letter, I did just that and this time got no response so after about a week or 2, I called and asked them could I now settle the debt. 
Again, my account was locked and no one could assist me because of this. I am frustrated and begging someone to let me pay the account because I am trying to purchase a house and did not want it to come on my credit ( Midland has a company policy that it will not report any debts if paid within 3 months of their initial letter ). I have been begging this company since XXXX to let me settle. Even though the account managers were extremely friendly, no one could help. Finally about a couple of weeks ago after being told to write them another letter with me asking them to let me settle, I got a response acknowledging the letter and to simply call. 

Now, since the 3 months have come up, they put the account on my credit report. I have tried calling asking why they put the account my credit report when they know I had been begging and pleading with them to let me settle. I spoke with one person who could n't help me but then spoke with someone who said they 'd look into my account. The person literally kept me on hold for 25 minutes and when they returned to the phone, it mysteriously hung up. As upset as I was, I had to immediately call back but when I did, the department was no longer available and I had to call back. 

The last letter I sent to Midland begging them to let me settle, I actually recorded the letter and me faxing the letter to them and recorded where the fax was successfully sent ; the contents of the letter is also in the recording. The only reason why I recorded is because I was tired of going back and forth. I also have the letter of them asking for my lawyer that does not exist ; they would not even tell me why my again was locked and why I could n't pay them. 
So now that the 3 months are up and they did n't receive a payment, they reported it to the bureaus despite me begging them to let me pay. I would love for someone to confirm all of this because it 's the strangest thing I have ever experienced. They also added another account on my credit the same day without even notifying me. I did not get any notification that they owned the debt or that I could dispute ... nothing. I do n't understand because the staff has been friendly so why would they not let me pay only to throw it on my credit? 
I have the recording if needed. I am also attaching screenshot of the company 's credit reporting policy that is directly from their site.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief