Consumer complaint received 2026-01-18 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT INC Last reported XX/XX/XXXX {$980.00} Open balance MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT INC Original creditor XXXX Opened XX/XX/XXXX ( 6 yrs, 0 mos ) Account status Open Type -- Responsibility Individual Remarks Placed for collection Account information disputed by consumer Account information disputed by consumer Original creditor name MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT INC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Midland Credit Management , Inc. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  RE : Formal Dispute, Demand for Validation, Unauthorized Disclosure, False Credit Reporting, and Statute of Limitations Alleged Balance : {$980.00} To Whom It May Concern, I am formally disputing the above-referenced account and the alleged balance of {$980.00}. This letter constitutes a written dispute and demand for validation pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1692g of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ).

Additionally, I dispute Midland Credit Managements authority to obtain, possess, use, or disclose my non-public personal information under 15 U.S.C. 6802 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( GLBA ), the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ), and applicable Pennsylvania law.

According to my consumer credit report, Midland Credit Management is reporting this account as though it were the original creditor. This is factually untrue. Midland Credit Management did not originate this account and is therefore reporting materially false and misleading information in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) and 73 P.S. 201-3 of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. 

Further, the balance you are reporting does not reflect the amount, if any, that Midland Credit Management paid to acquire this account from the original creditor. As a third-party debt buyer, you may not misrepresent the character, amount, or legal status of an alleged debt. Reporting an inflated or unsubstantiated balance constitutes a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1692e and 1692f, as well as Pennsylvania consumer protection law. 

Additionally, the dates being reported on my consumer credit report are inaccurate and misleading. 
Under Pennsylvania law, the statute of limitations for collection of a consumer debt begins to run from the date of the last payment made on the account, not from any later assignment, charge-off, sale, or internal accounting event. Any reporting that reflects inaccurate dates, re-aged timelines, or misrepresents the true date of last payment constitutes false credit reporting and improper re-aging in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) and 15 U.S.C. 1692e.

As a Pennsylvania consumer, I am protected under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law ( 73 P.S. 201-1 et seq. ), which prohibits deceptive, misleading, or unauthorized collection and credit reporting practices.

You are hereby required to provide competent, admissible evidence of all of the following : A copy of the original signed contract or agreement bearing my signature that created the alleged obligation.

A complete and unbroken chain of title, including all assignments, purchase agreements, and bills of sale, demonstrating that Midland Credit Management has lawful ownership of this specific account.

Documentation itemizing the exact amount paid by Midland Credit Management to purchase this account and a detailed explanation of how the reported balance was calculated.

Documentary proof of your permissible purpose under 15 U.S.C. 1681b to access and furnish my personal information to consumer reporting agencies.

Written authorization from me or identification of the specific statutory exception relied upon under 15 U.S.C. 6802 ( b ) that permits disclosure of my non-public personal information without my affirmative consent.

Documentary proof of the actual date of last payment and an explanation of how all dates reported to consumer reporting agencies were determined.

Be advised that conclusory statements, internal account summaries, data screenshots, or form affidavits do not satisfy the validation requirements of the FDCPA, do not establish lawful authority under the GLBA, and do not meet the standards required under Pennsylvania consumer protection law.

Until such time as the above documentation is provided, you are required to : Cease all collection activity pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ; Cease reporting or furnishing this account to any consumer reporting agency ; and Cease further disclosure of my personal information.

If Midland Credit Management can not fully satisfy the requirements outlined in this letter, you are required to permanently delete this account from my consumer credit reports with all consumer reporting agencies and cease any further reporting or disclosure related to this alleged debt.

Nothing in this correspondence shall be construed as an acknowledgment of liability, an admission that any debt is owed, or a waiver of any rights or defenses.

Any continued collection or credit reporting without first establishing lawful authority and correcting false information may constitute violations of 15 U.S.C. 1692, 1681, and 6802, as well as 73 P.S. 201-3, and will be documented for regulatory and legal review, including complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation