Consumer complaint received 2026-03-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint against MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT , LLC for WILLFUL, SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), and XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX licensing laws, including operating as a collection agency WITH NO LICENSE IN ANY STATE. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a formal written dispute via CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED to Midland Credit Management regarding an alleged debt of {$1600.00} from XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account # XXXX ). My dispute letter explicitly stated : " THIS DEBT IS NOT MINE '' " I have no knowledge of this account '' " CEASE ALL COLLECTION ACTIVITY including credit reporting '' " DELETE this tradeline from XXXX '' Delivery confirmed : XXXX XXXX shows delivery on XX/XX/XXXX ( Exhibit B ). XXXX XXXX ( Exhibit C ) : Midland Credit Management , LLC returns NO MATCHES FOUND in the XXXX Consumer Access database. Your entity holds ZERO LICENSES to collect debts in ANY state, including XXXX XXXX XXXX validation period expired : XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX days from receipt ). Current status ( XX/XX/XXXX ) : Midland Credit Management has : FAILED to provide any validation of the alleged debt FAILED to delete the tradeline from my credit report CONTINUED reporting to XXXX ( Exhibit D ) NEVER responded in any manner CRITICAL DISCREPANCY : This alleged debt appears ONLY ON XXXX. It is completely absent from XXXX XXXX XXXX A legitimate debt does not appear on only one credit bureau. ADDITIONAL RED FLAG : XXXX XXXX XXXX already has a charged-off account on my credit reports ( Account # XXXX, {$270.00} ). Your alleged debt of {$1600.00} appears to be either : A DUPLICATE attempt to collect the same alleged obligation, OR A completely FABRICATED debt with no basis in fact VIOLATION # 1 : 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( a ) FAILURE TO PROVIDE VALIDATION NOTICE Midland Credit Management failed to provide the written validation notice required within FIVE DAYS of their initial communication. I have never received any notice from them regarding this alleged debt. This is a PER SE VIOLATION of 1692g ( a ). VIOLATION # 2 : 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) CONTINUED COLLECTION WITHOUT VALIDATION After receiving my certified written dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, Midland was required to CEASE ALL COLLECTION ACTIVITY until validation was provided. Instead, they CONTINUED REPORTING this disputed debt to XXXX. XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Credit reporting during the validation period constitutes " collection activity '' prohibited by 1692g ( b ). Duration : From XX/XX/XXXX through present ( XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX days of continued reporting and counting. VIOLATION # 3 : 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ) ( A ) FALSE REPRESENTATION OF CHARACTER/AMOUNT Reporting this debt as " Paid off '' falsely represents the character and legal status of the alleged debt, especially given that : I have no knowledge of this debt XXXX XXXX already has a charged-off account on my reports The debt appears on only one bureau Your entity holds NO LICENSE ANYWHERE VIOLATION # 4 : 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 5 ) THREATENING ACTION THAT CAN NOT LEGALLY BE TAKEN By attempting to collect a debt in XXXX XXXX while holding ZERO LICENSES IN ANY JURISDICTION, Midland implicitly threatens legal action they can not take. An unlicensed entity has NO STANDING TO SUE in any court in the United States. XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Unlicensed collection is an unfair practice under 1692f. Collecting with NO LICENSE ANYWHERE is exponentially worse and potentially criminal. VIOLATION # 5 : 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 8 ) FALSE CREDIT INFORMATION Midland is reporting this debt to XXXX WITHOUT NOTING IT IS DISPUTED. XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX ) imposes a NEGLIGENCE STANDARD : debt collectors must exercise reasonable care to avoid reporting false information. Midland 's complete failure to investigate or suppress reporting after receiving my certified dispute, combined with their complete absence from XXXX, demonstrates GROSS NEGLIGENCE and likely WILLFUL INTENT. EXHIBIT LIST ( Attached ) : Exhibit Description Exhibit A My XX/XX/XXXX dispute letter to MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT , LLC ( Account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, {$1600.00} ) Exhibit B Certified Mail Return Receipt showing delivery on XX/XX/XXXX ( tracking enclosed ) Exhibit C XXXX Consumer Access screenshot MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT , LLC showing NO MATCHES FOUND ( no license anywhere )

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief