Consumer complaint received 2026-05-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint against Midland Credit Management because it is continuing to report and/or collect a {$1000.00} collection account ( Original Creditor : XXXX ) that is the result of identity theft. This account does not belong to me, I did not authorize it, and I do not accept responsibility for it. I submitted an identity theft report to the credit reporting agencies, along with proof of identity and a written statement identifying this Midland Credit Management account as fraudulent and not connected to any transaction I made. Despite that notice, this collection account is still appearing on my credit report. This is not a normal I disagree with the debt dispute. This is an identity theft matter. Under FCRA XXXX, 15 U.S.C. XXXX, the credit reporting agencies are required to block information that I identified as resulting from identity theft after receiving my identity theft report, proof of identity, identification of the fraudulent account, and my statement that the account is not mine. The bureaus are also required to notify the furnisher of the identity-theft block request. Once Midland Credit Management received notice that this account was identified as identity theft, Midland had no legitimate basis to keep furnishing this account as a valid collection debt. Under FCRA XXXX, 15 U.S.C. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ), furnishers must have reasonable procedures to respond to identity-theft block notices and prevent refurnishing blocked identity-theft information. If Midland received my identity theft report directly or through the credit reporting agencies and still continued furnishing the account, that is exactly the kind of conduct the FCRA is meant to stop. Midlands continued reporting also raises serious issues under 15 U.S.C. XXXX ( b ), because once a furnisher receives notice of a dispute from a credit reporting agency , it must conduct a reasonable investigation, review the relevant information, report the results, and delete, modify, or permanently block information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or can not be verified. A generic automated verification is not a reasonable investigation of an identity theft claim. If Midland is continuing to communicate this account to the credit bureaus as a valid debt after being placed on notice that it is disputed and the result of identity theft, that also raises concerns under FDCPA XXXX, 15 U.S.C. XXXX, including XXXX ( XXXX ) ( A ), XXXX ( XXXX ), and XXXX ( XXXX ). Reporting or continuing to report a debt as collectible when the company knows or should know the debt is disputed and tied to identity theft is false, misleading, and harmful. My credit report appears to show prior regular dispute activity connected to this account. I want to make this clear : I did not file, authorize, participate in, or approve any prior regular disputes regarding this account before my current identity theft submission. To the extent your companys records show previous disputes, I dispute that those prior disputes were initiated by me or by anyone acting with my permission. Any prior dispute activity should be treated as suspicious and potentially connected to the same identity theft/fraud issue, not as evidence that I recognized, validated, accepted, or assumed responsibility for the account. Your company may not use alleged prior dispute activity as a shortcut to avoid investigating this identity theft claim. My current complaint is materially different from any alleged prior ordinary dispute because I am now providing formal notice that the account resulted from identity theft. Under XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, this is a direct dispute involving consumer liability, identity theft, and fraud. A furnisher must conduct a reasonable investigation, review the relevant information provided, and correct inaccurate reporting. This collection account is damaging my credit, reputation, and ability to obtain housing and financial approvals. Midland Credit Management has had notice that this account is disputed as identity theft, and continuing to report it is unacceptable. I want this account removed immediately.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation