Consumer complaint received 2025-06-19 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Debt was removed from credit report by original creditor.

Dear whom it may concern, I am writing to formally dispute the information reported regarding the following debt : Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX I am asserting that this account is being reported inaccurately and request its immediate removal from my credit report. I have received communication from the debt collection agency XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, stating that they do not own the debt in question. Given that the debt collector has explicitly confirmed that they do not own the debt, they are legally prohibited from reporting this information to you or attempting to collect it. 
As such, the reporting of this debt is inaccurate and violates my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692g.

Dispute Details : I dispute the accuracy of this debt for the following reasons : 1. Debt Ownership : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX has confirmed that they do not own the debt, which makes their involvement in reporting or attempting to collect on this debt unlawful. A debt collector can only report information to a credit reporting agency if they have legal ownership or authority to collect the debt. Because the collector has denied ownership, they lack the right to report this debt. 
2. Failure to Validate the Debt : Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, a debt collector must validate the debt by providing proof of the debt, including the name of the creditor, the amount owed, and the original account number. To date, I have not received sufficient validation of the debt, as the debt collector has failed to provide the necessary documentation, making the information reported inaccurate and incomplete. 
3. Violation of the FCRA : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2, furnishers of information to CRAs must report accurate and complete information. Since the debt collector has stated they do not own the debt, their reporting constitutes a violation of the FCRA. 

Demand for Action : I request that this inaccurate account be immediately deleted from my credit report.

Legal Violations : FCRA Violation : 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) prohibits the reporting of inaccurate or incomplete information.

FDCPA Violation : The debt collectors failure to validate the debt and their inability to prove ownership violates 15 U.S.C. 1692g.

This inaccurate reporting is damaging my credit and financial reputation, and I request its prompt removal from my credit report.

Deadline for Resolution : You are required to investigate this dispute and correct the inaccurate information within 30 days of receiving this letter, as outlined in the FCRA. Therefore, I request that this account be deleted from my credit report within 10 business days from your receipt of this letter. 
Required Actions : Immediate deletion of the disputed account from my credit report. 
Written confirmation of the deletion once processed. 
A copy of my updated credit report showing that the inaccurate account has been removed. 
Failure to resolve this issue promptly will compel me to pursue legal remedies under both the FCRA and the FDCPA, including seeking damages for willful violations. 
I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief