Consumer complaint received 2025-07-14 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint against Midland Credit Management ( MCM ) for willful violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), deliberate obstruction of arbitration under XXXX Consumer Rules, and failure to provide legally sufficient debt validation after multiple formal requests. 

I am disputing XXXX MCM accounts : MCM Account # XXXX, purchased from TXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX branded card ) MCM Account XXXX XXXXXXXX, purchased from XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account ) On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX I sent Midland formal FDCPA validation requests for both accounts. On XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX, Midland responded with only generic verification from the sellers. These responses did not include : A signed contract or application Full itemized billing and charge history Chain of title documentation proving lawful ownership A statement of account accuracy or consumer acknowledgment Instead, they only provided static seller account info, which is not sufficient under 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ). Midland then continued collection activity, used coercive legal threat language such as due and owing and eligible for legal efforts, and falsely implied legal risk despite the fact that no meaningful validation was ever completed. 

On XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/year>, I emailed Midland a full arbitration packet showing that I had filed XXXX Case XXXX XXXXXXXX. This included : My signed arbitration demand Full explanation of the dispute A fee waiver request A financial hardship letter References to all relevant MCM account numbers I also XXXX the XXXX at XXXX in both emails. I later confirmed that I was not required to serve Midland directly, as the XXXX handles formal service. However, I went above and beyond to provide notice of the arbitration and sent them the full case file myself. 

Midland has since falsely claimed that they have not been served and are refusing to participate in arbitration until they receive notice directly from the XXXX. This is dishonest and calculated. They are already on formal legal notice of the arbitration both by me and by the XXXX and are willfully delaying or avoiding the process. 

This behavior directly violates : FDCPA 807 False and misleading representations of the legal status of debt FDCPA 809 ( b ) Failure to properly validate debt after dispute XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( c ) Refusal to proceed in arbitration despite clear notice XXXX XXXX XXXX laws Deceptive and abusive collection conduct Additionally, in their XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX responses through the CFPB XXXX, Midland claimed they were acting appropriately and that I had not properly served arbitration despite having timestamped evidence showing they received everything. Their written statements to the CFPB contain false representations and intentional omissions. 

As of today, neither of these Midland accounts appears under their name on my credit report but this complaint is being filed to document : Their obstruction of arbitration Their refusal to validate debt Their misleading conduct Their false statements to federal regulators I am a XXXX veteran acting in full legal compliance. I did everything in my power to follow the arbitration process, dispute the debts, and give Midland a fair opportunity to comply. Instead, they ignored federal law, lied about notice, and tried to derail arbitration while continuing collection behavior. 

I am asking the CFPB to investigate these actions immediately. I have attached email proof showing my service of arbitration materials, including correspondence with the XXXX and Midland. This is a deliberate pattern of avoidance and abuse that goes beyond a single account it reflects systemic misconduct by Midland Credit Management.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation