Consumer complaint received 2025-07-19 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to formally dispute a fraudulent collection account newly reported by Midland Credit Management ( MCM ) on my XXXX credit report, showing a balance of {$690.00} and first appearing on or about XX/XX/XXXX. The original creditor is not listed on XXXX, but appears as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX on both XXXX and XXXX. I have no prior or current account with either Midland Credit Management or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and this account is the direct result of identity theft, as documented in my FTC Identity Theft Report # XXXX, which has already been submitted in a prior complaint ( CFPB Case # XXXX ). 

Despite submitting all required documentation under FCRA 1681c-2 ( Section 605B ) including my FTC Identity Theft Report, valid government-issued photo ID, and a recent utility bill for address verification XXXX  has failed to block this new fraudulent account. I remind the CFPB that XXXX  is legally required to block identity theft-related information within XXXX business days of receiving proper notice. Their failure to comply constitutes an ongoing violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Additionally, I am submitting the XXXX reinvestigation report dated XX/XX/XXXX, which confirms that none of the disputed accounts appear in their system, including Midland Credit Management. XXXX further states that these accounts are not found in their consumer files and that they have submitted disputes to the nationwide credit bureaus on my behalf. This reinforces the fact that XXXX is reporting unverified, unauthorized, and legally disputed data. 

XXXX  has not provided any verification or documentation proving that this debt is valid, such as signed contracts, billing statements, or a legal chain of title. This failure violates both FCRA 1681e ( b ) ( requiring maximum possible accuracy ) and 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( requiring a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information ). Moreover, since this collection account exceeds {$600.00}, no IRS Form 1099-C has been issued, suggesting the debt was likely canceled but is being unlawfully reported as due a material omission and misrepresentation. 

I request that the CFPB require XXXX  to : Immediately block and permanently delete the {$690.00} Midland Credit Management account under FCRA 1681c-2 ; Provide a written statement confirming that the account will not be reinserted unless all reinsertion requirements under 1681c-2 ( d ) are met ; Disclose the procedures used to verify the accuracy of this accountt ; Provide the name, address, and phone number of any furnisher that verified the information ; Review XXXX  pattern of noncompliance and data negligence, especially in light of my elevated risk from the XXXX XXXX  data breach. 

This is a formal request for enforcement. I reserve my right to pursue further legal remedies if XXXX continues to willfully disregard my consumer rights.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation