Consumer complaint received 2026-05-20 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
This is a follow-up to CFPB complaint # XXXX ( filed XX/XX/2026 ) against Midland Credit Management XXXX. , regarding {$610.00} they are attempting to collect on a XXXX XXXX account, MCM account # XXXX. Midland responded to the original CFPB complaint on XX/XX/2026 with the following text : " A copy of the verification information provided by the seller for your account is enclosed for your records. If you would like to review additional account documentation, you may access documents by visiting our website at www.midlandcredit.com. '' This response is materially false and constitutes an independent FDCPA violation. Specifically : XXXX. NO VERIFICATION WAS ENCLOSED. There are no document attachments uploaded to the CFPB portal as part of Midland 's response. The claim that verification " is enclosed for your records '' is false on its face. I submitted feedback on the original complaint marking the response as " Did not address my issue. '' XXXX. THE WEBSITE-GATED " ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION '' IS NOT VALIDATION. The XXXX URL Midland directed me to requires the consumer to ( a ) provide a Midland account number, ( b ) provide the last four digits of the consumer 's Social Security Number, AND ( c ) click through and agree to a Terms of Use ( " TOU '' ) before any account information can be accessed. The TOU includes binding arbitration, exclusive California jurisdiction, electronic communications consent, a {$100.00} liability cap, and waiver of jury trial. 3. CONDITIONING VALIDATION ON A TERMS OF USE VIOLATES FDCPA 809 ( b ). Under 15 USC 1692g ( b ), upon a written request for validation, the debt collector must cease collection until validation is mailed or otherwise provided to the consumer. Validation must be PROVIDED to the consumer unconditionally. Conditioning the provision of validation on ( a ) the consumer providing their own SSN to gain access to their own debt records, and ( b ) the consumer agreeing to an adhesion contract that includes arbitration and a {$100.00} liability cap, is not validation under 809 ( b ). It is an attempt to bind the consumer to a contract before allowing access to records the collector is statutorily required to provide. 4. THE FALSE CLAIM OF " ENCLOSED VERIFICATION '' IS ITSELF AN FDCPA 807 VIOLATION. Under 15 USC 1692e, a debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt. Stating that verification was " enclosed for your records '' when nothing was actually enclosed is a false representation about the status of the debt and the collector 's compliance with validation requirements. 5. MIDLAND HAS NOW HAD MORE THAN 30 DAYS SINCE THE ORIGINAL CFPB COMPLAINT TO PROVIDE PROPER VALIDATION AND HAS NOT DONE SO. Continued reporting of this trade line on my credit report without proper validation is a continuing FCRA 623 furnisher violation. I am requesting that the CFPB direct Midland Credit Management to : ( a ) Delete the trade line for account # XXXX from all three credit bureaus ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). ( b ) In the alternative, mail proper FDCPA 809 ( b ) validation to my address WITHOUT requiring me to accept any Terms of Use, provide my SSN to a website, or take any action other than receiving mail. Validation must include : ( i ) the original signed XXXX XXXX credit application, ( ii ) the complete chain of assignment from XXXX XXXX to Midland Credit Management, ( iii ) an itemized accounting of the {$610.00} balance, and ( iv ) proof Midland is licensed to collect debts in Florida. ( c ) Cease all collection activity on this account until proper validation is provided. ( d ) Stop attempting to bind consumers to terms of use as a prerequisite to receiving statutorily required debt validation. This is a pattern that affects many consumers nationwide and is not an isolated issue with my account. Midland 's first response did not address the original complaint and contained a false representation about enclosed documents. This new complaint addresses Midland 's separate FDCPA 807 violation ( false representation in their response ) as well as the continuing 809 ( b ) failure to validate.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation