Consumer complaint received 2024-10-18 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint against Midland Credit Management ( MCM ) for repeated and ongoing violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). These violations began in XXXX of this year and include numerous inaccuracies on my credit report, many of which appear to be retaliatory in nature. 
Specifically, MCM has : Reported inaccurate information : They increased the collection account balance on my credit report in XX/XX/year> ; this was in retaliation for my credit bureau dispute that month They are and have been reporting a fictional XXXX late payment for XX/XX/year> ; this is a debt buyer, there is NO payment history and their own staff confirms this in recorded calls They have manipulated the date of first delinquency to XX/XX/year> a clear FCRA violation meant to drive down my credit score and extort payment fraudulently They have responded to multiple disputes by fraudulently certifying to the bureaus that the information they are reporting is accurate Failed to investigate and correct disputes : I have contacted MCM at least 10 times since XXXX to dispute these inaccuracies. I have phone records and recordings of these conversations where I clearly inform them of the errors in their reporting. Despite my efforts, MCM has failed to conduct a proper investigation and correct the inaccurate information. 
Engaged in potentially retaliatory reporting : After I disputed the initial inaccurate information, MCM added more balance to the collection account and began manipulating the date of first delinquency. This appears to be retaliation for my attempts to exercise my rights under the FCRA. 
Continued to report disputed debt : In a phone call with MCM on XX/XX/year>, a representative acknowledged that my debt is in dispute. Despite this acknowledgment, they attempted to collect payment from me, even offering to " make it go away '' with a XXXX or XXXX. This is a clear violation of my rights under the FCRA, and the FDCPA. 
These actions by Midland Credit Management have caused me significant harm, including : Directly resulting in landlord adverse action denials The closure of a decade-old XXXX  XXXX tradeline was due to a re-evaluation of risk predicated upon fraudulent data reported by MCM. MCM also confirmed they contacted XXXX XXXX following my dispute triggering the risk evaluation. This lowered my credit score by over XXXX points Extreme duress resultant of repeated and intentional infliction of emotional distress Tortious interference with economic opportunity I request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action against Midland Credit Management. I am prepared to provide all necessary documentation, including phone records, recordings of conversations, and copies of my credit report, to support my claims. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief