Consumer complaint received 2025-08-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
I have filed FTC Identity Theft Report Number : XXXX and police report XXXX because the accounts listed on my credit report do not belong to me. I have never entered into any agreement with these companies, nor have I signed any contracts or agreed to pay these debts. I discovered these accounts while preparing to buy a house, and they have negatively impacted my credit report. I have already begun contacting each collection agency and creditor to demand proof and proper validation of these debts, which I believe are fraudulent. Despite my efforts, I continue to receive calls and notices for debts that are not mine. I am pursuing this police report to formally document the identity theft and to support my efforts to have these accounts removed. If these companies fail to remove these false accounts, I am prepared to take further legal action to protect my rights. I have contacted the three credit bureaus about these accounts, but they advised me to send dispute letters instead. 

Over the past year, I even hired XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to help, but nothing has been resolved. Every time the credit bureaus contact these collection agencies ; they just mark the accounts as verified even though I have never agreed to any of these debts. It feels like a never-ending loop. I am frustrated that the credit bureaus are not properly investigating. This is why I decided to file a police report and an FTC identity theft claim. I have now sent physical dispute letters directly to the collection agencies and all three credit bureaus. If they do not remove these false accounts within 30 days, I will take further action as advised by the FTC. My identity has been compromised, and I want these fraudulent debts off my record. I filled with XXXX Police Department but was advised to file with you. 


Final Demand CFPB Complaint Against Midland Credit Midland Credit has willfully violated federal law by failing to provide legally sufficient verification of the debt they claim I owe. I exercised my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), yet Midland refuses to comply.

Instead of providing actual proof, Midland merely verified the debt through internal records. This is not verification under federal law.

Legal Standards for Proof They Ignored on the 1st letter I sent on XX/XX/year> FDCPA 809 ( b ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ) requires a debt collector to cease collection until they provide the consumer with a copy of the verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment and the name and address of the original creditor. Midland provided none of this.

FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) requires a furnisher of information to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when a debt is disputed. Merely parroting their own records or electronic database entries is not a reasonable reinvestigation.

FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) prohibits furnishing information to a credit bureau that is knownor should be knownto be inaccurate. By verifying without actual documentary proof, Midland is knowingly furnishing unverified and inaccurate information.

Midlands Failures : No signed contract or original creditor agreement.

No full account-level documentation proving the debt, balance, or legal ownership.

No copy of a judgment.

No actual verification that meets the statutory requirements.

This behavior is reckless, deceptive, and unlawful. It is a clear attempt to intimidate and coerce payment on an account they can not legally substantiate.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation