Consumer complaint received 2025-06-21 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 formally disputing the continued reporting of a closed collection account from Midland Credit Management ( account ending in * XXXX ), as shown on my XXXX  credit report dated XX/XX/year>, under Confirmation # XXXX. Although this account is now listed as closed, it continues to reflect an active balance of {$890.00}. This is a non-duplicate dispute based on newly updated information that now appears in the most recent version of my credit report. The continued presence of this balance is inaccurate, incomplete, and misleading under federal law. I am asserting that this debt is not mine and is potentially the result of identity theft. While I am not submitting a police report at this time, I am exercising my legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, specifically FCRA 602A ( 4 ), 611 ( f ), and 609 ( e ), which do not require a police report to request deletion of fraudulent or unauthorized accounts. Midland Credit Management is a known debt buyer, yet they have failed to identify the original creditor, provide a copy of the signed contract, or show any legal chain of assignment or transfer of this alleged debt. Furthermore, no documentation exists that supports the claim of a valid, enforceable financial obligation. I also have not been provided any method of verification as required under FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ). As a consumer, I have the right to receive documentation verifying how XXXX  or the furnisher verified this debt. Additionally, FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) mandates that any account that can not be fully verified must be permanently removed. The furnisher may also be in violation of FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) for reporting incomplete or inaccurate information. Furthermore, since the balance is over {$600.00}, and no IRS 1099-C cancellation of debt notice has been issued, I question the legal basis for reporting the amount as a valid liability. The failure to issue a 1099-C when required not only violates tax regulations but also undermines the legitimacy of this reported balance. Additionally, the account is reporting in violation of Metro 2 data formatting standards, which require accurate account status, creditor classification, and data fields such as the original creditor and balance reporting codes. A closed collection account should not reflect an active balance, and the absence of transfer details or creditor lineage also violates Metro 2 protocols. This inaccurate reporting also violates FCRA 607 ( b ), which requires all consumer information to be reported with the maximum possible accuracy. I am demanding that this account be permanently deleted from my credit report. Its reporting is inaccurate, unverified, and unsupported by legally required documentation. I respectfully request confirmation of this deletion and a full explanation of how it was previously verified, including supporting documentation. This dispute is based on new credit report updates and should not be considered redundant.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief