Consumer complaint received 2025-08-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
Company Name : MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT , INC . XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Complaint I received a court summons from XXXX XXXX XXXX, a law firm representing Midland Credit Management XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX, related to a debt that was fraudulently created using my information ; a credit account was opened and a purchase was made in the amount of {$900.00}. The court summons is for a debt originally with XXXX XXXX XXXX  for XXXX XX/XX/XXXX purchase of XXXX XXXXXXXX, which I did not make. In researching XXXX  XXXX, this is a company where you can purchase gold, silver, platinum, among other precious metals. The XXXX statement in the summons has a XXXX  address associated with it, which I have not lived at for over 10 years. The summons also lists a court date of XX/XX/XXXX. In the court summons, it indicates that if I don't agree with the complaint I have to file an answer and pay a filing fee. 
Some facts in summary : - The date of the transaction in question is XX/XX/XXXX, 4 days after my second daughter was born, and was for a purchase from XXXX  XXXX which is a precious metals sales marketplace ; I have never conducted such a purchase in my life. 
- The address and phone # on file with XXXX is outdated, the address being a CA address which I have not lived at for over 10 years. So any attempts by them to collect debt I would have never seen. 
- I spoke with a rep at XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, and they mailed me documentation around this purchase, which is just a series of statements. They told me I need to request any additional information in writing via physical mail. Information I would like to get from them revolves around metadata for the account and purchase, such as the IP address/phone # /location where the purchase originated from ; basically showing the transactions did not originate from my location or any of my devices. I recently got a letter from XXXX redirecting me to MCM for all matters pertaining to this issue. 
- I have emailed and called XXXX XXXX, XXXX a few times, and they finally replied with a letter. The letter states they conducted their own investigation and found the debt to be valid ( not surprising ). 
- The burden of proof is on the plaintiff ( MCM ) to prove the debt was created by and belongs to me. An investigation into the device and IP address where the debt originated from could easily prove this debt was fraudulently created. 
My essential concern is I am being sued and asked to pay {$900.00} over a debt that was fraudulently created and is not mine, a fact this law firm should have been able to uncover ; the fact they didn't suggests to me a lack of diligence on their part when filing these sorts of court actions or bad faith legal filings to collect debts. Dealing with this summons has been time consuming and stressful.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation