Consumer complaint received 2025-08-23 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Hi, I am a XXXX XXXX I am trying to deal with a debt collector trying to collect debt that I don't believe I created. It was originally owned by XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX ( XXXX  ) and sold to Midland Credit Management ( MCM ). I have tried speaking with all parties involved, including XXXX, XXXX and Midland Credit Management, but have received unsatisfactory responses. I am not great with technology, so my son is assisting me with writing this letter and submitting the documents. I will detail what I have been going through in chronological order. 

Around XXXX of last year, I went to an XXXX office to take care of some paperwork. The person who was helping me advertised the XXXX XXXX XXXX card. Since I was going on a trip soon, I decided to sign up for the card. I believe the XXXX employee also created an online account with my email address and turned paperless billing on. I did not create the account on my own and I did not turn paperless billing on either because I would not know how to do either of those things. I have also never logged into the online account either. I do not know the account number for this credit card, but the information provided by XXXX  and MCM says that the account number that the debt resides in ends with XXXX ( actual number hidden for privacy purposes ). I have attached the emails I got, the files are named " XXXX  Create Account Email '' and " XXXX  Paperless Email ''. 

The time for my trip had arrived, but the card never did. After a few months had passed, I was notified that the account was closed. Since I did not get a card or any bills and no longer needed the card, I did not pursue any action at this time. I didn't think I had to. 

Around XXXX of this year, I got a letter from XXXX, who services the XXXX XXXX XXXX, saying that they sold my debt to a debt collector, Midland Credit Management ( MCM ). The debt was for {$430.00}. I have attached the initial letter from XXXX, the file is named " XXXX  Initial Letter ''. 

Interestingly, XXXX keeps mentioning Alabama when referring to the debt. I am very confused about that. I have not lived in Alabama nor visited Alabama for a very long time. I am not sure what to make of that. Another strange thing is the account number mentioned by MCM ended with XXXX ( actual number hidden for privacy purposes ) instead of the XXXX number mentioned by XXXX. I have attached the initial letter from MCM, the file is named " MCM Initial Letter ''. 

I was surprised to get these letters because I was only aware of XXXX XXXX credit card and that account was closed. For the short time it was open, I never received a card or any bills, either digitally or physically. I also did not receive calls or voice mails stating that I owed money on this account. My son and I searched online for tips on how to proceed and many people recommended sending a letter asking for debt validation. My son found a template online and we sent that to MCM. 

MCM replied back with copies of a few bills from the account. While I appreciate them for trying to get me the information I asked for, the information was lacking critical details. Every bill just showed the previous months total with additional late fees and interest added to it. None of them showed the origin of the debt. None of them showed when the card was used, where the card was used, what was purchased and the cost of the goods/services. I will also add that I have never seen these bills before. I have attached the copies of the bills that MCM sent me, the files are named " MCM Second Response Part 1 '' to " MCM Second Response Part 3 ''. 

I decided to file a police report at this point, since it seemed like the charges were fraudulent. I sent letters and the report to XXXX, XXXX  and MCM. I have attached the police report, the files are named " Police Report Part 1 '' to " Police Report Part 5 ''. 

The letter I sent to XXXX was to inform them that the charges made on the account were fraudulent. I did not expect to get any information back because they have been very unhelpful in this situation. I had tried to call them earlier in the process, but they were unwilling to assist me at all. Interestingly enough, after I sent them the police report, I got two more letters saying that they sold my account to MCM. I am not sure why they sent more letters of this kind. The XXXX new letters had different account numbers, one had the XXXX number and the other had the XXXX number. I am not sure what to make of that, but it seems like they can't make up their mind about which account is mine. I have attached their secondary response, the files are named " XXXX  Second Response- With XXXX different account numbers- Part XXXX '' to " XXXX  Second Response- With XXXX different account numbers- Part XXXX ''. 

XXXX response was more helpful. From what I could make of it, it seems that the XXXX XXXX account was never on my report or was removed. They also replied back with my credit report. I have attached their response, the files are named " XXXX Response and Credit Report Part XXXX '' to " XXXX  Response and Credit Report Part XXXX ''. 

MCM took a while to respond this time. When they did, they sent a bill trying to settle the debt for less. While I appreciate that they are trying to resolve the situation, it does not feel right to pay for debt that I don't believe is mine. In my letter to them, I had asked for more specific information about the charges that created the debt, but that was not included in their response. Their third response is attached, the files are named " MCM Third Response Part XXXX '' to " MCM Third Response Part XXXX ''. 

I understand that it may be difficult to believe that this debt is not mine. How can I possibly prove that I never got the card or any of the bills, either digitally or physically? My best defense is my credit report. If you take a look at it, you can see that I am in good standing for all accounts, open or closed. I have always been very responsible with my money. If I had gotten any indication of charges being applied to this account without my knowledge, I would have taken care of it immediately. XXXX did not contact me through email, phone or mail when they thought I owed them money. I was not aware of this debt until this year. I was never given a fair chance to deal with the fraudulent charges when they first occurred. 

I'm not really sure what to do now. I would like to resolve the situation without escalating it and without paying for debt that I don't believe is mine. It seems like MCM is not really responding and engaging with the contents of my letters and is just going to continue to send letters requesting payment. This situation is stressful for me and my family because we seem to be the only ones in the dark. I know next to nothing about this account and I have no idea what MCM will do next. Will they continue to send bills, start calling relentlessly or will they finally sue me? 

If you wouldn't mind, my preferred way of communication with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is written, either through emails or letters. I have been communicating with MCM only through written letters and I would like to keep it that way for them specifically for record keeping. Thanks for your help in this matter. 

For your convenience, here are the addresses of MCM and XXXX. 

Midland Credit Management , Inc . 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, OH XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation