{"id":"midland-credit-management","page":"https://escalate.alexgaoth.com/#/c/midland-credit-management","html":"https://escalate.alexgaoth.com/c/midland-credit-management/","generated":"2026-10-15","company":{"id":"midland-credit-management","name":"Midland Credit Management (Encore Capital Group)","aliases":["midland credit management","midland credit","mcm","midland funding","midland funding llc","encore capital","encore capital group"],"sector":"debt_collector","parent":"Encore Capital Group, Inc.","website":"https://www.midlandcredit.com","account_url":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com","official_domains":["midlandcredit.com"],"security":{"known_scams":[{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland's FAQ says it does not recommend paying someone to dispute your debt, because you can dispute it for free directly with Midland.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}]},"regulators":["cfpb","ftc"],"notes":"Encore Capital Group's U.S. family includes Midland Funding (which buys the debts), Midland Credit Management (which collects them) and Atlantic Credit & Finance. CFPB complaints are filed under \"ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.\". Midland's NMLS ID is 934164.","channels":[{"id":"account-managers-phone","type":"phone","label":"Account managers (general account questions and payments)","value":"+1-800-296-2657","hours":"Mon-Sun 8am – Midnight ET","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-resolution-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Resolution Center (concerns and complaints)","value":"+1-877-420-0039","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-support-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Support Services (questions about inaccurate information)","value":"+1-800-825-8131 ext. 32980","hours":"Monday through Friday, 8am to 7:30pm ET","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"compliance-mail","type":"mail","label":"Written disputes, concerns and complaints","value":"Midland Credit Management, Attention: Chief Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 939069, San Diego, CA 92193","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"notes":"Include your name, MCM or original account number, last four SSN digits, address, phone and what happened. If you earlier told Midland to stop contacting you, say in the letter whether it may reply about your concern. If your validation notice gives a different dispute address, use that one too.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"live-chat","type":"chat","label":"Chat with Us","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","purposes":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"account-portal","type":"portal","label":"Midland account sign-in (letters in the Document Center)","value":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com","purposes":["debt_collection"],"access":"login","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"escalation":[{"rung":"written_complaint","channel":"dispute-form","note":"Dispute in writing within the validation period in the notice, or by mail to the Chief Compliance Officer."},{"rung":"regulator","regulator":"cfpb"},{"rung":"regulator","regulator":"ftc"},{"rung":"state_agency","agency_kind":"attorney_general"},{"rung":"small_claims"}],"playbooks":[{"issue":"debt_collection","summary":"Dispute in writing before the validation period in the notice ends; Midland must pause collection until it sends verification.","evidence":["validation notice with the end date of the validation period","MCM and original account numbers","proof of payment or identity theft report","copies of everything you send"],"steps":[{"do":"Find the date the validation notice gives as the end of the validation period. Signed-in letters are in the Document Center.","channel":"account-portal"},{"do":"Before that date, dispute in writing. Say which part you do not owe and ask for verification and for the name and address of the original creditor.","channel":"dispute-form"},{"do":"Or mail the dispute to the Chief Compliance Officer by certified mail and keep a copy.","channel":"compliance-mail"},{"do":"If the debt is from identity theft, attach your FTC identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov.","regulator":"ftc"},{"do":"If Midland keeps collecting without sending verification, file a CFPB complaint.","regulator":"cfpb"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"If you dispute in writing within the validation period, a debt collector must stop collecting the debt, or the disputed part, until it sends verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment (Regulation F, 12 CFR 1006.38).","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A dispute sent through an electronic medium that the collector accepts, such as its website portal, counts as a written dispute under Regulation F.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland says that if you are actively making payments on your account, it will not sue you.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Once an account is past the statute of limitations for lawsuits, Midland says it will tell you in later letters that it cannot and will not sue. Logging into your account online does not restart the statute of limitations.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}]},{"issue":"credit_report_error","summary":"Dispute the Midland entry with each credit bureau and directly with Midland through the Consumer Resolution Center.","evidence":["credit report page with the Midland entry","proof of payment","settlement or identity theft"],"steps":[{"do":"Dispute the entry with each credit bureau that shows it."},{"do":"Also dispute it directly with Midland, choosing \"Inaccurate credit reporting\".","channel":"dispute-form"},{"do":"For status questions, call Consumer Support Services.","channel":"consumer-support-phone"},{"do":"If the entry is not fixed, file a CFPB complaint.","regulator":"cfpb"}],"facts":[{"kind":"deadline","claim":"After you pay in full or settle, Midland asks the credit bureaus to delete its tradeline once the payment is processed; Midland says this typically takes up to 45 days.","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland says it will not report an account if payments begin within six months of its initial notice and continue monthly until the account is resolved. It must delete its tradeline seven years after the delinquency date, and sooner in some states.","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A furnisher must investigate a direct dispute sent to the address on your credit report or the address it gives for disputes, and finish within the same time a credit bureau has (Regulation V, 12 CFR 1022.43).","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1022/43/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}]}],"facts":[{"claim":"The CFPB received 22,637 complaints about ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC. from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 (debt collection 18,386; credit reporting 3,843). 17,052 were closed with explanation, 5,579 with non-monetary relief and 5 with monetary relief; 2 responses were not timely.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"On October 16, 2020 a federal court entered a stipulated judgment in the CFPB's case against Encore Capital Group, Midland Funding, Midland Credit Management and Asset Acceptance, which alleged violations of a 2015 consent order. It ordered $79,308.81 in redress and a $15 million civil penalty, required disclosures, barred collecting time-barred debt without certain disclosures, and kept the 2015 order's conduct provisions for five more years.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/encore-capital-group-et-al/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"tips":[{"kind":"official","text":"Do not send sensitive information such as your full Social Security number or a checking or debit card number in a complaint message; Midland asks only for the last four SSN digits.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"official","text":"In a letter to the Chief Compliance Officer, name everyone you spoke with and give dates and amounts; Midland says this speeds processing.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"known_blockers":["Phone lines verify the account holder by voice.","The account portal and Document Center need sign-in."]},"playbooks":{"debt_collection":{"company":{"id":"midland-credit-management","name":"Midland Credit Management (Encore Capital Group)","sector":"debt_collector","website":"https://www.midlandcredit.com","account_url":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com"},"issue":{"id":"debt_collection","name":"Sent to collections"},"playbook_source":"company","summary":"Dispute in writing before the validation period in the notice ends; Midland must pause collection until it sends verification.","evidence":["validation notice with the end date of the validation period","MCM and original account numbers","proof of payment or identity theft report","copies of everything you send"],"steps":[{"do":"Find the date the validation notice gives as the end of the validation period. Signed-in letters are in the Document Center.","channel":{"id":"account-portal","type":"portal","label":"Midland account sign-in (letters in the Document Center)","value":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com","purposes":["debt_collection"],"access":"login","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"do":"Before that date, dispute in writing. Say which part you do not owe and ask for verification and for the name and address of the original creditor.","channel":{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"do":"Or mail the dispute to the Chief Compliance Officer by certified mail and keep a copy.","channel":{"id":"compliance-mail","type":"mail","label":"Written disputes, concerns and complaints","value":"Midland Credit Management, Attention: Chief Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 939069, San Diego, CA 92193","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"notes":"Include your name, MCM or original account number, last four SSN digits, address, phone and what happened. If you earlier told Midland to stop contacting you, say in the letter whether it may reply about your concern. If your validation notice gives a different dispute address, use that one too.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"do":"If the debt is from identity theft, attach your FTC identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov.","regulator":{"id":"ftc","name":"Federal Trade Commission","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Report fraud, scams, identity theft and unfair or deceptive business practices, such as a company that blocks cancellation. The FTC does not resolve individual cases, so pursue your refund with the company, your card issuer or a state agency at the same time.","channels":[{"id":"reportfraud","type":"web_form","label":"ReportFraud.ftc.gov","value":"https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/","purposes":["fraud","unauthorized_charge","cancel_service"],"notes":"For fraud, scams and bad business practices.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"identitytheft","type":"web_form","label":"IdentityTheft.gov (identity theft report and recovery plan)","value":"https://www.identitytheft.gov/","purposes":["fraud"],"source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"donotcall","type":"web_form","label":"National Do Not Call Registry (unwanted calls)","value":"https://www.donotcall.gov/","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"consumer-response-center","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Response Center (1-877-FTC-HELP)","value":"+1-877-382-4357","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"headquarters-mail","type":"mail","label":"FTC headquarters mailing address","value":"Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580","notes":"The contact page lists this headquarters address. Online reporting is the documented path for consumer reports.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The FTC and other agencies use reports to investigate and bring cases, but cannot resolve cases for individuals.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"Reports go into a secure national database that law enforcement can use. FTC investigators, lawyers and analysts review reports to spot patterns and build cases.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/did-you-spot-scam-heres-what-do-next","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"After you submit a report, the FTC gives you steps to protect yourself or try to get your money back.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"The FTC collects reports; it does not mediate. A report number is still useful evidence for a card dispute or a state attorney general complaint. ReportFraud.ftc.gov was still the reporting path in an FTC consumer alert dated 2026-08-28."}},{"do":"If Midland keeps collecting without sending verification, file a CFPB complaint.","regulator":{"id":"cfpb","name":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Use for a problem with a consumer financial product (bank account, credit card, credit report, debt collection, money transfer, mortgage, loan) after the company did not fix it. Put every fact and document in one complaint, because a second complaint about the same problem is generally not accepted.","channels":[{"id":"complaint-form","type":"web_form","label":"Submit a complaint","value":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection","transaction_dispute","fee_reversal","frozen_funds","fraud","billing_error","unauthorized_charge","student_loan_servicing"],"notes":"Online filing takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Your mailing address is required so the company can respond.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-phone","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line","value":"+1-855-411-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","notes":"A phone complaint takes about 25 to 30 minutes.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-tty","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line, TTY/TDD","value":"+1-855-729-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-mail","type":"mail","label":"Complaints by mail","value":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PO Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB sends each complaint to the company for a response. If another government agency is better able to help, the CFPB sends the complaint there and tells you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases the company says its response is in progress and gives a final response within 60 days.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"You have 60 days after the company responds to give feedback about the response.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB publishes information about the complaint in its public Consumer Complaint Database, without information that directly identifies you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A complaint should give the key facts in your own words with the important dates, amounts and communications, and may attach supporting documents up to 50 pages. A person filing for someone else must say so, and companies generally need signed written authorization from the consumer.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB says federal student loan programs are within the sole legal purview of the Department of Education, and sends federal loan questions to studentaid.gov.","issues":["student_loan_servicing"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"2025-2026 status: the CFPB's funding, staffing and leadership were in litigation (a reduction-in-force order and the acting director's refusal to request Federal Reserve funding; three district courts rejected that refusal, the latest on 2026-09-25). On 2026-10-12 the complaint pages (modified 2026-10-05) still accepted complaints and described the 15-day company response, and the form had added a path for debanking complaints under Executive Order 14331. For federal student loans, use Federal Student Aid (ed-fsa) first."}}],"channels":[{"id":"account-managers-phone","type":"phone","label":"Account managers (general account questions and payments)","value":"+1-800-296-2657","hours":"Mon-Sun 8am – Midnight ET","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-resolution-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Resolution Center (concerns and complaints)","value":"+1-877-420-0039","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-support-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Support Services (questions about inaccurate information)","value":"+1-800-825-8131 ext. 32980","hours":"Monday through Friday, 8am to 7:30pm ET","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"compliance-mail","type":"mail","label":"Written disputes, concerns and complaints","value":"Midland Credit Management, Attention: Chief Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 939069, San Diego, CA 92193","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"notes":"Include your name, MCM or original account number, last four SSN digits, address, phone and what happened. If you earlier told Midland to stop contacting you, say in the letter whether it may reply about your concern. If your validation notice gives a different dispute address, use that one too.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"live-chat","type":"chat","label":"Chat with Us","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","purposes":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"account-portal","type":"portal","label":"Midland account sign-in (letters in the Document Center)","value":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com","purposes":["debt_collection"],"access":"login","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"If you dispute in writing within the validation period, a debt collector must stop collecting the debt, or the disputed part, until it sends verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment (Regulation F, 12 CFR 1006.38).","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A dispute sent through an electronic medium that the collector accepts, such as its website portal, counts as a written dispute under Regulation F.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland says that if you are actively making payments on your account, it will not sue you.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Once an account is past the statute of limitations for lawsuits, Midland says it will tell you in later letters that it cannot and will not sue. Logging into your account online does not restart the statute of limitations.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"claim":"The CFPB received 22,637 complaints about ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC. from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 (debt collection 18,386; credit reporting 3,843). 17,052 were closed with explanation, 5,579 with non-monetary relief and 5 with monetary relief; 2 responses were not timely.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"On October 16, 2020 a federal court entered a stipulated judgment in the CFPB's case against Encore Capital Group, Midland Funding, Midland Credit Management and Asset Acceptance, which alleged violations of a 2015 consent order. It ordered $79,308.81 in redress and a $15 million civil penalty, required disclosures, barred collecting time-barred debt without certain disclosures, and kept the 2015 order's conduct provisions for five more years.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/encore-capital-group-et-al/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"rules":{"in_force":[{"id":"fdcpa-reg-f-validation","title":"Debt validation notice and dispute period (FDCPA, Regulation F)","citation":"12 CFR 1006.34; 12 CFR 1006.38 (Regulation F)","jurisdiction":"us-federal","status":"in_effect","summary":"A third-party debt collector must give the consumer validation information, including an itemization of the debt and the date the validation period ends. If the consumer disputes the debt in writing within the validation period (30 days after the consumer receives or is assumed to receive the information), the collector must stop collecting until it sends verification of the debt.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/34/","last_verified":"2026-10-12","points":[{"kind":"policy","claim":"Regulation F covers a debt collector: a person whose principal business purpose is collecting debts, or who regularly collects debts owed or asserted to be owed to another. It generally does not cover a creditor's own employees collecting in the creditor's name, or a person who got a debt before it was in default. A debt is a consumer obligation primarily for personal, family or household purposes.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"The collector must give the validation information in the initial communication, or within five days after it, or orally in the initial communication.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/34/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"The validation period ends \"30 days after the consumer receives or is assumed to receive the validation information\". The collector may assume receipt on any date \"at least five days (excluding legal public holidays identified in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a), Saturdays, and Sundays)\" after it provides the information. The notice must state the date the collector will treat as the end of the validation period.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/34/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"The validation information includes the itemization date, the amount of the debt on that date, an itemization of interest, fees, payments and credits since then, the current amount, and a consumer response section with dispute prompts.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/34/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"\"Upon receipt of a dispute submitted by the consumer in writing within the validation period, a debt collector must cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion of the debt,\" until it sends the consumer a copy of verification of the debt or of a judgment, in writing or electronically. A dispute sent through an electronic medium the collector accepts, such as its email address or website portal, counts as written.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"If the consumer asks in writing within the validation period for the name and address of the original creditor, the collector must stop collection until it provides that information.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"During the validation period the collector may not use collection activities or communications that overshadow or are inconsistent with the consumer's dispute rights. Failure to dispute does not count as a legal admission that the consumer owes the debt.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}]}],"not_in_force":[]},"tips":[{"kind":"official","text":"Do not send sensitive information such as your full Social Security number or a checking or debit card number in a complaint message; Midland asks only for the last four SSN digits.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"official","text":"In a letter to the Chief Compliance Officer, name everyone you spoke with and give dates and amounts; Midland says this speeds processing.","issues":["debt_collection"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"escalation":[{"index":0,"rung":"written_complaint","note":"Dispute in writing within the validation period in the notice, or by mail to the Chief Compliance Officer.","channel":{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"index":1,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"cfpb","name":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Use for a problem with a consumer financial product (bank account, credit card, credit report, debt collection, money transfer, mortgage, loan) after the company did not fix it. Put every fact and document in one complaint, because a second complaint about the same problem is generally not accepted.","channels":[{"id":"complaint-form","type":"web_form","label":"Submit a complaint","value":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection","transaction_dispute","fee_reversal","frozen_funds","fraud","billing_error","unauthorized_charge","student_loan_servicing"],"notes":"Online filing takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Your mailing address is required so the company can respond.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-phone","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line","value":"+1-855-411-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","notes":"A phone complaint takes about 25 to 30 minutes.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-tty","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line, TTY/TDD","value":"+1-855-729-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-mail","type":"mail","label":"Complaints by mail","value":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PO Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB sends each complaint to the company for a response. If another government agency is better able to help, the CFPB sends the complaint there and tells you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases the company says its response is in progress and gives a final response within 60 days.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"You have 60 days after the company responds to give feedback about the response.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB publishes information about the complaint in its public Consumer Complaint Database, without information that directly identifies you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A complaint should give the key facts in your own words with the important dates, amounts and communications, and may attach supporting documents up to 50 pages. A person filing for someone else must say so, and companies generally need signed written authorization from the consumer.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB says federal student loan programs are within the sole legal purview of the Department of Education, and sends federal loan questions to studentaid.gov.","issues":["student_loan_servicing"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"2025-2026 status: the CFPB's funding, staffing and leadership were in litigation (a reduction-in-force order and the acting director's refusal to request Federal Reserve funding; three district courts rejected that refusal, the latest on 2026-09-25). On 2026-10-12 the complaint pages (modified 2026-10-05) still accepted complaints and described the 15-day company response, and the form had added a path for debanking complaints under Executive Order 14331. For federal student loans, use Federal Student Aid (ed-fsa) first."}},{"index":2,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"ftc","name":"Federal Trade Commission","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Report fraud, scams, identity theft and unfair or deceptive business practices, such as a company that blocks cancellation. The FTC does not resolve individual cases, so pursue your refund with the company, your card issuer or a state agency at the same time.","channels":[{"id":"reportfraud","type":"web_form","label":"ReportFraud.ftc.gov","value":"https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/","purposes":["fraud","unauthorized_charge","cancel_service"],"notes":"For fraud, scams and bad business practices.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"identitytheft","type":"web_form","label":"IdentityTheft.gov (identity theft report and recovery plan)","value":"https://www.identitytheft.gov/","purposes":["fraud"],"source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"donotcall","type":"web_form","label":"National Do Not Call Registry (unwanted calls)","value":"https://www.donotcall.gov/","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"consumer-response-center","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Response Center (1-877-FTC-HELP)","value":"+1-877-382-4357","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"headquarters-mail","type":"mail","label":"FTC headquarters mailing address","value":"Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580","notes":"The contact page lists this headquarters address. Online reporting is the documented path for consumer reports.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The FTC and other agencies use reports to investigate and bring cases, but cannot resolve cases for individuals.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"Reports go into a secure national database that law enforcement can use. FTC investigators, lawyers and analysts review reports to spot patterns and build cases.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/did-you-spot-scam-heres-what-do-next","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"After you submit a report, the FTC gives you steps to protect yourself or try to get your money back.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"The FTC collects reports; it does not mediate. A report number is still useful evidence for a card dispute or a state attorney general complaint. ReportFraud.ftc.gov was still the reporting path in an FTC consumer alert dated 2026-08-28."}},{"index":3,"rung":"state_agency","agency_kind":"attorney_general","agencies":"Ask for the person's state, then call find_regulators."},{"index":4,"rung":"small_claims"}],"known_blockers":["Phone lines verify the account holder by voice.","The account portal and Document Center need sign-in."],"security":{"official_domains":["midlandcredit.com"],"never_asks":[],"known_scams":[{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland's FAQ says it does not recommend paying someone to dispute your debt, because you can dispute it for free directly with Midland.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"report_phishing":[]},"credibility":{"grade":"A","primary_share":1.0,"sources":{"primary":42},"verified_from":{"page":19},"last_verified":"2026-10-13","oldest_verified":"2026-10-13","stale_items":0,"explanation":"Grade A (high: almost everything comes from official pages read directly). 100% of 42 sources are the organization's own pages or government sites.","dossier_last_verified":"2026-10-13"},"context":{"dossier":true,"sector_guide":true,"hint":"Call get_context for how this company handles complaints in practice and which scams use its name."},"notes":"Encore Capital Group's U.S. family includes Midland Funding (which buys the debts), Midland Credit Management (which collects them) and Atlantic Credit & Finance. CFPB complaints are filed under \"ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.\". Midland's NMLS ID is 934164.","warnings":[]},"credit_report_error":{"company":{"id":"midland-credit-management","name":"Midland Credit Management (Encore Capital Group)","sector":"debt_collector","website":"https://www.midlandcredit.com","account_url":"https://accounts.midlandcredit.com"},"issue":{"id":"credit_report_error","name":"Error on a credit report"},"playbook_source":"company","summary":"Dispute the Midland entry with each credit bureau and directly with Midland through the Consumer Resolution Center.","evidence":["credit report page with the Midland entry","proof of payment","settlement or identity theft"],"steps":[{"do":"Dispute the entry with each credit bureau that shows it."},{"do":"Also dispute it directly with Midland, choosing \"Inaccurate credit reporting\".","channel":{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"do":"For status questions, call Consumer Support Services.","channel":{"id":"consumer-support-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Support Services (questions about inaccurate information)","value":"+1-800-825-8131 ext. 32980","hours":"Monday through Friday, 8am to 7:30pm ET","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"do":"If the entry is not fixed, file a CFPB complaint.","regulator":{"id":"cfpb","name":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Use for a problem with a consumer financial product (bank account, credit card, credit report, debt collection, money transfer, mortgage, loan) after the company did not fix it. Put every fact and document in one complaint, because a second complaint about the same problem is generally not accepted.","channels":[{"id":"complaint-form","type":"web_form","label":"Submit a complaint","value":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection","transaction_dispute","fee_reversal","frozen_funds","fraud","billing_error","unauthorized_charge","student_loan_servicing"],"notes":"Online filing takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Your mailing address is required so the company can respond.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-phone","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line","value":"+1-855-411-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","notes":"A phone complaint takes about 25 to 30 minutes.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-tty","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line, TTY/TDD","value":"+1-855-729-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-mail","type":"mail","label":"Complaints by mail","value":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PO Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB sends each complaint to the company for a response. If another government agency is better able to help, the CFPB sends the complaint there and tells you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases the company says its response is in progress and gives a final response within 60 days.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"You have 60 days after the company responds to give feedback about the response.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB publishes information about the complaint in its public Consumer Complaint Database, without information that directly identifies you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A complaint should give the key facts in your own words with the important dates, amounts and communications, and may attach supporting documents up to 50 pages. A person filing for someone else must say so, and companies generally need signed written authorization from the consumer.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB says federal student loan programs are within the sole legal purview of the Department of Education, and sends federal loan questions to studentaid.gov.","issues":["student_loan_servicing"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"2025-2026 status: the CFPB's funding, staffing and leadership were in litigation (a reduction-in-force order and the acting director's refusal to request Federal Reserve funding; three district courts rejected that refusal, the latest on 2026-09-25). On 2026-10-12 the complaint pages (modified 2026-10-05) still accepted complaints and described the 15-day company response, and the form had added a path for debanking complaints under Executive Order 14331. For federal student loans, use Federal Student Aid (ed-fsa) first."}}],"channels":[{"id":"account-managers-phone","type":"phone","label":"Account managers (general account questions and payments)","value":"+1-800-296-2657","hours":"Mon-Sun 8am – Midnight ET","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-resolution-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Resolution Center (concerns and complaints)","value":"+1-877-420-0039","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"consumer-support-phone","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Support Services (questions about inaccurate information)","value":"+1-800-825-8131 ext. 32980","hours":"Monday through Friday, 8am to 7:30pm ET","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection"],"access":"human_only","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"compliance-mail","type":"mail","label":"Written disputes, concerns and complaints","value":"Midland Credit Management, Attention: Chief Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 939069, San Diego, CA 92193","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"notes":"Include your name, MCM or original account number, last four SSN digits, address, phone and what happened. If you earlier told Midland to stop contacting you, say in the letter whether it may reply about your concern. If your validation notice gives a different dispute address, use that one too.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"facts":[{"kind":"deadline","claim":"After you pay in full or settle, Midland asks the credit bureaus to delete its tradeline once the payment is processed; Midland says this typically takes up to 45 days.","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland says it will not report an account if payments begin within six months of its initial notice and continue monthly until the account is resolved. It must delete its tradeline seven years after the delinquency date, and sooner in some states.","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A furnisher must investigate a direct dispute sent to the address on your credit report or the address it gives for disputes, and finish within the same time a credit bureau has (Regulation V, 12 CFR 1022.43).","issues":["credit_report_error"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1022/43/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"claim":"The CFPB received 22,637 complaints about ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC. from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 (debt collection 18,386; credit reporting 3,843). 17,052 were closed with explanation, 5,579 with non-monetary relief and 5 with monetary relief; 2 responses were not timely.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0","last_verified":"2026-10-13"},{"kind":"policy","claim":"On October 16, 2020 a federal court entered a stipulated judgment in the CFPB's case against Encore Capital Group, Midland Funding, Midland Credit Management and Asset Acceptance, which alleged violations of a 2015 consent order. It ordered $79,308.81 in redress and a $15 million civil penalty, required disclosures, barred collecting time-barred debt without certain disclosures, and kept the 2015 order's conduct provisions for five more years.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/encore-capital-group-et-al/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"rules":{"in_force":[],"not_in_force":[]},"tips":[],"escalation":[{"index":0,"rung":"written_complaint","note":"Dispute in writing within the validation period in the notice, or by mail to the Chief Compliance Officer.","channel":{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"index":1,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"cfpb","name":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Use for a problem with a consumer financial product (bank account, credit card, credit report, debt collection, money transfer, mortgage, loan) after the company did not fix it. Put every fact and document in one complaint, because a second complaint about the same problem is generally not accepted.","channels":[{"id":"complaint-form","type":"web_form","label":"Submit a complaint","value":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection","transaction_dispute","fee_reversal","frozen_funds","fraud","billing_error","unauthorized_charge","student_loan_servicing"],"notes":"Online filing takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Your mailing address is required so the company can respond.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-phone","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line","value":"+1-855-411-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","notes":"A phone complaint takes about 25 to 30 minutes.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-tty","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line, TTY/TDD","value":"+1-855-729-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-mail","type":"mail","label":"Complaints by mail","value":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PO Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB sends each complaint to the company for a response. If another government agency is better able to help, the CFPB sends the complaint there and tells you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases the company says its response is in progress and gives a final response within 60 days.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"You have 60 days after the company responds to give feedback about the response.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB publishes information about the complaint in its public Consumer Complaint Database, without information that directly identifies you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A complaint should give the key facts in your own words with the important dates, amounts and communications, and may attach supporting documents up to 50 pages. A person filing for someone else must say so, and companies generally need signed written authorization from the consumer.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB says federal student loan programs are within the sole legal purview of the Department of Education, and sends federal loan questions to studentaid.gov.","issues":["student_loan_servicing"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"2025-2026 status: the CFPB's funding, staffing and leadership were in litigation (a reduction-in-force order and the acting director's refusal to request Federal Reserve funding; three district courts rejected that refusal, the latest on 2026-09-25). On 2026-10-12 the complaint pages (modified 2026-10-05) still accepted complaints and described the 15-day company response, and the form had added a path for debanking complaints under Executive Order 14331. For federal student loans, use Federal Student Aid (ed-fsa) first."}},{"index":2,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"ftc","name":"Federal Trade Commission","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Report fraud, scams, identity theft and unfair or deceptive business practices, such as a company that blocks cancellation. The FTC does not resolve individual cases, so pursue your refund with the company, your card issuer or a state agency at the same time.","channels":[{"id":"reportfraud","type":"web_form","label":"ReportFraud.ftc.gov","value":"https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/","purposes":["fraud","unauthorized_charge","cancel_service"],"notes":"For fraud, scams and bad business practices.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"identitytheft","type":"web_form","label":"IdentityTheft.gov (identity theft report and recovery plan)","value":"https://www.identitytheft.gov/","purposes":["fraud"],"source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"donotcall","type":"web_form","label":"National Do Not Call Registry (unwanted calls)","value":"https://www.donotcall.gov/","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"consumer-response-center","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Response Center (1-877-FTC-HELP)","value":"+1-877-382-4357","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"headquarters-mail","type":"mail","label":"FTC headquarters mailing address","value":"Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580","notes":"The contact page lists this headquarters address. Online reporting is the documented path for consumer reports.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The FTC and other agencies use reports to investigate and bring cases, but cannot resolve cases for individuals.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"Reports go into a secure national database that law enforcement can use. FTC investigators, lawyers and analysts review reports to spot patterns and build cases.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/did-you-spot-scam-heres-what-do-next","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"After you submit a report, the FTC gives you steps to protect yourself or try to get your money back.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"The FTC collects reports; it does not mediate. A report number is still useful evidence for a card dispute or a state attorney general complaint. ReportFraud.ftc.gov was still the reporting path in an FTC consumer alert dated 2026-08-28."}},{"index":3,"rung":"state_agency","agency_kind":"attorney_general","agencies":"Ask for the person's state, then call find_regulators."},{"index":4,"rung":"small_claims"}],"known_blockers":["Phone lines verify the account holder by voice.","The account portal and Document Center need sign-in."],"security":{"official_domains":["midlandcredit.com"],"never_asks":[],"known_scams":[{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland's FAQ says it does not recommend paying someone to dispute your debt, because you can dispute it for free directly with Midland.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"report_phishing":[]},"credibility":{"grade":"A","primary_share":1.0,"sources":{"primary":42},"verified_from":{"page":19},"last_verified":"2026-10-13","oldest_verified":"2026-10-13","stale_items":0,"explanation":"Grade A (high: almost everything comes from official pages read directly). 100% of 42 sources are the organization's own pages or government sites.","dossier_last_verified":"2026-10-13"},"context":{"dossier":true,"sector_guide":true,"hint":"Call get_context for how this company handles complaints in practice and which scams use its name."},"notes":"Encore Capital Group's U.S. family includes Midland Funding (which buys the debts), Midland Credit Management (which collects them) and Atlantic Credit & Finance. CFPB complaints are filed under \"ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.\". Midland's NMLS ID is 934164.","warnings":[]}},"escalation":[{"index":0,"rung":"written_complaint","note":"Dispute in writing within the validation period in the notice, or by mail to the Chief Compliance Officer.","channel":{"id":"dispute-form","type":"web_form","label":"Consumer Resolution Center form (formal disputes and complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer)","value":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","purposes":["debt_collection","credit_report_error","identity_theft"],"access":"open","notes":"Choose the issue type, such as \"Notification of the debt\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". The form asks for your name, last four SSN digits, phone, account or case numbers, address and what happened. You can upload up to 10 files (PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF or PNG, 5 MB each).","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}},{"index":1,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"cfpb","name":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Use for a problem with a consumer financial product (bank account, credit card, credit report, debt collection, money transfer, mortgage, loan) after the company did not fix it. Put every fact and document in one complaint, because a second complaint about the same problem is generally not accepted.","channels":[{"id":"complaint-form","type":"web_form","label":"Submit a complaint","value":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","purposes":["credit_report_error","debt_collection","transaction_dispute","fee_reversal","frozen_funds","fraud","billing_error","unauthorized_charge","student_loan_servicing"],"notes":"Online filing takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Your mailing address is required so the company can respond.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-phone","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line","value":"+1-855-411-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","notes":"A phone complaint takes about 25 to 30 minutes.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-tty","type":"phone","label":"Complaint line, TTY/TDD","value":"+1-855-729-2372","hours":"9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"complaint-mail","type":"mail","label":"Complaints by mail","value":"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PO Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/contact-us/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB sends each complaint to the company for a response. If another government agency is better able to help, the CFPB sends the complaint there and tells you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases the company says its response is in progress and gives a final response within 60 days.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"deadline","claim":"You have 60 days after the company responds to give feedback about the response.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB publishes information about the complaint in its public Consumer Complaint Database, without information that directly identifies you.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/process/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"A complaint should give the key facts in your own words with the important dates, amounts and communications, and may attach supporting documents up to 50 pages. A person filing for someone else must say so, and companies generally need signed written authorization from the consumer.","source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"The CFPB says federal student loan programs are within the sole legal purview of the Department of Education, and sends federal loan questions to studentaid.gov.","issues":["student_loan_servicing"],"source":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"2025-2026 status: the CFPB's funding, staffing and leadership were in litigation (a reduction-in-force order and the acting director's refusal to request Federal Reserve funding; three district courts rejected that refusal, the latest on 2026-09-25). On 2026-10-12 the complaint pages (modified 2026-10-05) still accepted complaints and described the 15-day company response, and the form had added a path for debanking complaints under Executive Order 14331. For federal student loans, use Federal Student Aid (ed-fsa) first."}},{"index":2,"rung":"regulator","regulator":{"id":"ftc","name":"Federal Trade Commission","level":"federal","when_to_use":"Report fraud, scams, identity theft and unfair or deceptive business practices, such as a company that blocks cancellation. The FTC does not resolve individual cases, so pursue your refund with the company, your card issuer or a state agency at the same time.","channels":[{"id":"reportfraud","type":"web_form","label":"ReportFraud.ftc.gov","value":"https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/","purposes":["fraud","unauthorized_charge","cancel_service"],"notes":"For fraud, scams and bad business practices.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"identitytheft","type":"web_form","label":"IdentityTheft.gov (identity theft report and recovery plan)","value":"https://www.identitytheft.gov/","purposes":["fraud"],"source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"donotcall","type":"web_form","label":"National Do Not Call Registry (unwanted calls)","value":"https://www.donotcall.gov/","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"consumer-response-center","type":"phone","label":"Consumer Response Center (1-877-FTC-HELP)","value":"+1-877-382-4357","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"id":"headquarters-mail","type":"mail","label":"FTC headquarters mailing address","value":"Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580","notes":"The contact page lists this headquarters address. Online reporting is the documented path for consumer reports.","source":"https://www.ftc.gov/contact","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"facts":[{"kind":"process","claim":"The FTC and other agencies use reports to investigate and bring cases, but cannot resolve cases for individuals.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"Reports go into a secure national database that law enforcement can use. FTC investigators, lawyers and analysts review reports to spot patterns and build cases.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/did-you-spot-scam-heres-what-do-next","last_verified":"2026-10-12"},{"kind":"process","claim":"After you submit a report, the FTC gives you steps to protect yourself or try to get your money back.","source":"https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/reporting-fraud-101-protect-your-community-reporting-scams","last_verified":"2026-10-12"}],"notes":"The FTC collects reports; it does not mediate. A report number is still useful evidence for a card dispute or a state attorney general complaint. ReportFraud.ftc.gov was still the reporting path in an FTC consumer alert dated 2026-08-28."}},{"index":3,"rung":"state_agency","agency_kind":"attorney_general","agencies":"Ask for the person's state, then call find_regulators."},{"index":4,"rung":"small_claims"}],"security":{"official_domains":["midlandcredit.com"],"never_asks":[],"known_scams":[{"kind":"policy","claim":"Midland's FAQ says it does not recommend paying someone to dispute your debt, because you can dispute it for free directly with Midland.","source":"https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/","last_verified":"2026-10-13"}],"report_phishing":[]},"credibility":{"grade":"A","primary_share":1.0,"sources":{"primary":42},"verified_from":{"page":19},"last_verified":"2026-10-13","oldest_verified":"2026-10-13","stale_items":0,"explanation":"Grade A (high: almost everything comes from official pages read directly). 100% of 42 sources are the organization's own pages or government sites.","dossier_last_verified":"2026-10-13"},"dossier":{"title":"Midland Credit Management — how disputes and complaints actually go","last_verified":"2026-10-13","file":"dossiers/midland-credit-management.md","markdown":"## In short\n\nMidland Credit Management collects debts bought by Midland Funding, part of Encore Capital Group. Dispute for free through Midland's Consumer Resolution Center form or by letter to its Chief Compliance Officer, before the validation period in your notice ends. Midland says it will not sue while you are making payments, deletes its credit tradeline after you pay in full, and does not report accounts if payments start within six months. If Midland does not fix the problem, the CFPB is next; most Encore complaints close with an explanation only.\n\n## How complaints actually go\n\n- Midland's Consumer Resolution Center routes concerns to the Chief Compliance Officer through an online form, by phone at (877) 420-0039, or by mail to P.O. Box 939069, San Diego, CA 92193. The form lets you upload up to 10 supporting files. [Midland: contact us](https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/) [Midland: disputes](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/)\n- General account questions go to account managers at (800) 296-2657, 8am to midnight ET every day; questions about inaccurate information go to Consumer Support Services at (800) 825-8131 ext. 32980, weekdays 8am to 7:30pm ET. [Midland: FAQs](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/)\n- If you earlier told Midland to stop contacting you, say in your letter whether it may reply about your concern; otherwise Midland says it cannot contact you about it. [Midland: contact us](https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/)\n- A CFPB complaint goes to Encore for a written response; all but 2 of 22,637 responses in the 12 months to June 2026 were timely. [CFPB complaint database search](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0)\n\n## What tends to work\n\n- Dispute in writing within the validation period; Midland must stop collecting the disputed debt until it sends verification, and its online form counts as written if Midland accepts disputes there. [CFPB: Regulation F 1006.38](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/38/)\n- Use the right category in the form, such as \"I requested that validation be sent to me, and I still have not received it\" or \"Inaccurate credit reporting\". [Midland: disputes](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/disputes/)\n- If you pay in full or settle, ask Midland to confirm the deletion request; it says the credit bureaus typically take up to 45 days to remove the tradeline. [Midland: credit reporting](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/)\n- Start payments within six months of Midland's first notice and keep paying monthly, and Midland says it will not report the account; while you are actively paying, it says it will not sue. [Midland: credit reporting](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/) [Midland: FAQs](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/)\n- Cite the CFPB's 2020 court order: after the CFPB alleged that Encore, Midland Funding and Midland Credit Management violated a 2015 order, the court ordered a $15 million penalty and barred collecting time-barred debt unless certain disclosures are made. [CFPB: Encore Capital Group et al.](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/encore-capital-group-et-al/)\n\n## Traps and fine print\n\n- Midland's dispute pages do not say whether it keeps reporting an account while a dispute is open; ask, and dispute with the bureaus too. [Midland: credit reporting](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/)\n- Midland can still sue in some cases depending on the state if you are not paying. Past the statute of limitations, Midland says later letters will tell you it cannot and will not sue, and logging in online does not restart the clock. [Midland: FAQs](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/)\n- Do not send a full Social Security number or bank or debit card numbers in a complaint; Midland asks only for the last four SSN digits. [Midland: contact us](https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/)\n- Midland must delete its tradeline seven years after the delinquency date, sooner in some states. [Midland: credit reporting](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/credit-reporting/)\n\n## By the numbers\n\n- CFPB complaints received July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 for \"ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.\": 22,637. Products: debt collection 18,386, credit reporting 3,843, credit card 241. Data retrieved 2026-10-13. [CFPB complaint database search](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0)\n- Top issues: attempts to collect debt not owed 7,661 (not yours 4,931; identity theft 2,329), threatened negative or legal action 4,635 (threatened to sue on very old debt 354), written notification about debt 2,703, false statements 2,438, incorrect report information 2,187. [CFPB complaint database search](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0)\n- Outcomes: 17,052 (75.3%) closed with explanation, 5,579 (24.6%) with non-monetary relief, 5 with monetary relief, 1 in progress. [CFPB complaint database search](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/search/api/v1/?company=ENCORE%20CAPITAL%20GROUP%20INC.&date_received_min=2025-07-01&date_received_max=2026-06-30&size=0)\n- Across all collectors in 2025, 66% of CFPB debt collection complaints closed with explanation and 23% with non-monetary relief. [CFPB 2025 Consumer Response Annual Report](https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_2025-cr-annual-report_2026-03.pdf)\n\n## Scams that target customers\n\n- Paid \"debt dispute\" services: Midland says you can dispute for free directly with it and does not recommend paying someone to do it. [Midland: FAQs](https://www.midlandcredit.com/help-center/faqs/)\n- Fake collectors may threaten arrest or pose as lawyers or officials; real collectors may not. Do not share financial information until you have validation information. [FTC: debt collection FAQs](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs)\n- Verify a \"Midland\" contact by calling (800) 296-2657 from Midland's site or signing in at accounts.midlandcredit.com, not through a number in the message. [Midland: contact us](https://www.midlandcredit.com/contact-us/)\n- Report fake or abusive collectors to your state attorney general, the FTC and the CFPB. [FTC: debt collection FAQs](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs)\n"},"guide":{"key":"debt_collector","title":"Debt collectors and debt buyers — how disputes and complaints work","last_verified":"2026-10-13","file":"guides/debt_collector.md","page":"https://escalate.alexgaoth.com/#/guides/debt_collector"}}