Are you being harassed or threatened by a debt collector? Midland Credit Management, Inc. is notorious for harassing consumers across America. However, it is illegal for a debt collection company to harass you over a debt. You have rights under the law. If you have been continuously contacted by Midland Credit Management, Mike Agruss Law can stop the harassment once and for all!
THE BEST PART IS…
If Midland Credit Management, Inc. violated the law, you could get financial compensation for damages, and Midland Credit Management, Inc. will pay your attorney fees and costs. If you retain Mike Agruss Law for your case, you will not pay us a penny for our time. Plus, some of our clients received additional benefits, including debt relief and cleaning up their credit reports. Gives us a call today at 1 (312) 766-8507. You have nothing to lose!
Who is Midland Credit Management, Inc.?
Also known as MCM Collections, Midland Credit Management, Inc. is a third-party collection agency, headquartered in San Diego, CA and started its business in 1953. According to MCM’s profile with the Better Business Bureau (“BBB”), MCM is categorized as a corporation and a collection agency. Midland Credit Management is part of a family of companies alongside Midland Funding and Atlantic Credit and Finance, all of which are owned by Encore Capital Group, which is also based in San Diego.
Is Midland Credit Management a scam?
Midland Credit is not a scam. It is a real company that purchases debt from various lenders. Many people think that Midland Credit Management is a scam because they have never heard of the company before, and yet it starts contacting them asking for money. However, a person could have an unpaid debt with another institution and be unaware their debt was sold to Midland Credit Management.
The issue with MCM is not that they are a scam but use tactics violating the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), such as harassment, threats, and misrepresentation. If you have been contacted by Midland Credit and believe they are harassing or threatening you over delinquent debts, contact Mike Agruss Law today at 844-SEE-MIKE.
Who does Midland Credit Management collect for?
Midland Credit Management is a company that helps consumers resolve financial obligations that are past due. They primarily collect for consumer finance accounts. Examples of these accounts include:
- credit cards,
- secured and unsecured loans,
- lease-to-own financing,
- refinance loans,
- and other consumer accounts.
These accounts are traditionally given to consumers with poor credit who have high-interest rates. As such, these types of debt can often accumulate quickly.
Midland Credit Management, Inc. collects on debts owed to third parties and on debts it purchases. Midland Credit Management buys accounts from various other financial organizations and institutions. Once sold, the original creditor will close your account with them, and be in the possession of Midland credit. Therefore, in some situations, MCM may be a “junk-debt” buyer. For example, some collection agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar and then collect on it.
Has MCM Collections Ever Been Accused of Unlawful Practices?
Midland Credit Management has been accused of multiple unlawful debt collection practices. According to the Better Business Bureau:
“On October 15, 2020, Midland Credit Management Inc entered into a Stipulated Final Judgement and Order with the The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Order settles allegations that the business violated the Administrative Consent Order, from September 9, 2015. The allegations include suing consumers without possessing Original Account-Level Documentation (OALD), engaging in legal collections without first providing the disclosure required, failing to provide OALD within 30 days of a consumer request, suing consumers on Time-Barred debts, collecting or attempting to collect Time-Barred debts without providing the disclosure required, prohibits debt collectors from using any false, deceptive or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt, and engaging in unfair acts or practices. Under terms of the order, the business agrees to pay $79,308.81 in redress to consumers and a $15 million civil money penalty. The settlement will also require the business to make various material disclosures to consumers, refrain from the collection of time-barred debt absent certain disclosures to consumers, and abide by certain conduct provisions in the 2015 consent order for five more years.”
Has Midland Credit Management contacted you and you want them to stop? We’ve helped a lot of consumers deal with MCM when MCM is collecting on debt owed to major financial institutions, such as credit cards, installment loans, auto loans; retail store credit cards; student loans; insurance claims; and healthcare debt. Contact Mike Agruss Law today for a free case evaluation.
Cases We Have Handled Against Midland Credit Management
Mike Agruss Law, based in Chicago, Illinois, has successfully handled cases against Midland Credit Management. We understand that threats and harassing behavior by collection agencies can be intimidating. Luckily, our firm can use our resources to get the harassment to stop. In addition, we will also attempt to get you extra money for damages under the law, and the collection agency will have to pay us our fees and costs.
Here are some of the cases we’ve successfully won against MCM:
David v. Midland Credit Management
Our client, David W. lives in New York. In this case, Midland Credit Management called our client on his cell phone. Midland Credit Management called from 800-265-8825, which is one of Midland Credit Management’s phone numbers. In or around January 2016, Midland began placing collection calls to our client’s cell phone number.
On or around January 28, 2016 our client requested that Midland stop calling him on his cell phone. Despite this request, Midland continued to place calls to our client’s cell phone. On one occasion, Midland’s collector mentioned that they would take legal action against David W. if he did not make a payment on this account. David’s debt was incurred in the year 2006. The statute of limitations on a consumer debt in New York is only 6 years.
Midland was attempting to collect on a debt for which the statute has expired. Midland never told David that the debt was past the statute of limitations. MCM also threatened David about a debt for which was barred by the statute of limitations. In this case, we alleged Midland Credit Management violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by continuing to place calls to our client after being asked to stop, and threatening our client over a debt that was past the statute of limitations.
Tommy v. Midland Credit Management
Tommy lives in Texas, and MCM was attempting to collect a Fia Card Services account. MCM called our client on his cell phone. NCB Management called from 866-580-4780, which is one of MCM’s phone numbers.
Our client told MCM to stop calling him and the calls continued. Even after our office sent a cease and desist letter to MCM, the calls continued. Despite Plaintiff’s request that the calls stop, Midland Credit Management continued to call our client. In fact, our client alleged MCM called her over 5 times on his cell phone despite Plaintiff’s multiple requests to stop calling. We alleged that Midland Credit Management violated multiple sections of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Texas Debt Collection Act.
Myra v. Midland Credit Management
Our client lives in Missouri, where MCM reports to Myra’s credit report. In this case on or around May 9, 2014 our client Myra sent a dispute letter to MCM. Our client sent her dispute letter to MCM certified read receipt mail so she could confirm that it was delivered.
MCM continued to report to our client’s credit report and did not mark the trade line as being disputed by the consumer. Midland Credit Management violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by failing to report our client’s alleged debt to the credit reporting bureaus as disputed.
Midland Credit Management, Inc. Lawsuits
If you want to know just how unhappy consumers are with MCM, take a look at the number of lawsuits filed against Midland Credit Management on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (“PACER”). PACER is the federal docket throughout the country that lists federal complaints filed against MCM. When you do a search for Midland Credit Management, there are hundreds of lawsuits filed against MCM. Most of these lawsuits involve consumer rights’ violations.
Federal Laws Involved in Midland Credit Management Harassment Cases
Consumers filing lawsuits against MCM often allege that the company violates various federal laws, including The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, The Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) is a federal law that applies to everyone in the United States. In other words, everyone is protected under the FDCPA. The FDCPA details what collection agencies like MCM can legally do and not do while collecting a debt, as well as things in which agencies are obligated to do collecting a debt. If Midland Credit Management contacts you regarding an outstanding debt, you have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) is a federal law enacted to ensure fairness, transparency, accuracy, and privacy of consumer information. It aims to ensure that no false information is reported on American consumers’ credit reports. It also gives a person the right to dispute the inaccuracies you find on your report. At Mike Agruss Law, we have lawyers specialized in the FCRA that can handle your case.
Electronic Fund Transfer Act
The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”) protects electronic payments that are deducted from bank accounts. If Midland Credit Management took unauthorized deductions from your bank account, you may have an EFTA claim. Like many debt collectors, MCM wants to set up a consumer payment plan. However, even if you agree to this type of recurring payment, MCM must follow certain steps to comply with the EFTA. Did MCM continue to take electronic payments after you said stop? Did MCM take more money from your checking account than you agreed to? If so, contact the consumer protection attorneys at The Agruss Firm, and we will determine your rights under the EFTA.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Mike Aruss Law
If you believe MCM has violated your rights, then Mike Agruss Law can help. Several states also have laws that provide its citizens an additional layer of protection. For example, if you live in California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, or Pennsylvania you may be able to tack on a state-law claim with your federal law claim above. North Carolina, for example, has one of the most consumer-friendly statutes in the country. If you live in NC, and you’re harassed over a debt, you may get $500.00 – $4,000.00 in damages per violation. We work with a local counsel in NC. Our NC clients have received some great results in debt collection harassment cases. If you live in NC, and Midland Credit Management is harassing you, you have tons of leverage to get a great settlement.
How Can We Use The Law to Help You
We will use state and federal laws to immediately stop Midland Credit Management debt collection. We will send a cease and desist letter to get the harassment to stop the same day. If MCM violates the FDCPA, EFTA, FCRA, or any state laws, you may be entitled to money damages. For example, under the FDCPA, you can get up to $1,000.00 in damages plus actual damages. The FDCPA has a fee-shift provision. This means, MCM pays our attorney’s fees and costs. If you have a TCPA case against Midland Credit Management, we will handle it based on a contingency fee.
THAT’S NOT ALL…
We have helped hundreds of consumers stop phone calls from MCM. We know how to stop the harassment and get you money damages. ONCE AGAIN, you will not pay us a penny for our time. We will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or based on a contingency fee. That means, MCM pays our attorney’s fees and costs.
Here’s What Our Clients Say About Us
Mike Agruss Law has over 1500 outstanding client reviews through Birdeye, an A+ BBB rating, and over 600 five-star reviews on Google. Here’s what some of our clients have to say about us.
“I have worked with Mike Agruss Law for many years. Mike and his team are the best firm I have ever worked with doing FDCPA and TCPA cases and I have worked with a number. They do the great job for their clients and are a great legal team. I highly recommend them.”
“A great experience with an even better outcome! I went to Mike Agruss Law for help to end the harassment from collectors. I didn’t know my rights but they did.”
“Thank you so much Mike Agruss Law for the tremendous service you provided to me. I had no kind of money to pay any lawyers but Agruss had a policy that they only get paid if the case is successful. Because of the several good reviews I read about Agruss, I decided to give it a try.”
Meet our highly-qualified team and read about experiences of other clients with Mike Agruss Law on our testimonials page.
Midland Credit Management Services Settlement
If you want to settle a debt with Midland Credit Management, ask yourself these questions first:
- Do I really owe this debt?
- Is this debt within the statute of limitations?
- Is this debt on my credit report?
- If I pay this debt, will MCM remove it from my credit report?
- If I pay this debt, will the original creditor remove it from my credit report?
- If I pay this debt, will I get something in writing from MCM confirming the payment and settlement terms?
These are not the only things to consider when dealing with debt collectors. We are here to help you answer the questions above, and much more. Whether it’s harassment, settlement, pay for delete, or any other legal issue with Midland Credit Management, the folks at Mike Agruss Law are here to help you.
What If Midland Credit Management Is On My Credit Report?
Based on our experience, MCM also is in the practice of credit reporting. That means, MCM will mark your credit report with the debt they are trying to collect on. In addition to Midland Credit Management, the original creditor may be on your credit report. For example, if you owe Credit One Bank on a credit card, and MCM is collecting on it, both Credit One Bank and MCM may have separate entries on your credit report. This is important because you will want both parties to update your credit report if you pay off the debt.
We Have Handled Many Cases Against MCM
We handled a lot of cases recently where Midland Credit Management reported debt on a consumer’s credit report. MCM Collections likely reports on credit reports to obtain greater leverage over the consumer. If MCM is on your credit report, they may tell you if you pay the debt, they’ll remove it from your credit report. This is commonly known as pay for delete. You pay MCM, and they delete the debt from your credit report. Even if MCM is not on your credit report, maybe the original creditor is. If you pay off the debt to MCM, then the original creditor, and MCM, should accurately report this on your credit report
If MCM is on your credit report, we can help you dispute it. Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly. Along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or maybe you were a victim of identity theft. If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute them. My office will help you pull your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information.
REMEMBER…
If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), you may be also entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000.00, plus the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision, which means that the credit reporting agency will be held responsible to pay your attorney’s fees and costs. Therefore, if you hire Mike Agruss Law to represent your can, you will not pay a penny for attorney fees!
Can Midland Credit Management Sue Me?
Third-party debt collectors don’t always own the debt they are attempting to collect and typically need to hire a lawyer, or use in-house counsel, to file a lawsuit. However, there are collection agencies that do sue consumers. Midland Credit Management is one of the largest junk-debt buyers, and it also collects and sues on debt.
Still, it is less likely for a debt collector to sue you than for an original creditor to hire a lawyer or collection firm to sue you. If Midland Credit Management has threatened to sue you, contact Mike Agruss Law as soon as possible.
Can Midland Credit Management Garnish my Wages?
No, MCM cannot garnish your wages, unless they have a judgment. If Midland Credit Management has not sued you, then the agency cannot get a judgment. Barring limited situations (usually involving debts owed to the government for student loans, taxes, etc.), a company must have a judgment in order to garnish someone’s wages. In short, we have not seen this agency file a lawsuit against a consumer, so the agency cannot garnish your wages, minus the exceptions listed above. If Midland Credit Management has threatened to garnish your wages, contact our office right away.
How to Handle Collection Calls from Midland Credit Management
If you have been bombarded with calls from Midland Credit (or any other debt collection agency), then you can simply tell them to stop calling you. They are required to stop calling you after receiving notice. You can also write a cease and desist letter to the agency that you do not want to receive any more calls. It is good to have it on record.
While requesting them not to call anymore will not make anything you owe go away, it can help ease the stress of being contacted. If Midland Credit Management contacts you after you have requested them not to, then they are engaging in harassing practices. Contact our firm to find out legal options to get the calls to stop and receive financial compensation for the inappropriate communication and other violations.
Complaints against Midland Credit Management
If you’re on this page, chances are you are just like the hundreds of consumers out there being harassed by Midland Credit Management. They have received numerous complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and consumer websites, including on Pissed Consumer and the Ripoff Report.
Although Midland Credit Management is not accredited, the BBB gives MCM an “A” rating. Despite its “A” rating, there are nearly 350 customer complaints from the last three years on the BBB website. Here are some of the many BBB complaints regarding Midland Credit Management:
- “They are calling me for another person that I have no idea about. They do NOT have accurate information…”
- “These sharks sent me several collection letters or notices back Sept-Nov 2016, about an age-old Chase account that was long expired (and paid in full).”
- “This place called my place of business to collect my debt WHILE clocked in on the job, ON MY WORK PHONE NUMBER. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!”
Reviews and complaints on Pissed Consumer do not get any better for Midland Credit Management. MCM has an average of 1.0 stars on Pissed Consumer. Here’s what people on Pissed Consumer have to say about MCM:
- “They contacted me several years back about a debt that was 12 years old at that time, what lenders call zombie debt. What they tried to do was add interest onto the 12 year old debt. The original debt was settled”
- “This company called 2-5 times a day, my place of employment and my cell phone. I have the call recorded where she is telling one of my employees about my debt and never once confirmed she was a debt collector with this company.”
- “This company will go to all lengths to not help a client who has a serious debt situation. They will put you on hold for unreasonable lengths of time. Not to mention once you talk to someone, that person either switches you to several other departments or pretends that they can help you. Midland credits intentions are only to get whatever information they need from you.”
Reviews and complaints on Rip-off Report are just as bad. Here’s a snippet of the reviews on Rip-off Report:
- “There are statute of limitations for collecting debts. These companies are trying to trick people into paying debts no longer legal owed and in some cases never owed. We don’t have debtor prisons if companies want their money they must sue within the statutory time limit.”
- “Be aware of these folks! Don’t pay the bill without researching and questioning it first.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Midland Funding LLC? What do they have to do with MCM Collections?
Midland Funding LLC is a company that purchases unpaid debt, including credit card debt, personal loans, and other debts. Midland Funding buys these accounts when the original creditor decides to sell the unpaid account rather than continue collection efforts. While Midland Funding LLC buys debt accounts, they do not service them. While Midland Credit is also a junk-debt buyer, MCM Collections services all of Midland Funding’s accounts.
Does another company own Midland Credit Management?
Yes, Midland Credit Management is a subsidiary of its parent company, Encore Capital Group. Encore Capital Group is a publicly traded debt buyer. The company operates throughout the United States and is headquartered in San Diego.
Can I file a lawsuit against Midland Credit Management for free?
Yes. At Mike Agruss Law, we handle consumer rights cases based on a fee-shift provision and/or a contingency fee. That means either the other side pays your fees and costs, or we take a percentage of your recovery. Whether it’s a fee-shift case or a contingency-fee case, we don’t get paid unless you get paid, and you’ll never owe us a penny for our time.
What are the damages I can get under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
If a collection agency violates any section of the FDCPA, you are entitled to damages up to $1,000.00. You may also be entitled to actual damages if the violation caused you out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if a collection agency threatens you with legal action to induce you to pay the debt, you may be able to get your payment back as actual damages.
What type of debt is covered under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
Only consumer debt, such as personal, family, and household debts. For example, the money you owe on a personal credit card, an auto loan, a medical bill, or a utility bill. The FDCPA does not cover debts you incurred to run a business, or debts regarding unpaid taxes, or traffic tickets. Only third-party debt collectors are bound by the FDCPA. Original creditors, such as banks and credit card companies, are not bound by the FDCPA.
Are there state laws that protect me from original creditors?
Yes! Several states also have laws that provide their citizens an additional layer of protection. If you live in California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wisconsin, you have additional state-law rights. Contact us for more information!
Are mistakes on credit reports common?
Yes! Are you one of the 40 million Americans who have a mistake on their credit report? Mistakes on your credit report can be very costly. Along with causing you to pay higher interest rates, you may be denied credit, insurance, a rental home, a loan, or even a job because of these mistakes. Some mistakes may include someone else’s information on your credit report, inaccurate public records, stale collection accounts, or maybe you were a victim of identity theft.
What do I do if I have a mistake on my credit report?
If you have a mistake on your credit report, there is a process to dispute them. My office will help you pull your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information. If a credit reporting agency violates its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000.00, plus the credit reporting agency will be required to fix the error. The FCRA also has a fee-shift provision, which means the credit reporting agency pays your attorney’s fees and costs. Therefore, you will not pay me a penny for my time. To speed up the process, please get a free copy of your credit report at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also learn more about the FCRA and your rights here.
Midland Credit Management, Inc., Address, Phone Number, and Contact Information
Midland Credit Management is located at 350 Camino De La Reina Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92108. Their P.O. box is: 939069 San Diego, CA 92193.
The main telephone numbers for MCM are 800-825-8131 and 800-296-2657. These are just two of many MCM contact numbers. Below, you can find a full list of all of the telephone numbers used by MCM for calling customers.
Midland Credit Management’s website is www.midlandcredit.com. They are owned by Encore Capital Group.
Call Mike Agruss Law for a Free Case Review
If Midland Credit Management is harassing you over a debt, you are entitled to have the harassment stop. You may also be legally eligible for financial damages. You may be eligible to collect $1,000 for harassment. Under various state and federal laws, we will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or based on a contingency fee. That means, the collector pays your attorney’s fees and costs. You won’t pay us a penny!
We have settled thousands of debt collection harassment cases. Let us help you today. Contact Mike Agruss Law at 312-300-5996, schedule a call, or fill out our contact form to get a free case review and stop the harassment once and for all. We will get back to you in no time.
