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Midland Credit Management Rip-Off! Trying to collect a debt that is not mine! San Diego California
Midland Credit Management sent me a letter stating I owe over $2K to CitiBank for a master card. I called CitiBank and my account is paid off, closed and had always been in good standing. My credit report is as clean as a whisle and these jokers are telling me that I have 30 days to write them a letter to dispute the charges or they will assume the charges are valid. I mean, what if I had thought this was junk mail and threw it away. I've never heard of these people. I called their office and after being on hold and transfered around was told that it was already reported to the credit bureau two days after the date of their letter.
I'm disputing the charges and sent them a certified letter with return signature receipt requested. How do these people get away with screwing up innocent people's credit? I never received one phone call or any other correspondence on this issue from anyone and now they've put a black mark on a perfect credit rating.
I would think a legitimate business would contact the individual first before screwing up their credit because of their mistake. I am making them prove this (which they cannot because it's not my debt) and have reported this to the three major credit bureau's to investigate. There should be laws against this stuff!!!
K
Norristown, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Toby
Crestview,Florida,
U.S.A.
Midland Credit Mgmt - Uh Oh!
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, September 15, 2005
Uh-Oh, if you sent Midland a request for validation you'll probably be totally locked out of your account now, and they will not remove or correct the disputed info. from your credit report.
I to had an old account that got turned over to Midland Credit Mgmt. Isent them a request for validation and since my state(FL) requires all collections agents to be licensed and I did not find them listed on the licensing board, I asked for proof that they are licensed to collect in FLorida. I sent this Certified return receipt requested. I never heard anything from them. I checked and found they were still on my credit report, listed as disputed by consumer, so I filed a complaint with the BBB for their area. About a week later I got a response from the BBB that MCM would not give out any information to them without a signed release from me! Recently I refinanced my mortgage MCM reared it's ugly head again and a check was cut to pay it off. I called MCM and talked to a rep (who would not give me her name)she told me she could not discuss the debt with me as I had sent a refusal to pay. I informed her I had a copy of the letter in hand and the first sentence specifically said "AT THIS TIME THIS IS NOT A REFUSAL TO PAY!" She said, well you sent a cease and desist and we have marked the account as a refusal so I will not discuss the account with you. I told her again, I had not refused to pay but had asked for a validation of the account and proof they were licensed to collect in Florida as MCM is not listed on the site as licensed. She stated, we do not have to provdie validation after 45 days and we are licensed to collect in Florida. I will not discuss this account unless you fax us a cancellation of the cease and desist.
I politely told her I would not and I would forward her information along with my original letter and the letter from the BBB, whom they refused to work with, and ask that the check be returned to me and MCM could just continue to eat this debt since it is outside SOL for collection anyway! I have forwarded all information to the FTC and our local Attorney General, also reported them to the Professional Licensing board (who will find out if indeed they are registered or not)I am also in contact with a good consumer attorney regarding their FDCPA violations. Good luck in your quest with them! If they do you the same way be sure to keep all correspondence to/from them and file a complaint with FTC and your local attorney general.
Bob
Quinlan,Texas,
U.S.A.
Fight Back - there are ways
#3Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 15, 2005
K,
There are specific laws about trying to collect a debt that is not owed. Now that you have disputed the debt, make sure you keep all correspondence from these people (including the envelope it came it).
Chances are they will "pass around" this alleged debt to others and if you can find the pattern, you can sue for conspiricy to circumvent FDCPA and FCRA violations.
Find a good Consumer Lawyer (maybe legal aid or legal services) and go after them if they keep trying to get you to pay.
Big question - How did they get the info from CitiBank - there may be a lawsuit in that alone - see a good Consumer Rights lawyer and he or she may yet have some fun.