Midland Credit Management Inc.

Corporate structure

Who owns Midland Credit Management Inc.?

Midland Credit Management Inc. is owned by or affiliated with Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG).

Common original creditors whose accounts Midland Credit Management Inc. has purchased include: Citibank, Chase, Bank of America, Capital One, HSBC, GE Money Bank, Washington Mutual, Target (TD Bank).

Regulatory history

CFPB and regulatory enforcement

Your next steps

What to do if Midland Credit Management Inc. is suing you

1. 1
   Find your deadline immediatelyYou have a limited number of days to file your Answer after being served — typically 20 to 35 days depending on your state. Missing this deadline results in a default judgment. Check your state’s guide for the exact deadline.
2. 2
   Demand proof of ownershipMidland Credit Management Inc. must prove a valid, unbroken chain of assignment from your original creditor. In your Answer, raise lack of standing and require the plaintiff to produce the bill of sale and account-level documentation.
3. 3
   Check the statute of limitationsDebt buyers sometimes sue on old accounts. If the limitations period in your state has run since your last payment or the charge-off date, you may have a complete defense. Look up the state guide for your jurisdiction.
4. 4
   File your Answer — even if you plan to settleFiling a timely Answer preserves all your defenses and gives you leverage to negotiate a better settlement. Do not ignore the lawsuit expecting it to go away. See your state’s defense guide.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Midland Credit Management Inc.

• Who is Midland Credit Management and Midland Funding LLC?

  Both entities are part of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG). Midland Funding LLC holds purchased debt portfolios and is typically named as plaintiff in lawsuits. Midland Credit Management Inc. (MCM) is the servicer that handles collections. Encore is the largest publicly traded debt buyer in the United States.

• Why is Midland Funding LLC suing me?

  Midland Funding purchased your charged-off account from your original creditor. When voluntary collection by MCM is unsuccessful, Encore's entities file lawsuits through local attorneys or in-house counsel to obtain a judgment they can use to garnish wages or bank accounts.

• What was the 2015 CFPB consent order against Encore Capital?

  In 2015, the CFPB and 47 state attorneys general entered a consent order with Encore Capital Group for collecting inaccurate debts, suing consumers using false affidavits, and suing without adequate documentation. The order imposed significant practice reforms and restricted Encore from suing on debts it cannot document.

• How do I challenge Midland's standing to sue me?

  You can raise lack of standing as an affirmative defense in your Answer, requiring Midland Funding to produce a complete chain of assignment from the original creditor. Under the 2015 consent order, Encore was specifically required to have documentation before suing — if it cannot produce it, courts have dismissed the case.

• Is the statute of limitations relevant to a Midland lawsuit?

  Yes. If the limitations period in your state has expired since your last payment or the account charge-off, you can assert this as an affirmative defense. The specific limitations period varies by state and debt type — check the state guide for your jurisdiction.

• Should I try to settle or fight a Midland lawsuit?

  Both options are worth evaluating. Many consumers successfully negotiate lump-sum settlements for significantly less than the full amount claimed. However, filing an Answer first — before settling — preserves your leverage and your defenses. Do not let a deadline pass without responding.

State defense guides

Sued by Midland Credit Management Inc.? Find your state