Quick Answer: Midland Credit Management (MCM) is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States, headquartered in San Diego, CA, and owned by publicly traded Encore Capital Group. They purchase old credit card, auto, and consumer loan accounts from banks — often years after default — for pennies on the dollar, then attempt to collect. Their most commonly reported outbound phone number is 877-366-0169. MCM has accumulated 6,450 complaints in the CFPB database, and federal courts have ruled against them for attempting to collect time-barred debts and for printing deceptive language on collection envelopes.
If MCM is in your call log: A call from Midland Credit Management is not a court order. It is not a judgment. It is not a legal threat. It is a company that purchased old debt for a fraction of its face value and is asking you to pay. This page gives you the information to respond from a position of knowledge — not fear.
| Company Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Midland Credit Management, Inc. (MCM) |
| Parent Company | Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG) |
| Type | Debt buyer and collector |
| Headquartered | San Diego, California |
| Primary Debt Types | Credit cards, auto loans, consumer finance, retail accounts |
| Primary Phone Numbers | 877-366-0169 · 800-358-4153 · 800-357-5129 |
| CFPB Complaints | 6,450 filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau |
| Federal Court Cases | 149 FDCPA opinions on record (CourtListener) |
| Governed By | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) |
Midland Credit Management is a debt buyer — they did not extend you credit. They purchased a debt account, probably for a fraction of the original balance, and are now attempting to collect the full amount.
You landed here because someone is chasing you for money. That part does end — and what happens next is the part almost nobody writes about.
In the latest issue (Sep 16): The truck was $28,999 online. At the desk it’s $31,400. As of yesterday, the FTC says the ad was the lie.
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — actionable money information you will not find anywhere else, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
That distinction matters. MCM has no relationship with the original creditor. They own the paper. Which means they have flexibility — and so do you.
Who Is Midland Credit Management?
Midland Credit Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), one of the largest publicly traded debt buyers in the world. Encore reports its financials to the SEC and shareholders, which means MCM’s collection activity is a revenue line item in a public company’s earnings reports. When MCM calls you, it’s not a small operation — it’s a large corporation with thousands of employees and hundreds of millions in annual collections.
MCM purchases charged-off debt — accounts that the original creditor has written off as uncollectible — from banks including Citibank, Capital One, Synchrony, and others. They typically pay a few cents per dollar of face value for these portfolios. The business model: buy low, collect more than you paid. What this means for you: MCM paid far less than you owe, which often creates room to negotiate a settlement for significantly less than the stated balance. Ask them directly what they paid; they won’t say. But know that some negotiating room almost always exists.
Midland Credit Management Phone Numbers
MCM uses a large number of outbound caller ID numbers. If you received a call from any number below, it was Midland Credit Management — and the same legal rights apply regardless of which number appeared on your caller ID.
Agruss Law Firm, an FDCPA litigation firm that tracks numbers used to contact their clients, has documented over 350 MCM phone numbers. The numbers below represent those with the strongest independent consumer reporting across multiple complaint databases.
| Phone Number | Pattern / Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 877-366-0169 | Primary toll-free outbound line. Most commonly reported by consumers. | HIGH — multiple independent sources |
| 877-366-1520 | 877-366 cluster — same calling block as primary line | HIGH — YouMail/WhyCallMe |
| 877-366-1642 | 877-366 cluster | HIGH — YouMail/WhyCallMe |
| 800-358-4153 | Toll-free outbound. “MIDLAND CREDIT / MCM” identified by consumers. | HIGH — 800notes 2024 |
| 800-357-5129 | Toll-free outbound. Debt collector confirmed on 800notes. | HIGH — 800notes 2023 |
| 800-889-8740 | Toll-free outbound. Confirmed MCM Nov 2024. | HIGH — 800notes 2024 |
| 800-275-4285 | Toll-free outbound. “Calls every hour during allowed timeframes.” | HIGH — 800notes 2023 |
| 800-341-2145 | Toll-free outbound. Multiple 2024 MCM reports. | HIGH — 800notes |
| 800-914-5582 | Toll-free outbound. “This number is for Midland Credit Management.” | HIGH — 800notes 2024 |
| 800-276-3612 | Toll-free outbound. Confirmed Midland Credit Management 2024. | HIGH — 800notes 2024 |
| 844-536-7423 | Toll-free outbound. MCM reports on YouMail. | HIGH — YouMail |
| 480-448-3774 | Arizona local outbound. Part of the 480-448-37xx calling block. | HIGH — WhyCallMe |
| 877-366-0xxx series | Large calling block: 0173, 0294, 0521, 0580, 0622, 0628, 0694, 0756, 1841 | MEDIUM — Agruss Law / cluster pattern |
| 480-448-37xx series | Arizona calling block: 3770, 3772, 3775, 3776, 3777, 3779 | MEDIUM — Agruss Law / cluster pattern |
| 800-290-3072 | Toll-free outbound. MCM confirmed Nov 2023. | MEDIUM — 800notes |
| 800-940-1246 | Toll-free outbound. Midland Debt Collector confirmed Dec 2023. | MEDIUM — 800notes |
Numbers confirmed through consumer reports on 800notes.com, WhyCallMe, YouMail, and court-documented FDCPA litigation. Outbound caller ID numbers only — not inbound customer service lines.
Why Is Midland Credit Management Calling You?
- They purchased an old account you defaulted on. MCM buys portfolios of charged-off debt from credit card companies, auto lenders, and retailers. The original creditor has already written off your account and sold it — often years ago. MCM is not the company you originally borrowed from.
- The debt may be years old — possibly older than your state allows them to sue you over. The single most important question with MCM: when did you last make a payment? If it was more than 3-7 years ago (depending on your state), the statute of limitations on the debt may have expired. MCM can still ask you to pay. They cannot legally sue you to collect. There is a difference.
- The account may not be yours. MCM’s top CFPB complaint category is “attempts to collect debt not owed.” Debt portfolios are bought and sold without complete documentation. Identity theft, mixed credit files, and data errors are common. You have the right to demand written validation before you pay or acknowledge anything.
- They may be attempting to restart the clock. Acknowledging a debt, making a partial payment, or in some states even agreeing that you might owe something can reset the statute of limitations. Before you say anything substantive on a call, know where you stand legally.
Free Tool — Statute of Limitations Checker: Dealing with old debt? The free Statute of Limitations Checker tells you if the collection clock has expired in your state — including the zombie debt and clock-restarting traps collectors use. Check My Status →
What CFPB Complaints Reveal About Midland Credit Management
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database contains 6,450 consumer complaints referencing Midland Credit Management — making MCM one of the most-complained-about debt collectors in the country. The most common issues, from a sample of recent complaints:
Read Consumer Complaint Narratives (5 published accounts)
“I noticed an account on my credit reports from a company called MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT that I had no business relationship with. MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT was attempting to collect on an alleged debt in the amount of $770.00. I have had my identity stolen and sent MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT a letter via certified mail notifying them about this fraudulent account including a copy of my Identity Theft report asking them to please delete the fraudulent account from my credit reports. I also disputed this fraudulent MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT account with the credit bureaus.” If MCM is reporting to your credit file, sending a written validation request may require them to stop — credit bureau reporting is increasingly recognized as a collection activity under FDCPA § 1692g. Can a Debt Collector Keep Reporting to Credit Bureaus After a Validation Request?
“Midland Credit Management has reported a collection account to my credit files stating that I owe $490.00. Midland Credit Management has no legal right to attempt to collect a debt. There is no debt owed. Midland Credit Management has not validated any alleged debt nor sent me a notice of collection. Midland Credit Management placing a derogatory file on my credit reports is a violation of the FCRA. I am in request of ALL contractual documents stating and proving that I am legally responsible for this account.”
“MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT did not have my DIRECT consent to communicate with me. In an attempt to collect an alleged debt MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT used the medium form of my consumer credit report to communicate an alleged debt to me. MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT’s actions also displayed this alleged debt information to others that had access to my consumer credit report. MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT disgraced and defamed my character as a consumer, by reporting this alleged debt on my consumer credit report. These actions are unfair and abusive practices, and are not in compliance with the law.”
“Received credit report and noticed a company by the name of MIDLAND Credit Management on my credit report several times. Tried making contact to verify who this company is with no results. I explained to them that I have no knowledge of their company and I have NO AGREEMENT with them. MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT $1200.00 / MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT $1200.00 / MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT $5800.00 / MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT $680.00.”
“Midland Credit Management has falsely claimed it has entered into a debt obligation with me. Midland Credit Management has failed to show a contract or trust containing its claim of a contract or trust. Midland Credit Management has failed to provide to me any written agreement accepted by me containing an alleged debt obligation or offer by Midland Credit Management.”
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Narratives published only when the consumer provides consent. Personal information redacted by the CFPB.
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Midland Credit Management in Federal Court
CourtListener records 149 published federal opinions involving Midland Credit Management and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Two 7th Circuit decisions are particularly relevant to consumers receiving MCM calls today.
Preston v. Midland Credit Management (7th Cir., 2020): MCM mailed collection letters with “TIME SENSITIVE DOCUMENT” printed on the envelope. The 7th Circuit reversed the district court and ruled this language violated FDCPA §1692f(8), which prohibits any language or symbol on a collection envelope beyond the collector’s name and address. The court held the prohibition is unambiguous — there is no “benign language exception.” MCM’s envelopes were designed to create urgency and compel consumers to open them.
Pierre v. Midland Credit Management (7th Cir., 2022): MCM sent letters to Illinois consumers offering to settle debts that were past the statute of limitations — so-called “zombie debts.” The letters disclosed MCM could neither sue nor report the debts to credit bureaus, yet still requested payment. A class was certified and a jury awarded $350,000 in statutory damages. The 7th Circuit vacated on standing grounds following the Supreme Court’s TransUnion ruling, but the dissent — joined by four circuit judges — noted that MCM’s zombie-debt collection “caused emotional distress and anxiety” and that the consumer “was not fooled into paying on the debt.” The core legal question remains unresolved in other circuits.
What this means for you: MCM has been found to use deceptive envelope labeling and has attempted to collect debts past their legal expiration. If your debt is old, the statute of limitations is your most important defense. Check your state’s limit here.
What To Do If Midland Credit Management Is Calling You
A call from MCM is a business communication — treat it like one. You do not need to panic, and you do not need to pay anything on the spot. Here is what to do instead:
- Don’t give out personal information on the first call. Ask who they are, what company they represent, and what debt they are calling about. Write it down. Do not confirm your Social Security number, date of birth, or any other identifying information until you have verified the debt in writing.
- Request a debt validation notice in writing. MCM is legally required under the FDCPA to send you a written notice within 5 days of first contact that includes the amount of the debt, the name of the original creditor, and your right to dispute it. Once you receive it, you have 30 days to dispute in writing. Disputing in writing requires them to stop collection until they verify.
- Check when you last made a payment on this account. MCM buys old debt. If you last paid more than 3-7 years ago (depending on your state), the statute of limitations may have expired. They can still ask you to pay, but they cannot take you to court. Check your state’s statute of limitations here.
- Do not acknowledge the debt, make a partial payment, or agree to a payment plan until you know your legal position. In many states, any of these actions can restart the statute of limitations — extending MCM’s legal window to sue you.
- If you want the calls to stop, send a written cease-and-desist by certified mail. The FDCPA requires MCM to stop contacting you upon receipt of a written request — except to confirm they received it or to notify you of specific legal action. Keep your certified mail receipt.
- Document every contact. Date, time, which number called, what was said, who identified themselves. If MCM violates the FDCPA — calling outside allowed hours (8am–9pm local time), using abusive language, misrepresenting the debt, or continuing to call after a cease request — each violation can be worth up to $1,000 plus attorney fees in federal court.
For the complete guide to your rights: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls.
Your FDCPA rights in brief: MCM must stop calling if you send a written cease-and-desist by certified mail. You can demand written debt verification within 30 days of first contact. FDCPA violations — including harassment, false statements, or calling outside allowed hours — are worth up to $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees in federal court. Full rights breakdown here.
Key Takeaways
- Midland Credit Management is a debt buyer — they purchased your account, likely for pennies on the dollar, from your original creditor
- They are a subsidiary of Encore Capital Group (NASDAQ: ECPG), a publicly traded corporation
- Their most commonly reported outbound numbers are 877-366-0169, 800-358-4153, and 800-357-5129 — they use hundreds of caller ID numbers total
- 6,450 CFPB complaints — the #1 issue is attempting to collect debts not actually owed
- Federal courts have ruled against MCM for collecting zombie debts and printing deceptive language on envelopes
- Check the statute of limitations on any MCM debt before paying or acknowledging anything — many MCM accounts are too old to be legally enforceable
- You have the right to written validation, the right to dispute, and the right to make them stop calling
Frequently Asked Questions About Midland Credit Management
Who is Midland Credit Management?
Midland Credit Management (MCM) is a debt buyer and collector headquartered in San Diego, California. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG). MCM purchases charged-off consumer debt — primarily credit card accounts, auto loans, and retail accounts — from original creditors at a discount, then attempts to collect the full balance from consumers. They are one of the largest debt buyers in the United States.
Is Midland Credit Management a scam?
MCM is a legitimate, licensed debt collection company — not a scam operation. However, that does not mean every call or collection attempt is valid. MCM has 6,450 CFPB complaints and has been found by federal courts to have used deceptive envelope labeling and to have attempted to collect time-barred debts. If MCM is contacting you about a debt you do not recognize or believe you do not owe, request written validation before doing anything else. Scammers do impersonate legitimate debt collectors; the way to tell the difference is to request written documentation and never send payment before verifying the debt in writing.
Why is Midland Credit Management calling me if I don’t recognize the debt?
Several explanations are common: the account may be old enough that you’ve forgotten it; the debt may have been sold and resold multiple times, with the paperwork becoming incomplete or inaccurate along the way; your identity may have been used to open an account fraudulently; or there may be a mixed credit file error. MCM’s top CFPB complaint category is “attempts to collect debt not owed” — meaning this is not an unusual situation. Demand written validation. If the debt is not yours, dispute it in writing within 30 days of receiving the notice.
Can Midland Credit Management sue me?
Yes — MCM does file lawsuits to collect debts, and as a large corporation they have legal staff to do so. However, their ability to sue is limited by your state’s statute of limitations. In most states, the window to sue on a credit card debt is 3 to 7 years from the date of last activity. MCM specializes in buying old debt, and many MCM accounts are at or past this limit. If the debt is time-barred, they cannot win in court even if you legally owe the money. Check your state’s statute of limitations before assuming they can successfully sue you. Check your state here.
How do I stop Midland Credit Management from calling?
Send a written cease-and-desist letter by certified mail to MCM’s address. Under the FDCPA, once they receive your written request, they must stop contacting you — except to confirm they’ve received your request or to inform you of a specific legal action (like filing a lawsuit). Keep your certified mail tracking number as proof of delivery. Note that making calls stop does not make the debt go away — if MCM can legally sue you, a cease request does not prevent that.
Should I pay Midland Credit Management or try to negotiate?
That depends on three things: whether the debt is actually yours, whether it is within the statute of limitations, and whether you have the money to settle. If the debt is legitimate and within the statute of limitations, MCM typically accepts less than the full balance — sometimes significantly less — because they purchased the debt at a discount. Getting any settlement in writing before paying is essential. If the debt is past the statute of limitations, you have more leverage. If the debt is not yours, do not pay — dispute it in writing and file a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general. There is no universal right answer; it depends on your specific situation.
What is MCM’s relationship to Encore Capital Group?
Midland Credit Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Encore Capital Group, Inc., which is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker ECPG. Encore is one of the largest debt buyers in the world, with operations in the US, Europe, and beyond. MCM handles the US consumer collections side of that business. When you deal with MCM, you are ultimately dealing with a large publicly traded company whose primary business is buying discounted debt and collecting more than they paid for it. That context is useful: their offers to settle are negotiating positions, not fixed amounts.
Know Your Rights: If a debt collector is contacting you, you have legal protections. See the complete list of FDCPA violations collectors commit most often. Use the free Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof of the debt, or check this collector’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Dealing With Debt? Before you pay a collector, understand all your debt relief options — including ones the collector won’t tell you about. If the debt feels unmanageable, take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz to see if the math favors a fresh start. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
