If Midland Funding has called you, sent you a letter, or shown up on your credit report, you are not alone. Midland Funding is one of the biggest debt buyers in the country, and it collects on a huge number of old credit card and store card accounts.
This page explains who Midland Funding is, which phone numbers it calls from, and what to do if it sues you in New York.
Midland Funding at a Glance
- What it is: A debt buyer. It buys unpaid accounts from banks and credit card companies, then tries to collect.
- Who collects for it: Midland Credit Management (MCM), its sister company
- Parent company: Encore Capital Group
- Headquarters: 350 Camino de la Reina, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92108
- Main phone: 800-296-2657
- Also known as: Midland Funding LLC, Midland Credit Management, MCM, Midland Credit
- Where it collects: Nationwide, including New York
Struggling with your debt?
Who Is Midland Funding?
Midland Funding LLC is a debt buyer based in San Diego, California. It is owned by Encore Capital Group, a publicly traded company. Its sister companies include Midland Credit Management and Asset Acceptance.
In 2020, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) described these companies together as the largest debt buyer and debt collector in the United States.
Midland Funding buys old, unpaid accounts from banks, credit card companies, and retailers. It usually pays a small fraction of the balance. Then it tries to collect the full amount from you.
Banks usually “charge off” a credit card account after about six months of missed payments. That means they write it off as a loss on their books, but it does not mean you no longer owe it.
Charged-off debt can still lead to a lawsuit, and many of these accounts are sold to buyers like Midland.
Midland Funding vs. Midland Credit Management
Midland Funding is the company that owns the debt. Midland Credit Management (MCM) is the company that services and collects it. So you may get letters and calls from MCM about an account that Midland Funding owns.
If you are sued, the lawsuit is often filed in Midland Funding’s name.
Once Midland buys an account, it can appear on your credit report as a collection account. Collection accounts can generally stay on your report for up to seven years from when you first fell behind with the original creditor.
Midland Funding Phone Numbers
Midland Credit Management calls from many different numbers. As of September 2026, Midland’s own website confirms that these numbers belong to its team:
- 800-290-4014
- 800-276-2317
- 800-290-2187
- 800-214-9506
- 800-889-8740
Its main customer line is 800-296-2657. Scammers sometimes pretend to be real debt collectors, so do not give out bank or card details on a call you did not expect. Ask for everything in writing first.
What to Do If Midland Funding Contacts You
- Do not ignore it. Ignoring letters or court papers usually makes things worse.
- Do not agree to pay on the first call. Say you want the details in writing before you discuss the account.
- Read the validation notice. Debt collectors must send a written notice with the amount owed, the original creditor, and how to dispute the debt. You generally have 30 days after you get it to dispute in writing.
- Dispute anything that looks wrong. This includes the amount, your name, the account number, or a debt you do not recognize. Send your dispute by certified mail and keep copies.
- Check how old the debt is. In New York, most consumer credit debts can only be sued on for three years. Learn more about the statute of limitations on debt (the deadline to file a lawsuit).
- Know your rights. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (the federal law that controls how debt collectors can treat you) bans harassment, lies, and calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. The Federal Trade Commission has a plain-English guide to these rights.
- Talk to an attorney before you sign or pay anything. This matters most if you have already been sued.
Midland Funding Lawsuits and Government Action
CFPB Action Against Midland Funding and Encore
In 2015, the CFPB found that Encore and its subsidiaries, including Midland Funding, broke federal consumer protection laws. The companies were ordered to pay up to $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty.
In September 2020, the CFPB sued the companies again. It said they broke the 2015 order, including by suing people without the required paperwork and by collecting on old debts without giving required disclosures.
About a month later, the companies settled with the CFPB. They agreed to pay a $15 million penalty and about $79,000 back to consumers. The settlement also required stricter collection rules for another five years.
42-State Robo-Signing Settlement
In December 2018, attorneys general from 42 states and Washington, D.C. reached a $6 million settlement with Encore, Midland Funding, and Midland Credit Management. The states said Midland signed and filed court affidavits in large numbers without checking the information in them. This is called “robo-signing.”
The settlement required Midland to verify the facts in its court papers and to have proper account records before suing. New York was not one of the states in this settlement, but the lesson still applies: always make Midland prove its case.
Midland Funding Complaints
People file complaints about Midland with the CFPB every year. Common complaint topics include:
- Trying to collect a debt the person says they do not owe
- Threatening legal action
- Problems with written notices about the debt
- Wrong information on credit reports
- False statements about the debt
- How often and when they call
You can search the CFPB complaint database to see current complaints about Midland. You can also read reviews on Midland Credit Management’s Better Business Bureau profile.
If you think Midland broke the law, you can file a complaint with the CFPB or with the New York Attorney General.
What Happens If Midland Funding Sues You in New York?
Midland files many debt collection lawsuits. If you are served with a summons, you have a short deadline to respond. In New York, that is often 20 or 30 days, depending on how you were served.
If you miss the deadline, the court can enter a default judgment against you. Midland can then try to garnish part of your wages or freeze money in your bank account.
New York gives you strong protections in these cases. A 2022 state law, the Consumer Credit Fairness Act, made several big changes:
- It shortened the time limit to sue on most consumer credit debts, like credit cards, to three years.
- Once that time limit passes, making a payment does not restart it.
- The court must mail you an extra notice about the lawsuit.
- Debt buyers like Midland must file proof of the debt and of who has owned it before a court can grant a default judgment.
These rules can give you real defenses. An attorney can check whether Midland waited too long, whether its paperwork is complete, and whether it can prove it owns your account.
How Tayne Law Group Can Help With Midland Funding
Tayne Law Group is a New York debt relief law firm. We have resolved many accounts with Midland Funding, Midland Credit Management, and Encore Capital Group.
For example, a client came to us with a QVC account that had a balance of $1,371.02. Our debt resolution team resolved the account with Midland Funding for $471.10. That saved the client about 66%.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Whether Midland is calling you or has already sued you, we can review your options, respond to the lawsuit, and negotiate on your behalf. We also help with credit card debt held by other large debt buyers, including Cavalry Portfolio Services, Portfolio Recovery Associates, LVNV Funding, and Jefferson Capital Systems.
Working with an attorney does not have to cost more. Call 866-890-7337 or contact us online to schedule a free phone consultation.
Struggling with your debt?
Frequently Asked Questions About Midland Funding
Is Midland Funding a legitimate company?
Yes. Midland Funding is a real debt buyer owned by Encore Capital Group. Scammers sometimes pose as real collectors, though, so always ask for a written validation notice before you pay.
Why is Midland Funding on my credit report?
Midland most likely bought an old account from one of your creditors and now reports it as a collection account. Check that the amount, dates, and original creditor are correct, and dispute anything that is not.
Is Midland Credit Management the same as Midland Funding?
They are sister companies under Encore Capital Group. Midland Funding owns the debt, and Midland Credit Management collects it.
Can Midland Funding sue me in New York?
Yes, if the debt is valid and still within the time limit. For most consumer credit debts in New York, that limit is three years. Midland must also file proof that it owns your account.
Will paying Midland restart the statute of limitations in New York?
Once New York’s three-year limit on a consumer credit debt has passed, a payment does not restart it. Talk to an attorney before paying on an old debt, because the rules in other states can be different.
Can I negotiate with Midland Funding?
Often, yes. Midland usually paid far less than the balance for your account, so there may be room to resolve it for less. Get any agreement in writing before you pay.
What happens if I ignore a Midland Funding lawsuit?
The court can enter a default judgment against you. Midland can then try to garnish your wages or freeze your bank account. Responding on time protects your defenses.
Leslie H. Tayne, Esq. is a New York debt relief attorney and the founder of Tayne Law Group, P.C. With more than 25 years of experience, she focuses on consumer and business debt resolution, including merchant cash advance (MCA) debt, credit card debt, and small business debt. Leslie earned her J.D. from Touro Law Center and holds a B.A. in Public Affairs from SUNY Albany.
She is the author of Life & Debt: A Fresh Approach to Achieving Financial Wellness. A New York Super Lawyer from 2015 to 2024, Leslie is regularly quoted as a financial expert by CBS News, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Consumer Reports, and other national outlets.