Midstate Collection Solutions or MCS is a third-party collection agency based in Illinois. MCS has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including improper conduct or sharing of information and failure to verify debts. If you have been contacted by this debt collector, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Midstate Collection Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1998. The BBB established a profile page for MCS in 2005. Midstate Collection Solutions is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates Midstate Collection Solutions’s annual revenue at $442,891 and the size of its headquarters staff at 10 employees.
According to its website, MCS is “a professional organization dedicated to establishing long-term relationships with… clients,” whose goal is “to collect their past due receivables in a timely and honest manner through positive communication, integrity, and accountability.” MCS states that it is “committed to the reputation of their clients and restoring economic balance within the communities they serve by empowering those they connect with,” and cites as its five core principles partnership, integrity, compassion, improvement, and empowerment.
MCS employs a 7-step collection process beginning when clients place accounts with MCS. Next, data entry specialists enter account information into the MCS system within 3 business days. MCS collection staff mail the initial collection letters and make the initial phone calls within the next 10 business days. After 30 days, accounts that are still delinquent are reported to the credit reporting agencies. Accounts over $2,000 that are still delinquent are reviewed for possible litigation. In the final steps, consumer payments are processed and recovered funds are distributed to clients.
In addition to collections, Midstate Collection Solutions offers skip tracing and consultation and training services. Their website does not offer a lot of detailed information about its client base. They state their policies require compliance with “all federal and industry regulations, such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and HIPAA.” They also cite membership in several professional associations. Their Consumer FAQ page provides links to the national credit reporting agencies, but there are no links or references to additional consumer protection resources, laws, or enforcement agencies.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 9 complaints against Midstate Collection Solutions in the preceding 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Complaints are fairly evenly split between those alleging problems with billing and collections and those alleging problems with customer service. Since May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 15 complaints against MCS. Justia lists at least 2 cases of civil litigation involving MCS.
Midstate Collection Solutions, Inc.
PO Box 3292
Champaign, IL 61826-3292
Telephone:(217) 351-1888
Website: http://www.midstatecollections.com/home
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely MCS would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here are some Sample Complaints:
Complaints against Midstate Collection Solutions commonly cite problems resulting from disputes about the validity of debts and the accuracy of accounting methods or of information reported to the credit reporting agencies. In September 2017, a complainant indicated he had identified a delinquent item that had been reported to the credit reporting agencies by MCS, but that he had “never been notified through mail, email, or phone of the outstanding debt balance.” He stated that his credit report “shows a balance of $5,042.00 but doesn’t give account information or a means of resolving the debt.” He stated that he believed MCS “has intentionally refrained from contacting him in regard to the original debt in an attempt to accumulate ongoing fees.”
In response, Midstate Collection Solutions indicated they had received the account in June 2012. They had “attempted to contact this consumer by phone at his last know phone number …quite a few times… and that a person finally answered that phone and told us that we had a wrong number.” MCS was “unable to locate an updated contact number for this consumer…and also attempted to contact this consumer…at his last known address… but received a mail return.” MCS “located an updated address for the consumer and attempted to reach him by mail at the new address…but received another mail return, …then found another address for him and continued… contact attempts at the newest address.” Eventually, MCS received “yet another mail return, this time with a forwarding address in a state that they do not collect in, …so at that point they ceased collection attempts and forwarded this consumer’s account to another agency that does collect in this consumer’s new home state.” MCS stated that the new agency “made multiple attempts to contact the complainant by mail, with no response…and attempted to locate undated address and phone information for this consumer, with no success.” The new agency reported “that they never received any mail returns from any of the notices that they… mailed out to this consumer, and that he has never attempted to contact them in any way.” MCS stated they would provide him with information about his account. They also stated that his “apartment was eventually subleased, but that agreement is strictly between the consumer and the subtenant, not the landlord and subtenant, and that per the sublease agreement, the consumer still remains responsible to the landlord to fulfill the obligations specified in his original lease (such as the payment of rent and any other applicable charges) … if the subtenant defaults.” MCS advised the complainant to “pursue the subtenant directly to claim reimbursement per his sublease agreement for charges incurred as a result of their subtenancy.”
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
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“I don’t know if I’d call it a miracle like some of these other people, but whatever it is, they did it right. Exactly what you are looking for in a law firm: professional, polite, and efficient. They know what they are doing, and usually have a check waiting for you at the end. As a professional myself, I know how to spot competence and these guys have it. I recommend Lemberg Law”
“Recommend them highly. Quick to settle my claim, polite, diplomatic, and advocated aggressively on my behalf. Very professional, would gladly use them again.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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