PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
Consumer Complaints
There are over 11721 complaints on file for PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC. Dated between 2019-12-08 and 2013-07-12.
Complaints Page 57
2019-04-25
Seattle, WA
False statements or representation
Debt collection: Other debt
Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX, my vehicle broke down. It was my only source of transportation and I use it for my full time job at XXXX. I had checked my credit report earlier that year in XX/XX/XXXX and my credit was good, I had no collection accounts on my credit report, since I had dealt with them the previous year.
When I went to the Auto Dealership, thinking I had decent credit and would qualify for a low rate on an Auto Loan, they ran my credit through 10+ lenders and I was denied due to a debt collection account that appeared out of nowhere. I didn't receive a notification in writing from this company or a chance to validate. The Dealership said I would need to dispute this account with the credit bureaus.
I have tried everything, disputing with the credit bureaus, requesting validation and documents from PRA, the collector. This is causing me EXTREME hardship, to the point where I may become unemployed and homeless.
I need transportation for work and I am forced to rent a vehicle for {$1000.00} per week just to do my job, when I could have a $ XXXX/month car payment. This is costing me {$3700.00} per month in actual damages and expenses. This is causing hardship for me and my family and these companies blatantly violate the law with nobody holding them accountable.
On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a dispute to XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and also requested validation from PRA.
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received notification that the account was verified with all 3 credit bureaus and PRA wrote back saying that I didn't send them enough information, they refused to investigate and validate.
On XX/XX/XXXX, I requested the Method of Verification that XXXX, XXXX and XXXX used to verify the account. I also challenged the accuracy of the debt and re-requested validation from PRA.
XX/XX/XXXX, I received notification from XXXX, XXXX and XXXX that the I didn't supply enough information for them to give me the method of verification they used ( they are required under the FCRA to show you the method they used to verify an account ). I'm now clear they are using the automated system and not doing an actual investigation.
XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notification from PRA saying that this was considered validated and they sent me a screenshot of a statement that didn't have any identifying information on it. They didn't send me any proof of the name, ssn, dob match. They didn't sent me any contract and they didn't send me any proof that the debt wasn't paid or settled with another collection agency. They never proved that they have ownership of this debt.
XX/XX/XXXX, I send a request to XXXX, XXXX and XXXX to do an actual investigation on this account to prove they followed compliance procedures, to prove the account wasn't previously paid to another collector and that PRA had ownership of this debt.
XX/XX/XXXX, I receive the same letters back from XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. They were form letters that didn't address my concerns, show any method of verification and they failed to show they did any investigation at all.
XX/XX/XXXX. I received a template letter from PRA sending the exact same screenshot of 1 statement from a credit card company that doesn't clearly identify me, or a debt that I owe. They haven't shown me any proof that they own this debt, that the debt wasn't paid to another collection agency and they haven't complied with any of my requests for a contract or actual validation of the debt.
I have sent them enough letters, wasted enough time. This has caused me thousands of dollars in actual damages and hardship. It's costing me {$3700.00} per month that PRA and the credit bureaus waste. I really need someone to help me, I'm experiencing extreme hardship.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-25
Shulerville, SC
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt is not yours
Complaint: There's an account from XXXX/XXXX XXXX listed on my credit report, but I do not owe this company ANYTHING. They sent me a card in the mail after an online pre-approval, but I never purchased anything with them. The card wouldn't work and I called their customer service number and they advised me that this card was closed because they approved me in error, due to my FICO score I shouldn't have been approved. I was never able to use the card at all, so I'm unsure of how I owe them anything. I tried disputing the amount that they claimed I owed on several occasions with no luck. I don't understand how they approved me, sent me the card, closed it and yet they state that I owe money for a card that I was never able to use.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-24
Miami, FL
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: I do not know
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-24
Union Chapel, TX
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Talked to a third-party about your debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-24
Aloma, FL
Communication tactics
Debt collection: Other debt
Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-24
Dayton, OH
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt is not yours
Complaint: Why would I submit a fraud or identity theft if they have not proved the information that it was my information that was used. How many people were born in 1976 and how many people named XXXX XXXX. I have told them to give me information that would prove to me that it was in fact that my identity was used. If they could do that then I can rightfully fill out an affidavit stating I did not authorize this. However, if I do the affidavit right now then I could be clearing someone else debt that actually may owe them by the name of XXXX XXXX. Please ask them to verify with more verifiable identification such as my social security number. On the affidavit they supplied to me this week, it is asking me for my social security number. I will not give them that information. If this is my debt they should already have it. Why are they refusing to supply it to me. I will not and should not be bullied into making a fraud report on someone if I do not if it is fraud on me without the proper verification. Look at that affidavit you are asking me for all my important information that you have EXPLAINED to me that you do not have. So why are you pushing this debt on me if you can not verify it is me. A birth year or birthdate and a name does not say it is me and I can not put fraud on this account without knowing if it was actually my information. Please remove this off of my account if you can not verify SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR IDENTIFICATION. NOW IF YOU SUPPLY ME WITH THAT INFORMATION THEN I CAN NO LONGER ARGUE THAT ITS NOT FRAUD. IF YOU CAN VERIFY THAT INFORMATION THEN I WILL FILL OUT YOUR DISPUTE VERFICATIUONS TO THE FULLEST AND FOLLOW THE STEPS TO CORRECT THIS. HOWEVER, ONLY IF YOU CAN PROVE MY INFORMATION. SOMEONE OUT THERE OWES YOU AND YOU ARE WASTING TIME PURSUING THE WRONG PERSON,
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-24
Lexington, NC
Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly
Debt collection: I do not know
Contacted you after you asked them to stop
Complaint: A company by the name of Portfolio Recovery Associates contacted me at work one day during the week of XX/XX/2019 and I told the young lady very clearly to not call my job or I would in fact sue them. Again today I receive a phone call from the same company Portfolio Recovery Associates # XXXX and I told him again to not ever contact me at my job again.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-24
Houston, TX
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt was paid
Complaint: - In XX/XX/2019 I spent over an hour on the phone with representatives from Portfolio Recovery Services where upon we agreed upon a settlement amount for an Account they purchased from XXXX XXXX. ( I would like to have a copy of our recorded Conversation submitted into the evidence of this complaint. ) -The Amount agreed upon was {$700.00}. I paid the same day during the same phone call. Bank Records showing the payment was made is Attached.
-Since I was in the process of buying a house I needed proof that this debt was settled for my underwriter. On XX/XX/2019 I was issued a letter from XXXX XXXX Portfolio Recovery Services stating the terms of the settlement including the words " within approximately 30 days of the final payment successfully posting, our company will request the three major credit reporting agencies delete our companys tradeline related to your account from your credit '' A copy of this letter is attached. The Payment was posted the day of the initial conversation.
- Since the payment has taken place, I have constantly been harassed via phone and by mail demanding I pay the remaining balance on the account that was settled in XXXX. I contacted the Credit Reporting Agencies to remove this settled debt from my Report and I was sent another letter ( which I attached a picture of ) one of the letters that his been sent showing they " verified '' the debt. They are actively pursuing a settled debt.
-I have spoken to two managers and several associates of Portfolio Recovery and they each claim they are going to stop the calls. The account is still reporting on my credit report and negatively impacting my credit score.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-24
Plymouth, FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: In XXXX, I was a victim of identity theft and as a result credit cards were opened and non-authorized charges were made. I filed a Police Report on XX/XX/XXXX with the XXXX XXXX Police Department in Florida.
Since then, Portfolio Recovery purchased two debts that were charged off because XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX did not process the identity theft documents I send to them at that time in XXXX. I disputed the two accounts in XXXX and again in XXXX, XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. I filed a FTC Identity Theft report and also completed ( Portfolio Recovery 's ) their in house ID Theft affidavit. The correspondence that is attached from this month is stating that they are not removing it and will cease to investigate the account and the other is stating that I did not send any additional relevant information.
In summary, they are continuing to collect on accounts created in fraud and have ignored my repeated requests to have these accounts closed. I even attached a letter from XXXX XXXX where they have acknowledged that I made a claim for identity theft.
I have provided all of the documentation and reports for Portfolio Recovery to remove these two accounts and stop collection, however they are still considering these as verified debts. They bought these two accounts from the original lenders and have no history or way to prove their position. At this time, they are breaking the law and so are the credit bureau who have been informed of this situation.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-23
Killeen, TX
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: I do not know
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-23
Sacramento, CA
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Debt collection: Other debt
Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-23
Katonah, NY
False statements or representation
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Attempted to collect wrong amount
Complaint: company name is Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC. this company is claiming i owe them four different credit card accounts.
which are listed on my credit report. I've been back and forth with them almost a year disputing these amounts and requesting proof of debt.until this day i have not received. this company is falsely stating on my credit report report that the debt has been verified which has not been. i have disputed with all credit bureau 's and because of the false information written on report the credit bureau do not go further with investigation. I've sent another letter today to all credit bureau and including debt collector once again asking to verify debt for all four accounts. i would assume if i don't receive notice within 45 days as stated by the law that this should have been removed by credit bureau. all i'm asking is for some help in clearing up this mess on my credit report. thank you
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-23
Ray, MI
Communication tactics
Debt collection: Credit card debt
You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-23
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: Company has been notified a number of times that this account is a result of identity theft. I have reported this to police and the Federal Trade commission. Police report Done in XXXX XXXX case # XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX. FTC report # XXXX. I also have screen shots of all the telephone numbers Portfolio Recovery calls from. They call from various numbers all all the county trying to trick the consumer. They even make local numbers just to call me from. They will deny this but the phone log on the XXXX does not lie and when the numbers are called back they answer with their business name. I am going to turn this list of number and screen shots over to the Attorney Generals office for harassment and the fact they keep reporting this ID theft account on my credit reports. Furthermore, this collection company was notified of various other accounts in which I told them did not belong to me but they continued to harass me until the banks looked into the matters and confirmed the accounts to be fraud. Once they learned the banks verified the other accounts where not mine then and only then did Portfolio Recovery back down from their collection attempts. The account is reporting as XXXX XXXX Bank for {$440.00} via Portfolio Recovery.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-23
Pinellas Park, FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt is not yours
Complaint: in XXXX i saw a debt on my report that was not mine so i call portfolio recovery and ask portfolio recovery to validate the debt I all so shared with them that I share the same name as my dad, brother, and my son and that I would follow up with a letter I have sent three certified letters to ask for validating the debt 4 months later I have got no response but they call all the time they leave no message they call my phone and my mother phone although my letter state that all communications will be by mail. thank you for looking into this matter.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-22
Deerfield Beach, FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: I do not know
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-22
Milwaukee, WI
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-22
Written notification about debt
Debt collection: I do not know
Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-22
ID
Communication tactics
Debt collection: I do not know
You told them to stop contacting you, but they keep trying
Complaint: XX/XX/2019, a person called asking for " XXXX XXXX. '' I informed the caller, that is not my name. She asked if she was just pronouncing it wrong ; to which I responded, " No, that's not my name. You are calling my phone number, but you have the wrong person ''. She continued talking stating she needed to verify that she was calling the correct number. I continued to inform her the name she is inquiring about, is not my name and to please take me off her call list. She refused stating she needed to verify who she was speaking to. I told her she never verified who she was ; not even at the beginning of the phone call, so I'm not going to give her any information. I said, " You called my number lady, I didn't call you ''. After a few refusals of identifying herself, she said her name was XXXX or XXXX XXXX ; some name starting with an " XXXX '' from Portfolio Recovery. I told her that I know Federal and State laws and how she was calling and I had already informed her she had the wrong person ; was illegal debt collection practices. I told her I no longer wish to receive phone calls ; if she has something to say, the company may send a letter. She then asked, " so do I have the wrong person because we will keep calling looking for our customer? '' I stated, " Clearly, you have the incorrect person. '' Then she hung up.
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-22
Alpharetta, GA
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Complaint: We opened an account in XXXX. It was around XX/XX/XXXX. It should have included a credit protection option for unforeseen financial economic hardship, which should have been provided to us. I contacted XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX with a letter explaining that our daughter had experienced a extenuating XXXX-XXXX medical hardship, which resulted in her being in the hospital and XXXX for 34 days. I communicated this in XX/XX/XXXX, along with numerous calls to XXXX XXXX regarding each account that we had associate with XXXX XXXX. In turn, I also raised a customer complaint online as they instructed me to do, however to no avail. No one attempted to help us with this extenuating financial circumstances as result of job lost and my daughter 's XXXX-XXXX medical condition. In turn, I continued to receive calls regarding the account. At this point. I have been receiving over 100 multiple calls from this credit collection agency and others regarding this account, which has caused undue XXXX XXXX and XXXX along with the other circumstances that occur with my daughter and me experiencing a long term job lost. I am currently seeking work as well. My husband is also a XXXX Vet and we are both US military veterans. We have served our country well. This undue harassment and bias treatment regarding their collection practices is wrong. We attempted to implement the credit protection plan, which would have allowed one up to 24 months plus of deferment/ suppressing monthly payments given the circumstances.
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-21
Nyc, NY
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-20
Lawrenceville, GA
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Medical debt
Debt is not yours
Company Response: Closed with non-monetary relief
2019-04-20
Philadelphia, PA
Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Debt collection: Credit card debt
Sued you in a state where you do not live or did not sign for the debt
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-20
FL
Attempts to collect debt not owed
Debt collection: Other debt
Debt was result of identity theft
Complaint: I saw claim for a debt I never owed believed to be made fraudulently
Company Response: Closed with explanation
2019-04-19
Beyersville, TX
Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports: Credit reporting
Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company Response: Closed with explanation