866-428-8102

said they were a law firm looking for person with same name and asked for ss# to confirm my id.  did not give, they said they were looking for a person from a different city

Called my WORK and asked to speak to the human resources dept to try to garnish my wages...I laughed and hung up. LOSERS!

This a collections agency - Portfolio Recovery Associates. They call all the time and if you answer the phone you will regret it! Best advice - don't talk to them - let them send you a letter if they have a real debt to collect! They won't answer questions, they won't do anything but accuse of you of owing them money and accuse of you refusing to pay. They call several times per day. And if they confirm your name they will track you down and start calling you at your job.  They leave voice mail messages in public phones at your job. They refuse to provide proof of the debt, they ignore written requests to stop calling you at your job, and they will file false lawsuits against you if they think they can get away with it. These people are the worst and they will stop at nothing to get money. I don't understand how this company is allowed to continue their practices. It's all over the internet about all the illegal things they have done to harass people. They will post false information to your credit reports in an effort to get you to respond or react.  They are liars out to get money from innocent people. Once you talk to them one time, you will never get rid of them unless you change your phone number. Their so-called legal department contains the worst people ever - they will say any awful thing they can to you to get you to stay on the phone so they can continue to harass you.

Great information. I am glad to know this. I certainly will take caution.
Thank you

Often do not have clear or any title to amount allegedly owed. Client just submitted a (form) letter from Portfolio Recovery Associates that when investigated has only an internal Account/Reference number with no indication of original creditor. Information can be easily obtained from Credit Bureaus from third parties selling the information who do not fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. While Transunion, Experian, (and to a lesser degree) Equifax are trying to plug these holes, there is still potential for an unscrupulous organization go obtain debt information (correct or incorrect) and attempt a collection without having title to the debt or the debt even being valid.

Go to these links and form your own opinion:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/Company/PORTFOLIO%20RECOVERY%20.aspx
http://www.budhibbs.com/am_worst_collection.htm

Do not use these sites as final advice sources, just research – but many sites gives a great overview of the seedy underside of debt collection. Often Bud Hibbs recommends not answering attorneys – we disagree.  Always answer or have someone answer for you legal court summons or papers – Deny, Deny, Deny. Not answering will result in a directed judgment.

Good Luck!

They were trying to scare you. Garnishment can only be obtained through Court Order.

I paid Portfolio Recovery for a debt - in full, one-time payment. They said when paid they would notify the credit bureaus and send me a letter.  Six months later after I paid, and I still cannot get them to notify the credit bureau or send me my letter. They had previously filed against me in court - so that remains on my credit report as unpaid because they have not notified the court.  I paid them as a direct debit from my bank account - big mistake because the payment does not appear on the bank records with their PRA name. I disputed this debt with the 3 credit bureaus and was told the court says debt is still on record. This is just a mess. Don't make my mistake.  Instead pay over several months not all at one time. At least with a payment plan you probably might receive a notice each month so you will have some documentation to match to your payments. Know that they will sue you so do not dismiss or ignore if you really owe the debt. But be aware that they may never clear the debt on your credit record or with the court so it remains a public record.

Jenny,

In addition to what you have posted, PRA also does not respond to validation of out-of-statute debts. Instead, they report them as a charge-off to the IRS. They are reported to the FTC for filing FRAUDULENT 1099-C's. The FTC does NOTHING, and the IRS gets to collect back taxes on a DISPUTED debt.

Something is SERIOUSLY wrong here....

Call constantly - give no information.  Called tonight at appx 8pm est - ID'd as Ms. Jackson;  I asked that she review Federal Debt Collection Laws and share any information she had for this household via mail -- she said she doesn't have to do that, so I advised her not to contact this # again.  She began screaming, "Who is this?  You must be "x"!  Get a job."  I laughed and her and told her to find a real job and hung up.

These people are ludicruous; have had calls from them for several months but never a letter notifying me what the heck they are calling about!

They called at about 6:30PM on Sunday and again at 7:30 PM again on Monday. I tried to pick up the call on Monday but it was only a recording instructing me to call them. I know I have no past debts so I am not going to fall for this one. I just received a letter from a collection agancy about a double billing that was reported in error. They sent me a letter and contact information. I turned it over to my insurance company to clear it up. This one is not doing that and they are not asking for a person in they're recording. I feel this is harrassment but what can we do to stop these clowns?

I just received a phone call this morning from a Cheryl Nephew from this number and just received her message only. I did not return her call and very much sooooooo glad I didn't reading you all emails...... Thank you all for the heads up.

Great information! I am so glad I read your postings. I too have been getting calls in rammed times of the day and night. I know there are lots of people scamming for money. But didn't think I would be one of the people they would scam.... Thanks for all of the news about this company.

This is just a tip that I wanted to pass along to those of you that receive unwanted Collection Agency phone calls.  Once you know that the number dialed to your cell phone is a Collection Agency, etc...be sure to save that number on your cell phone and title it "Do not answer"...so that when they call again...you'll know exactly what to do...Ignore it.  Portfolio Recovery Services has called me before...using a different number.  So glad I was able to look up this particular number on the internet and read all of the posts listed below.  This number is now saved on my cell phone as "Do not answer".

They actually called HR at my work and told them I was past due.  HR told me and sent a letter to the owner stating that they were not to call the business for any reason.  They stopped calling me at work and never called HR again.

These idiots all once to twice a day on my cell, I never answer it but just like today they called  1:24pm and again at 1:44pm.    I have NEVER received anything in the mail from them up until yesterday it is for two Capitol One accounts.    Their heady letter states that the 'Account selected for legal review' and my 'account' has been transferred to the litigation department but of course at this tiem no attorney has personally reviewed it.

They claim they own the accounts and can continue to charge interest (which would be a default rate of 29% if this is true).

I have no intention of ever paying these morons, just looking for the proper way of handling this.  It is within SOL.

who are they will not answer when i call back very unethical no courtesy must not be proud of who they are and what they do i hope they read this i would love to know who and where you are i would have you in court before you could make another bogus call

PRA is a multi-million scam company that's allowed to operate in all states. This is so wrong and yet, I've heard of no class action suit against them and a way to put them out of business or the owners in jail. Their deceptive tactics are going beyond the legal lmits.

I think the people that do get these illegal letters should turn around the counter-sue them for a million dollars and let PRA settle out for $100,000 or more. That's what I plan to do and to find a lawyer that's willing to do so on a contingency basis.

I've read whereby former PRA employees work on a straight commission basis and even they have to sue PRA just to get paid.

But why some Atty. General in any state has not even tried to go after them? Welcome to America.

They call constantly and don't leave a message. Fills my inbox w beeps taking up space. Once I did answer as I had grabbed the phone and this woman kept saying "You are her quit denying it or you would'nt have answered her phone". She was rude to the extreme. I don't answer any 8oo# I then google the number and put who was in address book.

I receive these calls generally 2-3 times a day.  The first call is usually in the morning, the 2nd and 3rd are almost always about 20 minutes apart midday.    I have never spoke to them, don't have voice mail so they can't leave any messages.   I also have never received anything in the mail from them, guess they can GTH.

I always have them calling for the person I bought my house off of 10 years ago and they never had this phone number that I have. so f*ck them! I have called them many of times and they say they will take the number out of there system and then 2 days goes bye and they start calling again.