2054234020

Excellent notion.....

Love the airhorn idea!  I am off to by one now. LOL

I just say wrong # and hang up. It seems to be working, they stopped.

Oh trust me, there are more! Yet another PRA alias. These people are basically criminals with their sneaky tactics here. I'm a frequent poster here being hounded by PRA, CRA, Academy Collections, etc. for the debt of someone who has not lived at my home for 10 years.

Called repeatly. Caller ID - Recovery Portfolio.

I love how a poster said they follow the law! LOL!

They call as late as 10:35 on my phone and I have the caller ID to prove it. They also falsely report information to the credit agencies. They said I made a payment to them when I didn't so they could re-cycle my 7 yrs. I've never once made a payment to them and can verify that with every bank account I have. They also charge interest to accounts when it is ILLEGAL.

stop calling my phone idiots

some guy called, and asked for a name close to my name , said he was calling on my capital one acct....which I advised I've never owned a capital one acct in my lifetime, he then asked for my social security number , which i refused to give , as I had no Idea who I was talking too, he then said he needed to "verify" somethings , so he could put it with the dispute dept. which I refused, he got nervous and said I'll just send it there anyway then hung up.

better yet be nice and call a lawyer and sue them for harassment.

The do not call registry does nothing to stop these calls.  I've registered with them and the calls continue and continue.  I currently do not have a job and I've explained this to deaf ears.  I'm not even clear who it is I owe as they are very veiled and not forthcoming with information.  Regardless once I find out who it is they think I owe  I will be sure to include them in my bankruptcy because for as much as they have harrassed and bothered me I'm going to make sure they get what they deserve - NOTHING.

Awesome advice.  Thanks!

Hey Steve
TX is a 1 PARTY STATE - you do not have to even tell them you are recording the call.  YOU WANT TO DO THIS so you can get their illegal collection activities on tape and SUE THEM!  

Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm

The original creditor wrote off the debt and Portfolio probably paid less than 5 cents for it

ITS CALLED JUNK DEBT - they cannot legally collect it anyway. BUT THEY WILL TRY


Is Portfolio Recovery Associates in Financial Trouble?We've been flooded with consumer complaints from all across America stating that they have received IRS Form 1099-C from Portfolio Recovery Associates... Read More >>


http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/portfolio_recovery_associates.htm

Missouri AG Takes on Portfolio
Attorney General Koster takes action against fraudulent debt collectors

--Koster says businesses tried to collect debts people didn't owe--

St. Louis, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today filed suit against two debt collection companies that are operating scams to collect debts from citizens who do not owe the money.

Koster filed law suits in St. Louis against Portfolio Recovery Associates, a public company based in Virginia, and Professional Debt Management located in Kansas City.

Koster said Portfolio buys old and bankruptcy-discharged debt, often from another bad debt buyer, and then tries to collect, sometimes through court action. He said the company often is attempting to collect on accounts that are already paid or have been discharged in bankruptcy; sometimes they try to collect from the wrong consumer or for the wrong amounts. He said the company has threatened to garnish consumers' social security checks, which they have no authority to do, and has refused to provide consumers with proof that the debt is valid.

Koster said Professional Debt Management uses scare tactics, leaving messages on consumers' phones that there is an emergency. He said that like Portfolio, they attempt to collect on accounts already paid or from the wrong party.

"The Attorney General's office intends to take aggressive action to protect Missouri consumers," Koster said. "I am asking the court to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting these companies from violating consumer protection laws and to order that they provide full restitution to the people they have harmed."

Koster also is asking that the court impose monetary penalties and require the companies to pay all court costs.

Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC
Revenue Discovery Systems
Aka/ Anchor Receivables Management



PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES

AS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION?


Corporate Headquarters
120 Corporate Blvd., Norfolk VA 23502,
Mailing address: PO Box 12914 Norfolk VA 23541
Phone: (800) 772-1413      800-654-8818 or 757-519-9300
Fax: (757) 321 2504 or 866-296-0635


Offices:
4829 Hwy 45 North
Jackson, TN 38305


New Market Mall
5200 West Mercury Blvd
Hampton, VA 23666


500 West 1st Avenue
Hutchinson, KS 67501



Head Debt Collectors:
Steve Fredrickson, CEO
Email: sfredrickson@portfoliorecovery.com
Andrew Holmes, President
Email:  aholmes@portfoliorecovery.com
Craig Grube, Sr., VP
Email: cgrube@portfoliorecover.com
Donald A. Williams, Associate General Counsel
Email:  dwilliams@portfoliorecovery.com
www.portfoliorecovery.com

Delvanie Rush is a liar and employee of Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC.  Read her phony document.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bud Says                         Consumer Comments Below

Portfolio Recovery Associates, (PRA) bottom feeders with deep pockets, have apparently figured out how to get blood from a turnip. They collect on accounts dating back to the 90’s -- accounts so out of statute that most consumers can’t even remember if they even existed.

These vultures live off the grief and (in some cases) the time barred debts of unsophisticated consumers. Like most of the bottom feeders out there, PRA and Anchor are fighting the density of junk debt buyers who have flooded the market. To say the price for accounts has gone up is an under-statement. PRA is paying more just like everyone else to stay on top of the market.

One of PRA's favorite tricks is to use the IRS to collect for them. They issue the debtor a 1099C for the amount of the debt, then charge the full amount off as a loss. We've heard cases of other agencies collecting later on the same debt. Could PRA be charging off the full amount, then selling the account to another junk debt buyer? The poor consumer gets screwed in more ways than one. First, he's paid a questionable debt via a settlement to PRA - perhaps 60% on a debt they most likely couldn't have proven in court. Secondly, his taxes are hit when the IRS waves this 1099C in his face. They are effectively collecting for PRA at this point, since PRA took the loss (100%) of something they paid only pennies on the dollar for. Third, the consumer has to face the debt again when the junk debt buyer comes after him anew. Hopefully, the IRS will catch onto this scam. PRA is a publicly traded company, so one would think they wouldn't be able to get away with this type of financial accounting for very long without some preying eyes.


CAUTION: I recommend you NEVER disclose your bank account or credit card information to a debt collector, as you risk them emptying your account, or maxing out your credit card. If you feel they are reporting on your credit bureau files in error or need assistance in dealing with them, email  the details w/your location.  Assistance and referral to a consumer legal specialist may be available.

DO NOT CALL LAWS do not apply to debt collectors.  I suggest the next time you read the INFO for CONSUMERS next time you go to donotcall.gov

HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND MAKE THEM GO AWAY FOR GOOD AND GET SOME MONEY FROM THEM

Portfolio DOES NOT DEAL WITH LEGITIMATE VALID DEBT - its all OLD worthless debt that they CANNOT PROVE anyone owes.


THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS
HANDLE IT CORRECTLY AND THEY WILL END UP PAYING YOU

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE
Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    

The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

Dealing with Debt Collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
    
Statute of Limitations by State – always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm


Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
    they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans’ Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members’ Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY – use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE’S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies – report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0

Portfolio Recovery calling under another name.  They are trying to collect an "alleged" old debt for an account number that I don't know, in an amount that keeps changing.  She says it is from 2002, but they don't know what kind of debt it is, they think it is a credit card.  

A couple of weeks ago I was told it was around $8K.  I said HOW MUCH??? and they hung up on me.  Then today it is $6,500.  I have a copy of my credit report, pulled in April, 2010.  This account number and amount does not exist on my report.  ALL of my accounts show a paid in full/never late/closed status.  This account number does not show, but is supposedly for Wells Fargo.  I told her that I do not owe Wells Fargo anything, and I pulled up my report while I was on the phone and I am being told, "well, they changed it over to a new, different account number, and you took this out when you were living at this one address.  First off, I lived with a friend for 6 months.  Moved in there after my Condo was broken into and I was robbed.  The thieves stole credit cards and checks for Wells Fargo.  I closed all of my Wells Fargo accounts 2 months BEFORE I moved to that address.  

They do show that my credit cards were reported stolen, but she keeps insisting that there is another account.  Telling me that I owe it because I can't prove I paid it.  I told her I have no idea what it is for and I am not responsible for paying a debt that may not be mine.  I also informed her that I was WELL aware of the statute of limitations and that they are 4 years in the state where this debt allegedly occurred.  I told her repeatedly, I don't owe it and I'm not paying it.  So she put her supervisor on the phone.  

The supervisor informed me that I am still obligated to pay this debt,  even if it isn't on my credit report...that I need to pull my credit report from back in 2005 and look at that one...Is that even possible?  She said they tried to contact me back in 2005, but didn't hear back from me.  In 05, I was living in another state, and had been for 2 years.  I have ALWAYS forwarded my mail, and my phone number is listed, so it is not like I am hiding...after all, how did they get this number if their information is 7 years old?  She said that she didn't want to pull a current report, but that she was going to, and she was going to put this account on there, because as far as she is concerned, it should be.

I was also informed that they would continue to call and attempt to collect, and can't my husband help me out by making payments?  Well, they had that info, and I didn't even know him back when this alleged debt occurred.  I told her WF can kiss my you know what...and she said, well you aren't dealing with WF anymore, you are dealing with us, and isn't your credit report important to you?  I told her, if it ain't on there, I'm not worried about it...she hung up on me.

PROVE TO ME I OWE IT, not the other way around.  How can one show proof of payment on an account that they have no information on, if the debtor can't tell you what it is for, and they are pulling from an 05 Credit Report???

no message left

They have more numbers than you can block.  Believe me and more names to hide behind.

if one has hypothetically  had a credit card "written off" would they be getting calls from portfolio recovery so soon. If so what would your legal obligations be. If they or another collection agency send you a letter asking if the debt is valid even though tons of interest charges were added to it what do you do?

unknown call , please do not call again

I got a call come from these people on my cell today. I didn''t pick up the phone.