7579613545

Scared,

Get over it.

The only way these guys ever collect on anything is by sheer intimidation of ignorant people.  If they were going to do anything they're threatening, jail, cops, liens, burning bags of dogshit on your welcome mat, whatever, don't you think they'd have done it by now?

All those threats of legal action start off with you getting a legal notice in the mail, not with some badgering hack harassing you on the phone.

Do a little profiling for god's sake.  Think about who's really on the other end of those calls.  Probably some guy so dull witted they couldn't get a job as a Walmart greeter.  Most posters in this forum have better legal knowledge than the guys making the phone calls.  So what do they do?  Get a job where they sit in a little box all day, calling numbers that may or may not result in money, swilling coffee until they jack themselves into a state of caffeine induced narcosis.

I personally don't care if you skipped out on a bill or you're totally innocent, that's none of my business.

Read this entire forum, beginning to end.  There are many great suggestions here to deter the bottom feeder debt collection pricks who are harassing you.

Good luck.

What is a 'statute of limitations'?

This has to be the very bottom of the collection agencies. I have recieved
calls from west asset mang. nco and others for months all asking for someone I don't know..now portfolio...it is very clear to me they resell
debts even when they have known wrong information. I told one collection agency they have the wrong number and the next week another calls...What a bunch of crap.

Use the free program "Phone Call Blocker" it's a fun way to avoid idiots like these. You install the software, plug a phone line into your unused modem. Type in the numbers you want blocked. You can also block all calls for certain time periods etc.

If they are blocked, the phone will ring only once then promptly hang up, a record log keeps track of all callers.

It's free.

just got call  hung up   predictive dialing

These a--holes keep calling me for a debt that is over 8 years old. I have told them that this is legal notice to cease and desist all calls to my residence and yet they continue to call. Does ANYONE know of a good debt collection attorney in Tacoma Wa area. These jerks called me one morning at  0630, I hear that they cant call before 0800. Please respond and give me the name of a good attorney and maybe we can put these jerks OUT OF BUSINESS FOR GOOD.

These people are rude when they call and talk very hateful.

Same thing here, they call constantly.  Won't leave messages, no one's there when we answer.  I haven't owed anyone any money in like 15 years.  Nothing shows on my credit report as owed or deliquent. (well there are medical but not a lot of those).

Also might help to take the call and record it as you explain to them why they must stop harassing you.  Warn them that you'll take legal actrion if the harassment continues.

Then record them again when they call back to harass you some more......etc etc etc.

They are trained to keep on calling anyone who actually talks to them and to keep on pressing......their thing is to wear you down and to intimidate you.

Accumulate evidence of their illegal actions....see your attorney......

Then sue the scumbags.

If all else fails......call Rambo!  (Just kidding ;-)

Though that would make a great plot for a new Stallone movie eh?  Rambo comes out of retirement in some urban environment to take on the local loan sharks who are "legally" screwing the neighborhood!

Good Luck!

they are sued constantly - here is the latest lawsuit
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.

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.  

COLLECTION AGENCIES DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!
FROM www.budhibbs.com  A CONSUMER ADVOCATE WEBSITE that specializes in Debt Collections and offers assistance to consumers.  THEY ALSO EXPOSE THE WORST FDCPA VIOLATORS IN THE COUNTRY

Dealing with debt collectors
http://www.budhibbs.com/start.html

Statute of limitations by state – always double check directly with your own State Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from debt collectors – always double check with your own State Government website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm

From FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

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.


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.


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 >>


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.

They finally left a message.  OOOHHHHH a debt collector is calling.  Big woop.  One lawsuit from them and I'll sue the pants off of them.  Because They don't have one thing that is necessary for the debt,  proof they own it.
Turds.  The economy is bad but I would never work for scum like you.  Not if it was the last job on earth, and it looks like it might be.
See you in the soup kitchen.

A general licence to collect in all states? You must be the idiot the village of Norfolk lost. Like the debt you say I owe, you can't prove that one either.
Pass the hash pipe bro.  Your smoking something good.

keep getting calls from 757-961-3545,they never leave a message. I owe no bills.....

We love playing games with these folks. We try to see how long it takes before they get angry and hang up. I tell them "It's the economy, stupid". Better yet, when they call we ask them for money or credit. I guarantee they have training seminars based on our responses. I got over being poor along time ago. If I had a money tree in the back yard, I tell them I'd go out and pick them a bushel full. It frustrates them to no end. To think just a couple years ago I had credit score of 782 and my wife's was higher. Oh well, He gives and takes away according to His pleasure. Guess I'm in a taking away time.

They call I don't answer. They don't leave a message on my answering machine, just dead air. I reported them to "Do not call registry" zip no more calls.  Just email at www.donotcall.gov. If you have not registered with them yet you may have to register.It doesn't cost anything.  Also register you cell phone as these idiots can now get your cell number too.  GOOD LUCK !!

Portfolio Recovery Associates, owned by the master scammer Steven D Fredrickson, might be the biggest scam operation on this planet - Don't ever communicate with them and NEVER send them any money, or it will only get worse.

PRA 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....

Your complaint sounds similar to mine-however, these punks leave recorded messages in Spanish and we are not Latino and do not speak a word of Spanish.

Called my home number. No one on other end. We are on State & Federal DNC.

have you more info on this?  sounds good.  I'm being hounded for a 17-year-old debt and wonder if the orig debt holder sold the note to them.