8555372421

Actually, ignoring debt collectors is usually the best route to take.  If you are on the losing end of a judgment by default, that means you ignored the courts, not the debt collector.  And no, they can't collect on a debt that is past the statute of limitations (unless you ignore a court date and lose by default).  If they could, then what is the point of having a statute of limitations on the age of the debt?  DO NOT answer their calls or respond in any way.  Depending on the state you live in, you may actual "reset" the clock on the statute of limitations regarding the debt.  Unfortunately there are too many people like yourself giving bad advice on this web site.

"Actually, ignoring debt collectors is usually the best route to take"  Actually sending them a certified debt validation letter, cease and desist letter, or a not me letter is the best course of action.  Otherwise they will simply keep calling.  As for a default judgement, those only happen legally when served and ignored.  Some DCs like to use sewer service and then falsify papers in the court, which is another good reason to let them know that you are aware of your rights.  No that whole "talking to them resets the clock" is an urban myth that has been around for ages and has no basis in fact.   Making an actual payment will reset the clock however.

Occasionally get a call with no message left from this number.   This is a "junk" debt collector, meaning that they attempt to collect debts that are  past statute of limitations, already written off, and in some cases, "debts" that were either not legal or legitimate debts in the first place (online payday lenders), or completely fabricated.   They purchase these "debts" in batches for pennies on the dollar, collect what they can, and then sell the batch on to the next junk collector.  They will also use a variety of methods which are illegal under FDIC, such as lying, intimidation, harassment, and threats of arrest and other actions they have no authority to enforce.  They have nothing to lose by doing so, because hardly anyone ever actually reports or files complaints for FDIC violations, and the fines are so low that most collection agencies simply consider them a cost of doing business.  Many are also operated from outside the country, so FDIC and US courts cannot touch them.

If this were a LEGITIMATE collection agency, collecting legitimate debts via legal means, then absolutely the best way to deal with them is to talk to them, send a written request for debt confirmation, and then either pay the damned thing or go through the steps needed to contest it and/or cease the collection calls.
However, with JUNK debt collectors.   Many are operated from overseas where it is next to impossible to prosecute or enforce.   So engaging with them, negotiating with them, or sending them cease and desist letters is pointless.   The best way to deal with JUNK debt collectors is to simply ignore them.  If they do get you on the phone, once you recognize that the "debt" they are attempting to collect on is junk, simply respond "This is not a legitimate debt, I have no intention of paying you any money EVER." and hang up.

If you are especially bored and WANT to talk to them, do so with the knowledge that the "debt" they are threatening to collect on is uncollectible and likely illegitimate, and that they have no power to actually take any of the actions that they threaten to take.  They cannot take your house, they cannot arrest you, they cannot send the sheriff to your door.  However, make sure that as you toy with them, you do NOT acknowledge the debt as valid in any way.  Doing so will elevate the "value" of your account, and guarantee that you will get more calls from them, and from future junk collectors that your account may get sold to.

Actually, playing games with debt collectors, encouraging them to spend as much time and money on attempting to collect on you, then when they've finally sued you and won filing bankruptcy is the best strategy and the best thing you can do for the Human Race.

The more money and treasure you cause them to waste to no avail, the more likely these morons will finally get the message and give it up.

Assuming you've made yourself properly "collection proof" (sometimes improperly termed "judgment proof") the can sue, and even win and they STILL have NOTHING for their efforts. Sure, if some places they can seize a bank account.... but the answer to that is obvious. If you have no property other than your homestead they can only get a useless judgement which you can nullify with bankruptcy after you're sure you've made them spend as much money and effort as possible attempting to collect.

Fight back!

Beware - most of these debts are fake - ignore these calls and agree to nothing.  They buy old charge-offs that are no longer viable for pennies on the dollar. Then they try and get people to admit that there's still a debt. At that point they can become liable in some states. Therefore ignore the scam artists and don't agree to anything.  they break the long regularly and threaten people. Just don't respond.

Most of what you said is correct.  However, I would like to know what the FDIC is?  Now the law you are referring to is the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.)  As to most of these people being overseas, there are several havens right here in this country, Western New York being number 1 in my opinion.  Most of these debt collectors are right here and can be sued in Federal court.  Portfolio is one of them, and and 82 million dollar judgement against them is not chump change.  That is why individuals need to use their rights instead of waiting for the gubmint to take care of them.  It is always best to deal with these cretins by mail, certified, return receipt so that they know you mean business.

Yes we have heard that urban myth before that admitting over the phone that the debt exists resets the SOL.  I have yet to find anyone who can provide me with the actual law that says that however.  As to the rest of your post, try reading my other posts.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES AKA PRA
Good news, they got slapped hard for 82 million recently:  http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article21073359.html
Also the NY AG slapped them again it seems:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-0 ... ion-in-new-york

Posted in:
 https://800notes.com/forum/ta-2a4cf0cd3a9e0dd ... very-associates

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-952-1847

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-205-396-3619/7

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-205-588-7043

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-213-443-8792

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-404-909-8732/2

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-518-312-4713#p837986669093189763

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-620-708-4824

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-620-708-4838

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-620-860-0202

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-678-265-3904

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-714-699-3172

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-731-256-6444/3

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-731-256-7209

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-731-256-9336

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-215-1948

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-215-2332
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-320-1591

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-506-0177/11

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-946-1151

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-772-1413/47

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-851-9631/16

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-817-479-9154

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-817-500-4360/3

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-844-546-4261

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-737-4347

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-847-915-4056/2

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-858-568-7619

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-423-1568

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-423-5021/2

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-519-8330

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-914-595-7031/10
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-702-425-3735
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-954-606-9402/4

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-954-606-9402/5
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-298-1447/3
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-620-860-0783
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-757-215-2370
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-620-860-0784
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-537-2421
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-859-586-9557/10
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-855-7327/3
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-537-2421

One has to wonder why an allegedly “legitimate” business has to have so many different phone numbers to call from.

Web page with contact information:  http://www.portfoliorecovery.com/contact_us.html
Make sure you read how they just lost an 83 million dollar lawsuit against them:  http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article21073359.html

Make sure you read how the NY AG spanked them bad on May 1, 2014 in the following BBB page.

BBB page with 1,308 complaints, a government action from the State of New York, and yet they get an A rating?  http://www.bbb.org/norfolk/business-reviews/d ... olk-va-51000164
Bizapedia has them as a Delaware Corporation started in 2007 as opposed to the information on the BBBB page that says 1996:
http://www.bizapedia.com/de/PORTFOLIO-RECOVERY-LLC.html
http://www.bizapedia.com/addresses/120-CORPOR ... K-VA-23502.html

Other complaint sites:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/portfolio-recovery-associates-c275360.html
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/Portfolio_Recovery_Associates_LLC.htm

Cases against PRA:
http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%2020130416695
http://www.prweb.com/releases/Class-Action/Lawsuit/prweb5253574.htm
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district- ... 2707/228930/60/
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/casdce/3:2015cv00768/471398
http://www.bigclassaction.com/lawsuit/portfol ... olations-of.php
http://leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%20201409 ... SOCIATES,%20LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2015cv02765/308374
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/pennsylva ... -practices-act/
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/portfolio ... cpa-violations/
http://designertoday.com/News/6736/Reader.Get ... .Prejudice.aspx
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=PORTFOLIO+RECOVERY+ASSOCIATES%2C+LLC
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/14a0266p-06.pdf
http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2012/12/28/11-56600.pdf
http://statesboro.biz/News/702/Class-Action-L ... f-The-TCPA.aspx
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCOURTS-mie ... 1_12-cv-11526-2
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCOURTS-kye ... 5_13-cv-00147-0
And a CFPB case about a lawyer who works for PRA.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/ ... ction-lawsuits/
Some more interesting reading:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuild ... /td-p/8653

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/portfol ... dial-proof

http://www.creditreportproblems.com/Por ... es_LLC.htm

"PRA may also sometimes make harassing calls and send out threatening letters. In some cases they may have your information by mistake ~ so they are sending the WRONG PERSON collection notices!"

http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pd ... 66p-06.pdf

TCPA Class Action Suit against:
http://statesboro.biz/News/702/Class-Ac ... -TCPA.aspx

Mentioned here among other bottom feeding criminal DC's:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... story.html

Lawsuit against them:

http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-sett ... iolations/

They were  listed among the worst offenders on the late Bud Hibb's site!

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt.  It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes.  The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of the date of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site:  http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:  http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php
File a complaint at the NY State AG's Office here:  http://www.ag.ny.gov/

So like a very professional business. HaHa.
I don't bother picking up the phone if I don't recognize the number, the name on the caller ID or know anything of what they are talking about if they leave a message.

called and left no message.

Never leave a message.

As soon as you talk to them that start the clock over

Folks I have read in to many places as soon as you talk to them that starts the clock over.   If this company was right they would leave message.

I got a call from 855-537-2421 today. I didn't answer the call and they didn't leave a message
My husband & I are both disabled. Social Security Disability is our only source of income. We have not accrued any new debt in years and years. If this call was from Portfolio Recovery the debt must be  ancient.
(The caller id showed United States - they tried to make it seem important - like it was the government or something.)
I know a debtor cannot collect from you if your only source of income is Social Security because I hired an attorney and had an old debt "forgiven" a few years ago.
Good Bye Portfolio Recovery.

Some dumb company that is still calling the wrong number looking for someone I've never met after 7 years...there's gotta be a statute of limitations listed up there somewhere.

Don't Unwittingly Revive the Time Period for a Lawsuit
If a debt collector contacts you about an old, time-barred debt, be very careful in what you say to the bill collector. If you say or sign anything that might be considered an acknowledgement of the validity of the debt (meaning, you agree that you owe that debt even if the statute of limitations to sue has expired), then you may have revived, waived, or extended the statute of limitations. Or, if you make an agreement with that bill collector to pay the old debt, then you also may revive, waive or extend the statute of limitations. For more information, read Nolo's article What Should You Do if a Collector Tries to Collect a Time-Barred Debt?

Potential Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
If you are unsure whether the debt has expired under your state's statute of limitations, and you ask the debt collector if that debt is time-barred, the FDCPA requires that the collector tell the truth. If the debt is time-barred, but the debt collector has threatened to sue you or take other legal action to pressure you into settling that debt, then it may have violated the FDCPA; the FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from threatening legal action on a time-barred debt. For more information, read Nolo's article Illegal Debt Collection Practices.

www.nolo.com

keep Calling leaving no message .. Piss me off

Rejoice!
PRO is being sued!

http://www.fullmanfirm.com/portfolio-recovery ... 2NQcaAvvR8P8HAQ

That's supposed to be PRA not PRO. I blame auto correctly.

Can't they be reported