June 2021 Complaints Against Portfolio Recovery Associates

Compiled from Public Data by FairShake

If you have an issue with Portfolio Recovery Associates, you’re not alone.

The US government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) collects complaints against financial companies.

In 2021, the CFPB received 4435 complaints against Portfolio Recovery Associates. Portfolio Recovery Associates ranked Number 11 among all financial companies for the most complaints.


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Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: MA

Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-Product: Credit reporting

Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company’s investigation into an existing problem
Sub-Issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Full Complaint:
XXXX XXXX and XXXX are my two accounts that are with XXXX XXXX. These accounts went into collections with portfolio. Was told that when These accounts are paid in full they will do a tradeline deletion, this has not happened … … XXXX XXXX has been paid since XXXX of XXXX and XXXX since XXXX 0f XXXX, portfolio recovery stated that they send the letters to all 3 credit bureaus no tradeline deletion

Complaint Tags: Older American

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: VA

Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-Product: Credit reporting

Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-Issue: Account status incorrect

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: GA

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Credit card debt

Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-Issue: Debt is not yours

Full Complaint:
When I downloaded my free credit report from XXXX XXXX today XX/XX/2021, I found that Portfolio Recovery claimed that it had debt from an original creditor, XXXX XXXX. I was unaware of any debt I may have had through XXXX. I called various numbers at XXXX, which referred me to other numbers at XXXX, none of which could find anything under my name and SS #. XXXX at XXXX told me on the phone to contact XXXX. I am going around in circles, and debt buyer Portfolio Recovery was unreachable. It purports to have a debt of {0.00}, but both XXXX and I are unable to verify this alleged debt.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 15, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: MA

Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-Product: Credit repair services

Issue: Confusing or misleading advertising or marketing

Full Complaint:
Portfolio recovery states that when you pay your account, after the final payment they will do a tradeline deletion on there accounts.they will send out letters to the 3 credit bureaus and request a tradeline deletion. I have learned that this services goes against the consumer data industry association guidelines and undermines the credit system. When you look at your credit report there is no deletion, when you call the credit bureaus they are clueless, when you call portfolio recovery they just say that they sent the letters to the bureaus and state what date they went out, when you press them for more answers they don’t know. This is in my opinion false advertising to the consumer and they should be held liable.

Complaint Tags: Older American

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: FL

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Credit card debt

Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-Issue: Debt is not yours

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: MD

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: I do not know

Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-Issue: Debt is not yours

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with non-monetary relief


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 15, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: TX

Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-Product: Credit reporting

Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-Issue: Information belongs to someone else

Full Complaint:
I have attempted to get the situation corrected for over a year. Over. A. Year. This will be THE LAST attempt to give XXXX XXXX the chance to remove this erroneous account from my credit file, as I am tired of them playing this game with them. I have already secured legal counsel and will using their willingness to continue reporting incorrect and fraudulent information on my credit report as an admission of guilt. They have yet to provide proof in the form of a copy of the original credit application. A STATEMENT IS NOT PROOF!! It is merely record of someone with a name similar to mine, living at an address that I have never lived at, having an account with them. It’s no secret as to why they have refused to provide LEGITIMENT PROOF in the form of the credit application because they know it will substantiate my point. I have never ( and will NEVER at this point ) do any business with XXXX XXXX or any of their affiliates. I contacted XXXX XXXX multiple times between XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, provided a copy of my ID that showed my date of birth, as well as the ONLY address I have ever lived at. I have even contacted their CEO and never received a response. The date of birth and address that they are reporting are not mine, yet they have refused to remove this account stating based on their records, it is my account. They continue reporting this fraudulent account with incorrect information which is harming my credit before I can even establish any. I contacted the number listed on the letter they provided to the CFPB as their ” response ” and was not able to be assisted AT ALL by their reps. I continued to get the same run around and non-answers as I have been getting for the past year. I spoke to a XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX AM at the number provided in the letter and explained why I was calling. She was clueless as to what the CFPB was and stated that the case numbers listed in the letter XXXX both XXXX XXXX and CFPB ) she was unable to look up. She then asked for my social and date of birth and stated that my date of birth was ” not being accepted by the system. ” So … … … .my question is again, HOW DO YOU SAY YOU HAVE VERIFIED AN ACCOUNT TO BELONG TO ME IF YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH OR SSN???!!!! I was then transferred to the fraud department and spoke to XXXX ( Associate ID XXXX ) who also was clueless as to assisting me with following up on the letter that was sent from XXXX XXXX. No one that I spoke to was able to even pull up an account with my social or date of birth, so how are they ” verifying ” this as an accurate account with the credit bureaus??

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: MA

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Credit card debt

Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-Issue: Debt is not yours

Full Complaint:
Hi XXXX ; Im confused and stressed and shocked when I reviewed my credit report this week and I found multiple inaccuracies on my credit report from the 3 major credit bureaus from a collection company that I never have dealt with before. I’ve attempted several times to ratify the issue with the original creditors and credit bureaus and they still reporting inaccurate, unverifiable information. I have disputed this item with the credit reporting agency and they reported you confirmed the account as valid. I honestly do not believe to ever have any relationship with this collection agency or original creditor. Also there are several inaccuracies with this account the way it’s reporting and that’s a total violation of FCRA and FDCPA laws and regulations. In a good faith effort to resolve the matter amicably, I must demand proof of this debt, specifically the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature, as well as proof of your authority in this matter. Absent such proof, you must correct any erroneous reports of this past debt as mine. I am writing to request that you please provide the following information : 1. Please evidence your authorization under 15 USC 1692 ( e ) and 15 USC 1692 ( f ) in this alleged matter. 2. What is your authorization of law for your collection of information? 3. What is your authorization of law for your collection of this alleged debt? 4. Please evidence your authorization to do business or operate in this state. 5. Please evidence proof of the alleged debt, including the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature. 6. Please provide a complete account history, including any charges added for collection activity.
You have 30 days upon receipt of this letter to provide strict proof of contract. In the event you can not provide strict proof of contract, you must cease and desist any and all collection efforts and immediately remove any derogatory information reported to the consumer reporting agencies. In addition, you will need to provide me your agreement, in writing, that you are closing your file, ceasing collecting activity, and deleting all information related to this reference number from any and all credit reports youve furnished the information to. In the event you transfer this account to an attorney without providing proof of contract, and proving your claim, he/she will be immediate reported to the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX for code of ethics violations.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with non-monetary relief


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 14, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: CA

Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-Product: Credit reporting

Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company’s investigation into an existing problem
Sub-Issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Full Complaint:
I am a victim of identity theft. The following accounts were opened without my knowledge, consent or authority. I have no idea how the theft took place, nor do I have knowledge of the suspects. I did not receive any money, goods, or services as a result of the identity theft.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with non-monetary relief


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: June 15, 2021

Company Official Name: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC

State: FL

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Other debt

Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-Issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


FairShake accessed this complaint from the public archives of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can file your own complaint with the CFPB here.

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