Harrassing phone calls

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesPortfolio Recovery Associates

Complaint

0
John Pansini
Country: United States
These people have been calling me for months, but never asking for me by name. Their message always begins: "Portfolio Recovery Associates... Please return this call at 1-800-860-0644..." They go on to say, "This communication will be with a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt." Then they give their corporate address -- nothing else.

I searched them online and found that there are many complaints against this company. They buy old debts for next to nothing, and then try to intimidate people into paying. They must be stopped.

I would like to join a class action against them. Please advise.

Thank you,
John Pansini

Comments

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  • 0
    Les
    My Cell phone has this little nice feature called block . when they call i hit block and never hear from that number again . true several days later they will call from another number. I currently have 10 or so of their numbers blocked. I was hearing from them everyday now maybe twice a month
  • 0
    moi
    The US Government's Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is soliciting input/complaints on Portfolio Recovery.

    Please place your complaint!!!

    https://help.consumerfinance.gov/app/tellyourstory
  • 0
    kkjzs
    | 1 reply
    these people call me every a couple of times with places all over the country coming up on my caller id. this is considered a zombie debt as it is at least eight years old. i talked to an attorney and the fees for filing bankruptcy were more than i could afford but he told me not to worry about it because i am disabled and i live on social security and ssi which is $700 a month.
        and yet they call me daily. i just let it go to voice mail. after all it is a zombie debt and i truly don't have the money to pay it.
    • 0
      Don replies to kkjzs
      First of all, you should acquaint yourself with your rights as well as the collectors rights which is available in abundance on the internet.
      Send them a Certified,  with signature return letter telling them to cease and desist any and all telephone contact to you and/or your number. Be sure to include that it applies to all of their subs and/or associates.  If the debt is unquestionably beyond the statute of limitations in your state, they may still sue hoping that you will disregard the summons.  If so...and you fail to respond disputing their claim,  they win.  You may not have to pay due to your circumstances but it can create a lot of grief for your in fighting it.   If you respond to the summons advising them that you intend to regard and defend it as Time Barred under the statute of limitations,  they will most often move on since they have no real chance of collecting a dime.  I work in the local district attorneys office locally,  and one thing that is starting to tighten the DA's jaws in these Zombie debt collectors using the courts to collect while knowingly ignoring the time barred laws.
  • 0
    M. Chaney
    I also have had a bad time with Portfolio, they reported to all three credit agencys that I opened an account with them this year, had the recorded phone calls from them and now have filed a suit in Florida that I will answer. They also claimed to be a debt collector and now they say they own the debt. I will file a compleint with the State of Florida.
  • 0
    Viki
    Be very careful of this company.  They are one of the most notorious and maliscious junk debt buyers.  I vowe to you from at least 3 years experience the only way to get them off your back is putting the phone down and getting busy with a registered c&d letter.  Get ready for what will happen next and please please do all of this.  The day you send that letter call the FTC and file a complaint if you feel they have just once crossed the line with you in their collection practices.  Next call all three credit bureaus and immediately for the next 90 days put a fraud alert on your credit reports.  Trust me on all of this.  Here is what to expect next.  They will call you one more time.  You will have to literally tell them you've got a signed registered letter you sent them about a week and half prior DEMANDING they never ever contact you, your family, friends, neighbors, or place of employment again about ANY alleged debt they say they have in your name.  They will hang up swiftly.  Call FTC quickly and add to your previous complaint stating they didn't comply with the c&d request.  They won't call again at least for almost a year.  Get ready for them to up the ante.  My advice is to get to know someone at your local county courthouse well enough that they will understand how important it is for you to have prior knowledge to any summons someone may file against you.  They are backing off from doing this as they've lost a lot in court recently but they may try to get a default judgment past you by accidentally not serving you properly.  Just know your county procedures carefully and how close the judges in your area are paying attention when a sleezy lawyer representing this company shows up with tons of cases the same day demanding default judgments.  What are the odds that many don't show up in court to defend themselves all over the same issue?  Old debt well past the point of successful litigation if given a chance to enter the defense.   If it happens you can still beat them.  Go for the jugular.  Consumer lawyers usually will take your case for free filing to vacate and then countersuit is on it's way where Portfolio not only loses the amount they sued for but end up losing additional money. Next wait for the strangeness to start appearing on your credit report.  Portfolio is very agressive.  They tried a two year hard run after I backed them in the corner and I nailed them for that and shut it down.  Look for any mysterious new debt that comes from another agency out of nowhere that has the oddest dates added to them.  You can bet it's most likely tied to some angered Portfoloio account manager who has decided it's them against you and if they can't harrass you on the phone daily they will get to your credit rating the best way they can.   In the end I promise you they will sell your debt but it's their final move against you.  It will be the scummy of all scummy collectors the look to sell your stale debt to.  Get ready for the entire process to start again.  However, this is soon going to end.  After a certain period of time stale debt will be tossed and cannot be resold.  Chances are they could end up buying it back again.  

    To the workers of this company who try the old scripted b.s. about pay your debts even if they are past the stats.  You owe it.  Thats a great line but with a doorway left wide open to reality.  The manner in which a consumer has paid on a stale debt for at least 7 1/2 years has been enormous.  There are some creditors out there who stuck it good to the consumer when opening the account and after begging and pleading to work with them to lower payments the consumer was met with a refusal and threats of destroyed credit the consumer had no choice.  A foul collection operator never personalizes any account.  The reason they were hired was because they usually have a rap sheet and have displayed the real I don't care attitude in life.  This allows the scummy owner who knows it takes breaking the law to get his free money back on his pennys he spent to use that type of person to make the calls.  But the scripted story of pay your debt you owe it sounds better.  Just don't pay attention to how low both the creditor and the collector went with all of this and how the consumer pays over and over and over.  No one has to live in their home harrassed over the phone by some tool talking moral platitudes when they may be a scum sucking pig.  

    These companys need only exist in collecting current debt and the approach so be to POLITELY work with the consumer.  Beyond that stale debt toss it.
  • 0
    MISTY
    Here is a list of phone numbers used by Portfolio Recovery Associates...BLOCK THEM ALL!!

    204-949-3108
    205-423-4020
    205-588-8181
    212-000-4956
    215-944-8989
    239-642-8598
    404-580-0720
    404-592-5171
    404-968-4848
    405-329-5714
    407-347-4014
    410-282-1420
    410-282-1422
    412-282-1420
    416-800-9148
    440-580-0720
    443-313-1380
    484-489-2840
    510-355-1780
    512-519-3650
    513-878-4916
    518-207-3600
    602-264-2270
    602-286-5100
    602-795-1383
    604-637-3300
    605-782-2890
    616-608-0982
    620-662-1492
    620-662-8870
    626-209-2241
    661-673-4507
    678-265-1568
    702-410-7069
    714-408-3640
    714-680-3192
    714-992-2282
    727-637-8527
    731-215-8010
    731-984-7690
    757-321-2508
    757-321-6271
    757-321-6279
    757-321-6280
    757-321-6281
    757-321-6282
    757-519-9300
    757-847-4539
    757-864-0020
    757-961-3544
    757-961-3545
    757-961-3546
    757-961-3547
    757-961-3548
    786-206-8643
    800-294-7691
    800-427-7142
    800-473-7994
    800-772-1413
    818-996-0404
    847-678-9710
    847-791-0193
    847-994-2540
    847-994-2544
    858-346-1184
    859-918-0780
    859-918-0782
    864-268-3762
    866-240-7530
    866-658-7508
    866-691-3568
    866-887-0973
    866-891-3257
    866-940-7640
    877-275-8236
    877-749-9731
    877-803-0008
    877-876-8723
    888-218-5212
    888-543-6072
    888-772-7326
    918-442-0320
    973-947-4806
    980-939-7534
  • 0
    Betty
    The calls will stop if you do send the Cease communication over the phone letter.  The problem is they will target you for other things so watch your credit report closely.  If your debt is past the SOL they might still attempt to sue hoping for a default judgment where you didn't show up to defend or you didn't get the summons and answer the demurrer.  They've gotten sued for this behavior in the past so I think they may be laying low for a while with that behavior. This is a ruthless invasive agency.  They have different levels of collection.  One for current accounts within the Stats.  And then there is those outside the stats and those are the ones they hammer down on with every illegal act they can think of.  They don't care.  Up until the FTC steps in letting them know about all the complaints and starts investigating.  When a state AG also files against them suddenly and reluctantly the pull back.  I'm one of the lucky ones.  I educated myself as to my rights and learned very quickly what they can and cannot do.  I have no tolerance for any collection agency calling my home.  I give them two times to understand I'm serious when I say I'll file charges and sue them.  My response is the same to them.  I do not accept calls from collection agencys nor do I speak to a collection agency over the phone. Contact me by mail.  and the phone goes down.  I don't ask about the debt.  I want it in writing and then my response is that I can't recall that debt they'd need to send more true validity and also let my response serve notice that they are never to contact me by phone again over ANY debt they say is mine.  I never hear back from any of them until they've sold it to the next jdb
  • 0
    Angry
    | 1 reply
    I have sent them a written demand letter requesting that they cease and desist all phone contact immediately and contact me via mail. I also included in the letter that I do not acknowledge any debt upon which they are trying to collect.

    I mailed the letter certified, return receipt to their Virginia address and received a signed receipt that they got my letter.

    They still call multiple times a day from several different numbers. They never leave a message.

    It is getting old. They continue to break the law and have never provided any written proof of any debt.
    • 0
      sac replies to Angry
      Thanks for your information, it makes me wonder how long they will try it with me.  I just started getting the calls.  I hope this goes to court and they put them in jail.  I hate dishonest people that bug honest people.
  • 0
    Mar
    | 1 reply
    My girlfriend jux got a summons frm them today to go to court for a debt. She dont even remember back in 09. They file it a month ago but jux got it to her now but da papers say you have 30days to contact your local court to reply about this matter. So they already being sneaky. Whats the best advice anyone have for us or have anyone else goting a summons before frm them what did u do? Please help? Oh yeah the court date location is supposely set in san diego C.A. But we live in northern california. How they expect that to work for us.?.
    • 0
      sac replies to Mar
      I just saw your post tonight online.  I was concerned about the phone call I got and it didn't add up and I told the person on the phone the bill was paid off last year and I didn't owe anything.  He kept saying I had 14 days to send them a reply to dispute it and if not I would still owe the bill.  The bill has been paid.  So I don't know how to get this to the correct authorities, but my daughter said to contact the local police and give them the information and go from there.  I wish you good luck.  I am sure it is a scam from what my daughter told me tonight.  I live in TX and the bill is from over 5 years ago and it was paid to the company and the company verified it was paid as soon as they got the money for it.  I'm sure it will get settled in court, I hope and put these people in jail.
  • 0
    sac
    I see these postings are from 2010 and I just got a call tonight from this company.  I don't owe the debt they say I do and they even gave my former address, and my name and my current address with the last four numbers of my social.  I txt'd my daughter about the debt and we both knew it had been paid last year.  Why am I getting this phone call now, it raised a red flag to me.  I haven't sent them any more information on the problem that they said I had and gave me 14 days to get it to them that I had the bill paid.  My daughter told me a friend she knew has had this same issue and has been fighting it for awhile now.  I want to know if there is a law suit against this company I want to know how I can get in on it.  I haven't sent them any information or emailed them yet.  What can I do? Thanks, sac
  • 0
    SmittyOhio
    | 1 reply
    My last name happens to be Smith, and in the phone book, it is simply listed with my first initial., "D" Evidently, anyone that this company is trying to track down whose last name is Smith and their first name begins with a "D" is calling me!  When I tell them I am not that person, they want to know if I know the person's phone number who they want to talk to.  This happens all of the time.  

    I finally asked the idiot today if she thought just because my last name was "Smith" if she thought we were all related!  What gives them the right to call anyone with the same last name and first name initial and harass them.
    • 0
      tj replies to SmittyOhio
      These days, it might just be safer to have all your numbers unlisted, just to avoid attracting nuisances lilke this.  Facebook activity has the same problem.  

      You really don't want every stranger in the world to think that when they want money, you're someone they can call.  Become invisible.
  • 0
    Paul Cambell
    These guys are complete idiots , they call here 10 times a day and I am not even the guy they are looking for.
    But that does not stop them from bullying me and calling me a lier .
    Bullying debt collections needs to stop , if they feel you owe them a debt then take that person to court and stop this practice . Most people out there did not personally cause the economic downturn , but to listen to those guys they did . If you can show that you were paying ontime before the recession and all the lay offs , that should be taken into consideration .
  • 0
    lacey
    This company has called my husband and I almost every day (including Sunday) over a bill that's at least 7 years old. I consented to a certain amount of money to be withdrawn from my bank account once a month. Checked my account this morning and they have taken out 3 times just this month. I sent them an email which came back as failed. Lady I talked to was very nice. Maybe they do that to mislead you.
  • 0
    JK
    | 2 replies
    I want to thank all who have posted, here about, "Portfolio Recovery", they are calling daily. and now have sent a letter with a case# saying legal action has been filed. I am investigating this. The letter is from a "Sill & Associates.  @  www.sillandassociates.com . Good luck Americans on your current indebtness. It's criminal how credit card companies rob us with their FEE's and APR rate raises, at their whim. Fight back.  Remember, they have to play by the rules, which are outlined in the UCC. Go to youtube and search,
    UCC-1. You'll find it very enlightning and helpfull.  Good Luck. A Patriot.
    • 0
      tj replies to JK
      | 1 reply
      PRA may actually sue, or they may attempt to get or fake a payment to reset SOL so they can sue.

      Not clear who this "Sill and Associates" is.  They present themselves as consumer debt negotiators, which is not the same as a law firm handling creditor lawsuits.  None of the employees identified represents that they are attorneys.  They show up here, claiming to be BBB accredited, which is confirmed via the BBB site.
      http://www.sillandassociates.com/contact-us/


      Possibilities:
      1)  "Sill and Assoc" may be acting as a local debt collector for PRA.
      2)  PRA might have sued, and "Sill and Assoc." may be soliciting business from consumers based on court records.
      3)  "Sill and Assoc." may be soliciting business unrelated to PRA.
      4)  This may be some other "Sill and Assoc."

      What, exactly, did your letter say, and what identifying information (address and phone numbers) did it list?

      If you have received some letter claiming some legal action has been filed, that letter alone is not proof that legal action has actually been filed.  Check your local courthouse.  If not, and they are threatening you with a nonexistent "lawsuit", that is deceptive collection, and violated FDCPA.  You can sue them for it.

      They were also required to send you notice of the alleged debt within 5 days of their first contact, even if that contact was by phone, notifying you of the alleged debt, who they claim is owed, and that you can dispute and request proof.

      If you are actually sued, get an attorney and respond.  PRA mostly collects on really old accounts, many out of statute, and many with little documentation, so they are depending on high levels of default judgements from people not knowing what to do.  

      You may catch them suing with their pants down, and be able to slap them with a countersuit for FDCPA violations, perhaps settling for cancellation of the alleged debt plus penalties and attorney fees.
      • 0
        tj replies to tj
        Neither the managing partner nor the General Manager show up listed as licensed attorneys on calbar.org
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