Scam Collection Calls

ComplaintsUnsolicited Phone CallsPortfolio Recovery Associates

Complaint

0
MCH
Country: United States
I again received a call from this number/company in my cell phone. They call 1-2x every week. so irritating.

I had long straightened out my credit card debts in 2002. Suddenly, since 2008, I started getting calls from this company. I do not know how they got my cell ph number. I read almost all the complaints ahainst this company and now am convinced they they are scammers.

Should we all band together and file a class action suit? Or, report this company to the authorities in ur respective cities/states?

Comments

  • 0
    idiots
    | 6 replies
    If PRA is calling you then you need to answer the phone! recycled cell phone numbers are very common and all you hve to do is tell them wrong number and per FDCPA law they have to remove the #, when they are calling and all you do is hang up, theres no way to know if it is just the debtor trying to avoid their responsibilities,  and NO DEBTS DO NOT EXPIRE, you legally owe them and Statute of limitations mean simply there can be no judgement against you nor a garnishment, when you sign a contract with a company be it credit card, cell phone, land line phone utility bill, ect, you agreed to pay YOUR debts!! Get real people!!!! It is not illegal to call monday through sunday 8 am to 9 pm debt collectors are allowed to phone once to 3 times a day without violating the fair debt collection practices act; these debt collectors at PRA are especially trained in fair and just practices under fdcpa, it is personally a 1000 dollar fine individually for someone doing unfair practices to a debtor and a 10000 dollar fine for the company, they are the #1 debt collection company in the WORLD and have an A+ rating with the BBB.  Sounds like everyone on here are what some like to call "professional debtors" and rack up bills open up lines of credit with no intention of paying them...and everyone wonders why the USA is in such financial restraints...
    • 0
      tj replies to idiots
      PRA has a history of consumer complaints reporting that they ignore requests to cease calling, even when they are calling the wrong number.

      If you continue to have problems with harassing calls, get an attorney.
      You can find a consumer attorney in your state through www.naca.net
    • 0
      tred replies to idiots
      Yes, I'm sure you're one of those so-called debt collecting professionals. Yes, I'm sure you know nothing about business ethics either. Yes, the A+ BBB rating just says they answer all complaints and has nothing to do with business practices. So hey, when a business can't admit they work outside the law 80% of the time and not follow rules of contact, who's full of BS?
    • 0
      A Smart Banker replies to idiots
      Dear Idiots,

      You are an idiot.  Contrary to your assertions, debts do expire.  Please tell us who or where you read that debts don't expire.  Did it happen to be your employer, PRA?  Your company buys these "seasoned" debts for less than $0.04 on the dollar.  Then your company hires law firms looking for work and state that your company purchased this account for a valuable consideration.  In addition, who told you that you can call up to 3 times a day?  Did that come from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck who works in your company's Legal Department?

      Instead of bragging about PRA's BBB rating, why don't you share with us the number of complaints your company has received from the various AG offices and your company's responses to those complaints.

      And as far as your assertion that PRA is the #1 debt collection in the world,  who told you that?  I'll bet that came from Sleazy who works in your company's T&D Department.

      So I would suggest before you get out here and post such drivel as you have, please have your facts straight.  All you are doing is making not only yourself but also your company look like morons.
      • 0
        Kentucky Woman replies to idiots
        Idiots, you are woefully unaware of collection laws.  Now, go back to your desk and start making your calls so that you can get paid.  I am happy you have a job and are paying  taxes and, I am certain, all your bills.
      • 0
        get real replies to idiots
        Yes, people should pay debts they contract to pay but a large majority of these or not real or have been settled.  They are hoping they find naive people that think to themselves that they must have forgotten they owed or paid.  There is an earlier post of a woman who has alzheimers and her son took the call and found out it was wrong birthdate and proceeded to give three other birthdates.  Just because you have a A+ rating with the BBB means nothing.  Look up the report on 60 minutes, all you have to do to get a rating is pay a due, the higher the dues the better rating.  The rating has NOTHING to do with their business practices or lack of.
      • 0
        Above is Lying replies to idiots
        The above is a bold faced liar, probably working for the debt company in mention..

        http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt144.shtm

        (note, that's a federal trade commission site)

        Here's an Excerpt from the GOVERNMENT SITE

        "If you have old debts, collectors may not be able to sue you to collect on them. That's because debt collectors have a limited number of years — known as the statute of limitations — to sue you to collect. After that, your unpaid debts are considered "time-barred." According to the law, a debt collector cannot sue you for not paying a debt that's time-barred."
    • 0
      Terri
      Just got a letter concerning a PAID-OFF cc.  I Knew it was a scam.  If they call me -- they WILL be sorry.
    • 0
      fred
      | 1 reply
      Here is a really special trick that they do. They can add bad credit to your credit report that is not even yours. They called me a few times looking for someone else who had the same name but lived in another state. I explained I was not who they were looking for.

      As many here have reported, they called me a liar. I just started ignoring their calls. Now, my credit score was/is a 790, which is not too shabby. I keep an eye on it. Good thing too, because all of a sudden, it started dropping because they were putting these bad debts on my report.

      If I had known, I would have been much more freaked out by it. At the time, I thought it was no big deal, it's not my debt, I can prove it's not my debt, just a phone call should clear it up. Think again. I had to jump through hoops for over a year to get it removed and it cost me some money to get it done. I would just right in on a class action lawsuit.

      The credit folks are just about as bad. How can anyone put stuff on your report that is not yours? That should not be legal. I know they had zero proof that it was mine, they couldn't have, because it was not mine. Any business owner here can make something up about you and put it on your credit report. Since this is true, it should either be stopped or we have to stop treating the all important credit score with so much respect.
      • 0
        tj replies to fred
        The basis for diplomacy, relative peace, and stable borders, has always been that if you routinely cross your neighbors, they will eventually get back at you, tit-for-tat.  The liar and the cheat must pay a price, or they gain an advantage.  If you let that happen, there will be no shortage of low-lifes standing in line to get "their share", too.

        That is why when you research your adversary, and you find they routinely act in bad faith, you should use the first opportunity where you have a good cause of action for a violation of FDCPA to hand the case off to an attorney.  Not only do you want damages, but you want them to pay the legal costs for cleaning up the damage from their negligent and malicious collection.  Don't wait around hoping they will do the right thing when they set out from the start to take advantage of your tolerance for "occasional errors".

        PRA, and much of the debt collection industry, has learned that it is profitable to game the debt collection laws, using borderline abuse and harassment, "accidentally" and deceptively tagging the wrong person with unowed debts, all the while proclaiming piously how important they are to the economy.  If the economy rises and falls on debts bought for pennies on the dollar, we are all in sorry shape.

        You spent a year with trashed credit over a debt they spent virtually nothing to buy, and nothing to accurately skip-trace.  To them, it's just a game to generate profit, and if "mistakes" don't cost them anything, and may even pay off, then "mistakes" are part of the game.

        What did it cost you?  
        Did you receive any reductions in credit from other lenders?  
        Get turned down for a mortgage refi?
    • 0
      Rob
    • 0
      Mark
      | 1 reply
      What that idiot person wrote was an almost exact statement the caller from PRA said to me when I pointed out the debt in question was past the statute of limitations.  I started laughing when he said I was still "legally" obligated to pay on this 8 year old debt regardless of it being so old.  I pointed out what he really should say is that all that it means is that he and any other collection agency can keep selling that old debt and pestering me.  I am sending the cease and desist letter but I'm sure in about a month another company will call with the same debt.  I have another issue that was brought up here and it now makes sense what has taken place on my credit report.  I'd say about 8 months ago some agency called and I pointed out once again it's past the statue of limitations and please stop calling.  Within two months my credit score fell suddenly.  I watch my score very closely.   I was confused as I've worked very hard to restore my credit rating over the years.  So I ran a transunion check and suddenly there was a debt on my report that wasn't mine.  It was for some stupid payday loan I'd never heard of.  I have never nor would I ever get a payday loan.   What made it odder was the date.  First it said 2009.  Then when I had it investigated the collection agency changed it to 2005 stating that in 2013 it would be removed from my creidt report.  I even sent a photo copy of a recent credit report showing it was never on there before.   The agency who placed it on my report would never call me back because I wanted any proof it was my debt.  I have never gotten one single notice about this debt.   I put a lock on every thing trying to figure out what had happened.  Now I'm wondering if that one agency pulled this on me and if so how can I prove it?  For all I know it's this PRA place that does stuff like this.  How do you get this stuff quickly taken off your credit report if they do this to you?  I swear talking to someone from transunion is like talking to someone in another country.
      • 0
        tj replies to Mark
        And now you see that they are gaming the system, as part of tactics deliberately designed to coerce payment of unowed accounts.  Damage to your credit is just part of a game to them.

        They are basically sociopaths, with no consideration for the effect they have on others, and the only thing they understand is consequences.

        Since it is a game, your counterplay is to sue them, to make it costly.  

        Unless and until you are willing to do that, they will keep playing this game, which costs them nothing at all, but often extorts unowed payments when people get stuck with fake "collection accounts", for example, when they are trying to refi a mortgage.

        The only way to stop this bullying is to sue them and make it cost.  Adding your attorney fees, as allowed for by FDCPA and FCRA, improves your odds of a quick settlement, as it further increases the consequences and the likelyhood it will cost them.

        The collection industry is corrupt.  

        To find a consumer attorney in your state, you might try www.naca.net
    • 0
      Mark
      | 2 replies
      Don't worry Fred I'm on all of it.  My credit report is being watched like a hawk.  The first fraudulent report added will be swiftly taken care.  I had the last one they put on there removed.  I didn't have to jump through too many loopholes as someone else did.  I was stunned at the sudden drop in my credit score so checked out why and there was the bogus little bird singing on the report.  Transunion filed the investigation for me.  While they were checking it out I wrote a formal letter to the agency reporting the bogus debt.  They are called Northern Resolution Group located in NY.  When I contacted them I made it clear if they showed no validity that the debt was mine which it was not it was to be taken off my report immediately.  Oh they never wrote back it just disappeared off my credit report  LOL.  Now when any collection agency calls this is how the conversation goes...

      Me:  Hello?  Hello?  Hello?  Them:  This is so and so calling for such and such bottom feeder debt collection.  This call may be monitored.  Me:  Cool with me let me turn on my recorder as well.  Them:  Uh,  ok well you have a debt for said company that is due.  We can take a payment now.  Me:  Never heard of this debt.  Please tell me the date delinquincey began.  Them:  Uh... Hmmmm... June 2001.  Me: And todays date would make that almost 11 years old correct?  Them:  Uh, sir you do have an obligation to pay this bill.  Me: Back up sparky.  Say it out loud for me.  Who has said for certain that debt was mine?  and Since that debt is 11 years old what does that mean?.  Them: It has surpassed the SOL but you still are legally obligated to pay your debts.  Me:  LOL 1.  I have never heard of this debt nor have I been given any proof it is my debt.  2.  Never ever give me any legal advice unless I hire you as a lawyer.   LEGALLY that debt has expired beyond a time to collect in court therefore LEGALLY the debtor doesn't have to do [***].   3.  That debt you called about is time barred.  4. Since you're too stupid to connect the dots I guess I'll have to do this.  Look for a cease and desist letter from me within a week.  Don't call me again about this debt.  Oh one more thing.  My credit report is being watched around the clock.  Any new bogus debt suddenly added will be caught quickly and investigated.  I'll blame you and take the time to track it back to you or your company.  Have a nice evening.
      • 0
        tom replies to Mark
        | 1 reply
        I have a debt that isn't mine being reported on my CRs that I've disputed over 4 times now.  The collection agency can not provide and information or validate the debt and I have asked several times to have it removed.  However, 2 CRs have yet to remove it and the third removed it once and was added back months later.  How do you drive the nail in the coffin so to speak when no one is willing to help?
        • 0
          Mark replies to tom
          I hope you found a resolve to this but if you haven't here is my advice.  paper trail it.  In other words do the following.  Look up the collection agency who is reporting the bogus debt.  Check to see if they are acredited with the BBB.  Email a complaint in deatail to the BBB about what they are doing.  Call the CRA's once again and explain whats going on and why you will not be giving up to get it removed.  They won't do much but hang up and send them an official letter reminding them of the call and the date you called and specficially which debt is bogus.  Request a fraud alert on your credit report and an investigation for indentity fraud.  Send the letter certified/registered.  The BBB will definitely contact the collection agency and you will get a response.  This was really the nail in the coffin with my situation.  I was very clear the debt was not mine.  I had so much valid proof the collection agency got so scared they removed the bogus debt in my name.  Notified all three CRA's and then emailed me back saying it was their mistake.  The debt was supposedly in my wifes name so they couldn't tell me anything personal about it but apologized.  The funniest part... I'm not married and never have been.   1. File complaint with the BBB against the collection agency.  Call and write the CRA's to let them know you aren't going to drop getting that fake debt removed.  Request a fraud alert.  Wait for the collection agency's response to the BBB over your complaint.
    • 0
      Mark
      This company falls into the ultra scum category.  After sending my certified c&d letter along with pointing out the alleged debt was well past the SOL  and getting the receipt they still called.  I had to actually talk to the girl as if she were mentally [***].  My first comment to her was.. What the hell are you doing?  I have a receipt sitting in front of me verifying you have a c&d letter in regard to this situation.  Why would you risk your company being taken to court for breaking the law by calling me?  I was stunned she called and gave her the womans name on the receipt who had stamped it and signed it.   She hung up FAST.   I also got my credit report sent to me and within a months time Portfolio has ran checks on me 5 mother effin times. Is that a blatant illegal act?  What would be the point in checking that many times?  There are also two additional companies on there I've never heard of.  Credco/onetechnologies which seems to be a home loan situation and I have never ever applied for any loan so why they'd be running a check on me is a puzzle.  Although the timing is very interesting.  It is the day after Portfolio was made aware I knew this debt was past the SOL.  then there is Citi Commerce Solutions  twice they do a run in april.    I honestly think these lowlife callers contact other sources to invade your C.R.  They can't do much if the debt is past the SOL but the next goal is to mess with your current score as much as possible and if they can probably steal your identity and add additional fake bad credit.  I have a fraud alert on my C.R.  but I'm sick of this sh..t.  for 9 years I carried all of this and unlike the b.s. sceanario that the above shill suggests about those who owe debt I never ever thought I wouldn't be able to pay back on credit cards.  I could have never known the future and how low things would get.  I paid even though the debt was not paid.  My Credit Score was horrendeous.  I couldn't fairly get loans on luxury items.  Renting and getting utilities was a drawn out situation of sometimes paying HUGE downpayments because of bad credit.  I worked 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet without any luxury.  When the 4 years on my debt arrived I knew I could not be sued.  It made me sick I couldn't make restitution on it but it was the creditor that made the choice not to pursue it then.  For that I am thankful.  However, for the next 4 years the stain of my choices followed me.  Finally last year I got my fresh start and I'll be damned if some punk azz pencil pushing geek who hides behind a desk in some dank office with a bunch of other thug wannabe's who are never held accountable for their non empathetic illegal behavior would ever talk me into one single payment on a debt honestly long written off and long past the SOL in my state.  Zombie debt after it's written off a credit report needs to be legally shreded and any collection agency trying to collect on it needs to be held legally accountable.  There is so much irony in how I was treated before the SOL expired and then after the 7 years of bad credit on my C.R.  It wasn't until my credit report finally started getting better and the bad credit was removed that I started getting the harrassing calls.  It's as if someone sits around pissed off I get a fresh start basing it on the assumption I played hide and seek which is so comical it defines the lowlife who represent these loan sharks.  Time barred debt needs to be completely removed.   Focus on the debt that is still within the states SOL and allow the consumer who got past it all to move on with life.  The caller didn't own the credit that became a debt.  Their passion is a joke.  They get paid to be an Azz Hole to strangers.   These fools wouldn't show their faces to the thousands they harrass and say the things they've sad to them over the phone.
    • 0
      Good advice
      Contact nextlevelcredit@nextlevelunlimited.net for excellent advice and assistance.  They run a service that uses the legal process to your benefit in order to stop such calls and collection efforts, which are illegal.  They answer emails quickly and will give you a phone number to speak with the owner directly, who is very nice and thorough.  The cost is approx. $200 but worth every penny, IMHO, as they prevent garnishments and harassment. I have used them for 5 different accounts with 5 different collection agencies and each one was stopped dead in their tracks.  The WORST thing you can do is engage in a conversation with collectors - just tell them you are not familiar with what they are calling about but will research the issue, and then hang up.  If you DO get anything in the mail from them, then contact Next Level and they will explain what to do next - no high pressure sales, you can make up your own mind about how to proceed from there.
    • 0
      Zoom
      This company needs to be investigated and shut the hell down.  They have run credit checks on my every month and have a two year standing hard run.  When you send them letters they pay no attention to them.  When even they point out the debt is well past your state SOL but then start up with asking for payments it goes beyond annoying.  When is someone going to put a stop to junk debt buying.  My debt was over 12 years old.  You get to the point you want to punch them but when you are aware they are constantly on your Credit Report you fear illegal retribution with them shoving some fraudulent debt on there or running so many checks it also messes with your score.  You also fear they will try to slip a default judgment by you because you never legally got your summons.  The hell we went through 12 years ago was enough.  We went through cancer, huge bills, employment issues and tried every way to make ends meet.  We called every single card due at the time and begged and I do mean BEGGED for reasonable payments.  Only two cards agreed so we responsible paid them off.  The other 4 told us flat out hell no they wanted their HUGE payment then and now and we were threatened with it going on our credit scores.  We had no choice we had to let them go and from them on decided we'd be paying either way through bad credit and the possiblility of legal action for the next 4 years. When the SOL passed we sighed with relief but still endured the bad creidt they threatened us with.  8 years later they honestly think we are going to pay?  Hell no.  We frequented the same places we had those cards with and bought items.  We paid huge downpayments on certain things because of that horrid credit score.  We paid out debt and then some.  Paying some idiot who bought the written off debt from the original creditor for next to nothing will never ever get us to pay.  Sue us illegally and we now have enough money to see your ass in court and also push for disbarrment of any scummy lawyer who tries this little trick.  I hate this company with a passion and you can bet the ones calling are lowlifes who need to get real jobs.
    • 0
      BBB
      I asked why they would not allow me the time to verify the debt with SWB and they said they no longer own the debt, that PRA owns it and if I would pay over the phone they would post date it although I offered to send them a money order before the date they offered to post date it.  They asked me what's the difference if I send M.O or give them check info and I replied, YOU tell me the difference????  They  said I could check the BBB, beware, 60 minutes did a expose on BBB and their rating practice.  They give out ratings in accordance to the amount of dues you pay to be a member, not on your reputation.  Also if you do pay then that eliminates the statute of limitations.  I do feel that if you signed a contract and owe you should pay but there are circumstances of hardship where the debts were released and I think these people scamming people and relying on peoples doubt that perhaps they forgot about a bill and pay does more to hurt the economy than the people who have claimed bankruptcy due to real hardship, whether medical, financial, etc.  When they would not allow me the time to check on the validity of the debt and could not tell  me the difference between my sending a M.O. and doing it over the phone was a real red flag.  They responded by saying there was no way to track a M.O. if it got lost.  Mostly I wanted to bring attention to the BBB and their rating system, never rely in it.  Google it and you'll find out that all you have to do it pay a due for a certain rating.

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