ARE YOU BEING HARRASSED BY
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES?
We Can Help You Fight Back!
Portfolio Recovery Associates is one of the largest debt buyers in the country. Don’t let them take advantage of you . Our expert advocates will help you protect your rights.
YOU MAY BE OWED MONEY
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
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Attempting to Collect a Debt You Do Not Owe.
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Calling you repeatedly or at odd hours.
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Threatening legal action they cannot take.
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Misrepresenting the amount or status of your debt.
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Contacting you after you’ve requested they stop.
To learn more about consumer protections under the FDCPA, check out our blog article here.
Just because you may owe a debt, doesn't mean you owe it to Portfolio Recovery Associates
How Boe & Associates Can Help You
At Boe & Associates, we specialize in assisting consumers protect themselves from predatory debt collection practices. Here’s how we can assist you:
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Stop Harassment: We’ll help you to take immediate action to stop Portfolio Recovery Associates calls and letters.
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Dispute Invalid Debts: We’ll ensure Portfolio Recovery provides proper documentation proving that the debt is valid and legally enforceable.
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Defend Against Unfair Practices: If Portfolio Recovery Associates has taken action against you, we can help you fight back to protect your rights and finances.
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Seek Compensation: If Portfolio Recovery has violated your rights under the FDCPA, we will help you fight to get you monetary damages for their misconduct.
Our team has helped countless clients resolve collection issues and beat Portfolio Recovery lawsuits — and we’re ready to help you too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Portfolio Recovery
Q: Can Portfolio Recovery Associates garnish my wages?
A: Only if they’ve obtained a court judgment against you. Contact us immediately if they’ve threatened wage garnishment without a judgment—it may be illegal.
Q: What happens if I ignore Portfolio Recovery Associates?
A: Ignoring them could lead to more aggressive collection efforts or even a lawsuit. It’s better to address the situation with professional guidance.
Q: Can I stop Portfolio Recovery from contacting me?
A: Yes! You can send them a written request to cease communication under the FDCPA. We can help draft this letter and ensure it’s handled correctly.
Learn more about protecting yourself from abusive debt collectors, visit out our blog page here.
Who is Portfolio Recovery Associates?
Portfolio Recovery Associates , a subsidiary of PRA Group, Inc., is a prominent debt buyer and collection agency headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. PRA purchases delinquent consumer debts—such as credit card and personal loan accounts—from original creditors at a fraction of their face value. Once acquired, Portfolio Recovery aggressively pursues full repayment from consumers, often through persistent phone calls, lawsuits, and credit reporting.
Common consumer complaints against Portfolio Recovery include:
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Repeated phone calls at all hours intended to harass or annoy a consumer.
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Attempting to collect debts which are not owed by the consumer or have already been paid.
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Suing consumers without proper documentation or evidence.
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Collecting debts beyond the statute of limitations.
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Misrepresenting the amount owed.
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Incorrect or inaccurate information reported on credit reports.
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Threatening to take legal action that is not intended or allowed.
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Making false or misleading statements about the amount owed.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to take action. Contact Boe & Associates today!
What To Do if Portfolio Recovery Contacts You
1. Request a Debt Validation Letter:
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Under the FDCPA, you have the right to request proof that the debt is valid. If they cannot provide this documentation, they may not be able to pursue collection.
2. Do Not Ignore A Lawsuit:
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If they have filed a lawsuit against you, ignoring it can result in a default judgment. Contact us immediately so we can help you respond and build a strong defense.
3. Know Your Statute of Limitations:
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Many debts are time-barred (passed the statute of limitations), meaning you can no longer be legally sued for repayment of the debt. We can help determine if your debt falls into this category.
4. Contact Boe & Associates:
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Our experienced team will evaluate your case for free and help you understand your options for stopping harassment or disputing unfair claims.
Legal Actions Against
Portfolio Recovery
PRA has faced numerous legal challenges due to its debt collection practices:
2015 CFPB Action: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered PRA to pay $19 million in consumer refunds and an $8 million penalty for deceptive debt collection practices, including threatening legal action they did not intend to take and collecting on unverified debts.
2023 CFPB Judgment: In March 2023, the CFPB labeled PRA a "repeat offender" and imposed a $24 million judgment for continued illegal debt collection practices, including misleading consumers and violating prior orders.
2015 Kansas Jury Verdict: A Kansas jury awarded a consumer $83 million in damages after PRA wrongfully pursued her for a debt she did not owe, highlighting the company's aggressive and sometimes baseless collection tactics.
CFPB Lawsuits and Settlements:
The CFPB has taken multiple enforcement actions against PRA:
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2015 Consent Order: PRA was found to have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by collecting debts without proper documentation, threatening legal actions they did not intend to pursue, and failing to provide legally required disclosures.
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2023 Enforcement Action: The CFPB's 2023 action required PRA to pay over $12 million in consumer redress and a $12 million civil penalty. The Bureau cited PRA's continued use of deceptive practices, including misrepresenting debts and failing to provide necessary documentation to consumers.
State Government Settlements:
State authorities have also held PRA accountable for its practices:
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2014 New York Settlement: The New York Attorney General secured a settlement requiring PRA to cease improper debt collection actions, including obtaining default judgments without sufficient evidence.
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2024 North Carolina Class Action: A class-action lawsuit in North Carolina resulted in a $5.75 million settlement. The lawsuit alleged that PRA obtained default judgments against consumers without adequate evidence. As part of the settlement, PRA agreed to cancel approximately $35 million in default judgments and compensate affected consumers.