- Report: #203583
Complaint Review: Portfolio Recovery Associates - Norfolk Virginia
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Portfolio Recovery Associates
Po Box 12914 Norfolk, 23541 Virginia, U.S.A.
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Portfolio Recovery Associates ripoff lied stealing billing unfair Norfolk Virginia
*Consumer Suggestion: Read
*Consumer Suggestion: Read
*Consumer Suggestion: Read
*Consumer Suggestion: Read
*Consumer Comment: I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
*Consumer Comment: I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
*Consumer Comment: I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
*Consumer Comment: I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
*Author of original report: Me too ^
*Consumer Suggestion: STAY OFF THE PHONE!!!
*General Comment: Me too
I got a call on Saturday morning from Portfolio Recovery regarding my MBNA credit card. Let me give you a little background first. Back in the summer of 2005 I lost my salary job and was
out of work for almost two months. I was searching hard trying to find a good job but I never seemed to get one. After not being able to get a job equivilant to my last one, I decided to go
wait tables full time at this nice upscale restaraunt. That only makes ends meet, but at least it was to pay the bills. I also had roomates that lived with me that were not paying their share of
the rent, untilities, etc forcing me to rack up alot on credit cards. I ended up moving back home in Raleigh because I could no longer afford to live on my own and I wanted to save up
money. My parents are totally supportive and I love it back here, but anwyays, I payed most of my credit cards off except for this one because it had already been turned over to
collections. The balance that I had on it was about $2000.
Anyways, It is July now and I got a call from Portfolio Recovery. I work at an online company in their headquarters in North Raleigh. I often get home at odd hours in the morning and usually don't wake up till in the afternoon. They called and told my father that it was an important phone call and they needed to talk to me right away, but they would not tell him who it was. Half asleep I picked up the phone and was introduced to a Ramona Gibson. At first she was nice, but then she turned rude.
She wanted to know exactly what I was going to do with this unpaid debt. I asked her how much it was and from who and she refused to tell me. She just kept on telling me "what are we
going to do with this today." I was very tired and I told her to just send me a letter in the mail giving me the original statement from the credit card and I would pay it off, but this was not
an option for Miss Ramona. I told her that I was going to hang up because we were going in circles and I was laughing because it was so stupid and I was told that there is nothing to
giggle about and this is seriuos matter. She then transfered me to her manager who had no name other than "the manager."
The manager was the rudest person I have ever talked to. I told him that Im not sure what credit card was MBNA (because I didnt know the bank that was associated with that card) and that I just need a statement in the mail. I told him that I just moved back here from Charlotte and that I have gotten no statements or any phone calls from this company. He said that they have mailed out hundreds of statements and letters with no reply. I told him that I never recieved any of them from Portfolio and he told me that I was lying and that if he never sent them they would have gotten returned via the post office. At this point I was getting very frustrated with the manager. He kept saying "so how are we going to take care of this" and would never tell me the amount. It is almost like they want you to come up with some crazy dollar amount and if it is higher than what they were expecting they take it and if not then no. Finally he says that it is close to $5900!!! (OMG) How could that possibly be, they are just making up a bogus amount!! I told him he needs to give me credit card statements that show that balance and he refused and said that "I have lost that right" and "You no longer get that privledge". How can they legally tell me that I am not enititled to it! He then said he could email me a letter stating the balance but he said it will only have the dollar amount and will not be an official statement!
What kind of trash is that! I told him again, you mail me a statement and I will pay it if I do owe it after I talk to the credit card company. This again was not
an option. He then pulls up my credit report on the phone and names all these other past debts I have had. He tells me about my vehicle repo but he is unaware of the fact that it was
already paid off and wasn't really oficially repo'd on my credit report! Apparently his information was outdated! He kept telling me that I need to step up and take care of what I
"borrowed". He then started to tell me he wanted me to give him my bank numbers so we could go ahead and take care of this amount in full right now! How rediculous is this guy. I mean,
I told him just send me a statement in the mail so I can pay and he won't even do that! He is just trying to get me to pay some outrageous amount over the phone. He then tried to use a
little scare tactics by claiming he would be taking legal actions to the fullest in the state of North Carolina. I told him just send me a statement so I can talk to the credit card company,
because I am trying to clear up all this debt, Im basically done other than this rediculous company. He then told me that he is going to mark my account with Portfolio as refusal to pay. I
told him, "Sir, I am not refusing to pay, just send me a MBNA statement, the one you have, with my payment history so I can figure this out and I will pay what I owe." He told me that was
not an option and either I had to pay it all by wire transfer today or he would report me for refusal to pay. Finally I told him, that I do not know about this card, I don't know the balance,
and that if you don't send me a payment, I can't do anything. I then asked anything else I can do for you? And he said, "its not what you can do for me, its what I can do for you." I told
this idiot that he has not done a thing for me as I am trying to work with him and he won't work back.
Basically we kept going in circles litteraly for an hour on the phone and he finally said that we will never contact you again and we will do whatever we can in the state of NC and by then you will owe us about $7000 and then hung up the phone. $7000?? How could that possibly be. This is total scam. They don't understand. I have worked so hard all my life and due to things that I can not control at work, and then with roomates who screw me over, and now this. I hate these credit collectors, they are the worst, but this company, it is total trash. I decided to go to their website and check them out and their slogan is "We're giving debt collectors a good name". No you are not, you just lie to everybody. If anybody has any advice on these losers feel free to comment back.
Bill
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S.A.
out of work for almost two months. I was searching hard trying to find a good job but I never seemed to get one. After not being able to get a job equivilant to my last one, I decided to go
wait tables full time at this nice upscale restaraunt. That only makes ends meet, but at least it was to pay the bills. I also had roomates that lived with me that were not paying their share of
the rent, untilities, etc forcing me to rack up alot on credit cards. I ended up moving back home in Raleigh because I could no longer afford to live on my own and I wanted to save up
money. My parents are totally supportive and I love it back here, but anwyays, I payed most of my credit cards off except for this one because it had already been turned over to
collections. The balance that I had on it was about $2000.
Anyways, It is July now and I got a call from Portfolio Recovery. I work at an online company in their headquarters in North Raleigh. I often get home at odd hours in the morning and usually don't wake up till in the afternoon. They called and told my father that it was an important phone call and they needed to talk to me right away, but they would not tell him who it was. Half asleep I picked up the phone and was introduced to a Ramona Gibson. At first she was nice, but then she turned rude.
She wanted to know exactly what I was going to do with this unpaid debt. I asked her how much it was and from who and she refused to tell me. She just kept on telling me "what are we
going to do with this today." I was very tired and I told her to just send me a letter in the mail giving me the original statement from the credit card and I would pay it off, but this was not
an option for Miss Ramona. I told her that I was going to hang up because we were going in circles and I was laughing because it was so stupid and I was told that there is nothing to
giggle about and this is seriuos matter. She then transfered me to her manager who had no name other than "the manager."
The manager was the rudest person I have ever talked to. I told him that Im not sure what credit card was MBNA (because I didnt know the bank that was associated with that card) and that I just need a statement in the mail. I told him that I just moved back here from Charlotte and that I have gotten no statements or any phone calls from this company. He said that they have mailed out hundreds of statements and letters with no reply. I told him that I never recieved any of them from Portfolio and he told me that I was lying and that if he never sent them they would have gotten returned via the post office. At this point I was getting very frustrated with the manager. He kept saying "so how are we going to take care of this" and would never tell me the amount. It is almost like they want you to come up with some crazy dollar amount and if it is higher than what they were expecting they take it and if not then no. Finally he says that it is close to $5900!!! (OMG) How could that possibly be, they are just making up a bogus amount!! I told him he needs to give me credit card statements that show that balance and he refused and said that "I have lost that right" and "You no longer get that privledge". How can they legally tell me that I am not enititled to it! He then said he could email me a letter stating the balance but he said it will only have the dollar amount and will not be an official statement!
What kind of trash is that! I told him again, you mail me a statement and I will pay it if I do owe it after I talk to the credit card company. This again was not
an option. He then pulls up my credit report on the phone and names all these other past debts I have had. He tells me about my vehicle repo but he is unaware of the fact that it was
already paid off and wasn't really oficially repo'd on my credit report! Apparently his information was outdated! He kept telling me that I need to step up and take care of what I
"borrowed". He then started to tell me he wanted me to give him my bank numbers so we could go ahead and take care of this amount in full right now! How rediculous is this guy. I mean,
I told him just send me a statement in the mail so I can pay and he won't even do that! He is just trying to get me to pay some outrageous amount over the phone. He then tried to use a
little scare tactics by claiming he would be taking legal actions to the fullest in the state of North Carolina. I told him just send me a statement so I can talk to the credit card company,
because I am trying to clear up all this debt, Im basically done other than this rediculous company. He then told me that he is going to mark my account with Portfolio as refusal to pay. I
told him, "Sir, I am not refusing to pay, just send me a MBNA statement, the one you have, with my payment history so I can figure this out and I will pay what I owe." He told me that was
not an option and either I had to pay it all by wire transfer today or he would report me for refusal to pay. Finally I told him, that I do not know about this card, I don't know the balance,
and that if you don't send me a payment, I can't do anything. I then asked anything else I can do for you? And he said, "its not what you can do for me, its what I can do for you." I told
this idiot that he has not done a thing for me as I am trying to work with him and he won't work back.
Basically we kept going in circles litteraly for an hour on the phone and he finally said that we will never contact you again and we will do whatever we can in the state of NC and by then you will owe us about $7000 and then hung up the phone. $7000?? How could that possibly be. This is total scam. They don't understand. I have worked so hard all my life and due to things that I can not control at work, and then with roomates who screw me over, and now this. I hate these credit collectors, they are the worst, but this company, it is total trash. I decided to go to their website and check them out and their slogan is "We're giving debt collectors a good name". No you are not, you just lie to everybody. If anybody has any advice on these losers feel free to comment back.
Bill
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
MAB
phila,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Me too
#2General Comment
Sun, February 28, 2010
a credit company called portfolio recovery sends me a letter stating I owe someone $498, but wont say who I owe.
They say if I pay them now, they'll take $298.84 off the balance if I pay $199.23 no later than 2/16/2010.
Obviously I put it in a drawer to save to warn others and labeled it "kiss my A", because I owe no one any money .
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
STAY OFF THE PHONE!!!
#3Consumer Suggestion
Wed, September 06, 2006
This is CRITICAL when dealing with a debt collector or junk debt buyer. Only written communications sent by certified means protect your rights. STAY OFF THE PHONE!!! Speaking to a collector on the phone will NEVER do anything positive for you and can ONLY hurt you. Upon FIRST CONTACT from any third party debt collector or junk debt buyer, send the CEASE COMMUNICATIONS request by certified mail, return reciept requested, put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. Now, if they contact you again regarding collections, you can sue them for damages under the FDCPA. Also go to FTC.gov and file a complaint on them each time they contact you or violate your rights in any way. When they call, pick it up on the first ring and press and hold the #1 key. This is a real treat to the person wearing the headset! Or you can just get a good police whistle and blow it in the ear of the crackhead on the other end. The satisfaction here is great. Trust me. You can also pound thier fax machine with 100-150+ copies of your cease communications letter each day about an hour after they close. This is my personal favorite. It runs the machine out of paper and toner and fills the memory. Not only that, but when everything is refilled and it is restarted the next morning, it spits out whatever was in memory. And it keeps them from getting any business faxes all night, or first thing in the morning. This stuff works. I have tested it thoroughly.
Bill
Apex,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Me too ^
#4Author of original report
Wed, September 06, 2006
They still call me daily. They haven't bothered to sue as I don't bother to answer their phone calls. If they do try to file a lawsuit, I will show up and they will won't be prepared and it will all go away. They can prove anything on the phone then they can't prove it in person. Just tell Miss Ramona Gibson and "The Manager" to go to h*ll =)
Frances
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
#5Consumer Comment
Tue, September 05, 2006
This company purchased a charged off debt from 2002. I got to speak to a collection manager too, who refused to speak with me about anything other than paying the inflated amount in full. I told them the amount they are collecting is wrong, I asked for copies of a contract, phone number, address etc. something from the original creditor, proving the amount they are asking for, but they refused. They did send my account to an attorney in Oklahoma City, who did file a lawsuit against me. They never gave me the "right to dispute the debt" (FDCPA violation) until the summons came. I did dispute the debt. I am an honest person I lost my job after a bad car accident and now I have no income. I responded with more detail than they were entitled to, so when when you dispute the debt, do not give any other info that implies you might know where the debt came from, just respond "that you are disputing this debt at this time" this is your right under FDCPA. They never validated my debt, and I am now suing them in Federal Court. Start reading your rights under The Fair Debt Collections Act, you can find it in the Federal Trade Commission website. Keep track of all letters, envalopes, phone conversations etc. just in case you have to sue them. Also pull your credit report with Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, I did and they had "aged" the debt, and reported all false info, which are FCRA violations see the (Fair Credit Report Act). Also, see if they are reporting as a "Factoring Company" (which is an "innocent" purchaser of debt, non delq. accounts). Not a junk debt buyer, which is what they actually are. Reporting as a Factoring Company is more damaging to your credit report. I am looking for people who want to join a class action lawsuit against PRA and make them pay for their actions.
Frances
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, September 05, 2006
This company purchased a charged off debt from 2002. I got to speak to a collection manager too, who refused to speak with me about anything other than paying the inflated amount in full. I told them the amount they are collecting is wrong, I asked for copies of a contract, phone number, address etc. something from the original creditor, proving the amount they are asking for, but they refused. They did send my account to an attorney in Oklahoma City, who did file a lawsuit against me. They never gave me the "right to dispute the debt" (FDCPA violation) until the summons came. I did dispute the debt. I am an honest person I lost my job after a bad car accident and now I have no income. I responded with more detail than they were entitled to, so when when you dispute the debt, do not give any other info that implies you might know where the debt came from, just respond "that you are disputing this debt at this time" this is your right under FDCPA. They never validated my debt, and I am now suing them in Federal Court. Start reading your rights under The Fair Debt Collections Act, you can find it in the Federal Trade Commission website. Keep track of all letters, envalopes, phone conversations etc. just in case you have to sue them. Also pull your credit report with Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, I did and they had "aged" the debt, and reported all false info, which are FCRA violations see the (Fair Credit Report Act). Also, see if they are reporting as a "Factoring Company" (which is an "innocent" purchaser of debt, non delq. accounts). Not a junk debt buyer, which is what they actually are. Reporting as a Factoring Company is more damaging to your credit report. I am looking for people who want to join a class action lawsuit against PRA and make them pay for their actions.
Frances
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
#7Consumer Comment
Tue, September 05, 2006
This company purchased a charged off debt from 2002. I got to speak to a collection manager too, who refused to speak with me about anything other than paying the inflated amount in full. I told them the amount they are collecting is wrong, I asked for copies of a contract, phone number, address etc. something from the original creditor, proving the amount they are asking for, but they refused. They did send my account to an attorney in Oklahoma City, who did file a lawsuit against me. They never gave me the "right to dispute the debt" (FDCPA violation) until the summons came. I did dispute the debt. I am an honest person I lost my job after a bad car accident and now I have no income. I responded with more detail than they were entitled to, so when when you dispute the debt, do not give any other info that implies you might know where the debt came from, just respond "that you are disputing this debt at this time" this is your right under FDCPA. They never validated my debt, and I am now suing them in Federal Court. Start reading your rights under The Fair Debt Collections Act, you can find it in the Federal Trade Commission website. Keep track of all letters, envalopes, phone conversations etc. just in case you have to sue them. Also pull your credit report with Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, I did and they had "aged" the debt, and reported all false info, which are FCRA violations see the (Fair Credit Report Act). Also, see if they are reporting as a "Factoring Company" (which is an "innocent" purchaser of debt, non delq. accounts). Not a junk debt buyer, which is what they actually are. Reporting as a Factoring Company is more damaging to your credit report. I am looking for people who want to join a class action lawsuit against PRA and make them pay for their actions.
Frances
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
I am being sued by PRA and now I'm suing them. OKC
#8Consumer Comment
Tue, September 05, 2006
This company purchased a charged off debt from 2002. I got to speak to a collection manager too, who refused to speak with me about anything other than paying the inflated amount in full. I told them the amount they are collecting is wrong, I asked for copies of a contract, phone number, address etc. something from the original creditor, proving the amount they are asking for, but they refused. They did send my account to an attorney in Oklahoma City, who did file a lawsuit against me. They never gave me the "right to dispute the debt" (FDCPA violation) until the summons came. I did dispute the debt. I am an honest person I lost my job after a bad car accident and now I have no income. I responded with more detail than they were entitled to, so when when you dispute the debt, do not give any other info that implies you might know where the debt came from, just respond "that you are disputing this debt at this time" this is your right under FDCPA. They never validated my debt, and I am now suing them in Federal Court. Start reading your rights under The Fair Debt Collections Act, you can find it in the Federal Trade Commission website. Keep track of all letters, envalopes, phone conversations etc. just in case you have to sue them. Also pull your credit report with Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, I did and they had "aged" the debt, and reported all false info, which are FCRA violations see the (Fair Credit Report Act). Also, see if they are reporting as a "Factoring Company" (which is an "innocent" purchaser of debt, non delq. accounts). Not a junk debt buyer, which is what they actually are. Reporting as a Factoring Company is more damaging to your credit report. I am looking for people who want to join a class action lawsuit against PRA and make them pay for their actions.
Steve
Marshall,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Read
#9Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 30, 2006
Read the laws on FDCPA. File complaints with the FTC and the BBB and the AG in your state. Make them prove the debt. Never pay a debt collector. You have rights. You can fight them. Send them a cease comm letter with return receipt. Make them validate the debt , something with your signiture on it. Most likely they can't. Never give them your bank account no# They will clean you out. Never take a judgement. Show up in court if you get sued. Make them validate the debt in court. 99% chance the judge will toss the case. GOODLUCK. Fight-em
Steve
Marshall,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Read
#10Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 30, 2006
Read the laws on FDCPA. File complaints with the FTC and the BBB and the AG in your state. Make them prove the debt. Never pay a debt collector. You have rights. You can fight them. Send them a cease comm letter with return receipt. Make them validate the debt , something with your signiture on it. Most likely they can't. Never give them your bank account no# They will clean you out. Never take a judgement. Show up in court if you get sued. Make them validate the debt in court. 99% chance the judge will toss the case. GOODLUCK. Fight-em
Steve
Marshall,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Read
#11Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 30, 2006
Read the laws on FDCPA. File complaints with the FTC and the BBB and the AG in your state. Make them prove the debt. Never pay a debt collector. You have rights. You can fight them. Send them a cease comm letter with return receipt. Make them validate the debt , something with your signiture on it. Most likely they can't. Never give them your bank account no# They will clean you out. Never take a judgement. Show up in court if you get sued. Make them validate the debt in court. 99% chance the judge will toss the case. GOODLUCK. Fight-em
Steve
Marshall,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Read
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 30, 2006
Read the laws on FDCPA. File complaints with the FTC and the BBB and the AG in your state. Make them prove the debt. Never pay a debt collector. You have rights. You can fight them. Send them a cease comm letter with return receipt. Make them validate the debt , something with your signiture on it. Most likely they can't. Never give them your bank account no# They will clean you out. Never take a judgement. Show up in court if you get sued. Make them validate the debt in court. 99% chance the judge will toss the case. GOODLUCK. Fight-em
