Consumer complaint received 2018-12-12
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: MI
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
Got debt collection notice in mail today from Portfolio Recovery Associates of XXXX VA. Notice was in Spanish.

Called XXXX XXXX XXXX  at XXXX to ask for an English-language copy. Agent said she would send one and it would arrive in 7 to 10 business days.

Filed a complaint against Portfolio Recovery Associates with the State Attorney Generals office.

Called XXXX  to see if debt may have been based on identity theft. Agent told me that no account existed in my name or under my social security number. So question remains how did Portfolio Recovery Associates tie me to this debt, if a real debt it is. Did PRA invent the debt?

Contacted my lawyer XXXX XXXX  in XXXX, MI. Told me to send certified letter and what to put in it. Did so, which Portfolio Recovery Associate received.

On XX/XX/2018, Portfolio Recovery Associates sent me another notice also in Spanish.

On XX/XX/2018Portfolio Recovery Associates responded to my certified letter of XX/XX/2018. This response was composed of an explanation of where the debt came from but did not contain any supporting evidence beyond what it claimed appeared in an electronic file indicating the debt.

Portfolio Recovery Associates never responded to the fact that the debt was incurred via a XXXX credit card, which I do not have and, moreover, XXXX has no record of me owning one. XXXX  checked its records via my name and social security number.

Will send another certified letter demanding payment history, one from XXXX itself. ( Haven't sent as of XX/XX/2018 ).

Portfolio Recovery Associates has not provided anything beyond what it said appeared in the Sellers records.

Called Portfolio Associates at around XXXX XXXX. Wanted more information about lack of detail in response to my certified letter. Spoke to XXXX XXXX in dispute department. She thought it unusual that the notices were in Spanish and that the billing address was in California. She promised to do more research and that I should call her in a week. I told her I wanted a letter from XXXX XXXX   indicating all of the information it had on the information she told me or I would pursue matters with the Michigan State Attorney Generals office. Earlier in the conversation she indicated that the AGs office contacted Portfolio Associates.

On XX/XX/2018 Portfolio Recovery Associates send copy of billing statement from a XXXX in Spanish indicating the debt of {$360.00} and giving the address to sent the amount to XXXX   Credit Cards. I thought the debt was incurred via a XXXX   credit card. I also got the address of the person or persons who made the purchase. Portfolio Recovery Associates never bothered apparently to check to see if the address was valid. It isn't. I looked for it in XXXX I also got from Portfolio Recovery Associates a form for filing a dispute related to identity theft/fraud in which I am to include my social security and driver 's license numbers.

I just called my lawyer 's office.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation