Consumer complaint received 2018-08-23
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: IL
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Account status incorrect

Complaint:
This is my second complaint regarding these accounts within the same month. 

My complaint began after settling two accounts with PRA. Both accounts were settled for less than the full balance, but due to the settlement, nothing further was owed on either. PRA updated my credit reports to show that the payments were made to the respective accounts, but each account was reported as opened with the remaining balance owed. I called PRA back ( both calls recorded and transcripts attached ). I was advised on the first call that the reporting would show balances owed because I settled for less than the full amount but that I did not owe anything else. This is clearly against the rules but I was getting nowhere with the representative and I ended the call. I filed my initial CFPB compliant that day. 

PRA responded to my complaint essentially saying they did nothing wrong. All the while my credit reports changed again with PRA saying the accounts were closed with {$0.00} balances. Someone at PRA had to change my reports again, so that shows their admission of knowledge ( see attached credit report copies ). I emailed the PRA ombudsman about my experience with this terrible company on XX/XX/2018. As of today, XX/XX/2018, I have not received a response from that office. 

I received a notification from XXXX app today that PRA updated my accounts again. This time they are both open with full balances owed. This is clearly PRA giving me a hard time for all the complaints and disputes, and for contacting their ombudsman. PRA has a well documented history of this sort of behavior and I will not have it. Over the last month, PRA has reported : 1. Balance changed to reflect payments made to accounts but accounts were still reported as open with balances owed even though they were settled in full. ( XX/XX/XXXX ) 2. Accounts reported {$0.00} balances and closed after my dispute ( XX/XX/XXXX ) 3. Accounts reported as opened again but with XXXX balances ( XX/XX/XXXX ) 4. Accounts reported as closed with {$0.00} balances ( XX/XX/XXXX ) 5. Accounts reported as open again with full balances owed. (XX/XX/XXXX/current ) This is across all three credit reports. This must stop immediately. It seems they are punishing me for exercising my right to dispute and complain about their practices. Since PRA can't be trusted to report these accounts, they need to remove them so I don't have to keep doing this. I am at the end of my tether with these people at PRA. I hate to throw this phrase out as it's done so often by people in these situations, but I have spoken with a noted XXXX based consumer rights attorney that has prevailed against PRA many times. He is excited about the prospect of assisting me in this matter and I am prepared to escalate this however far PRA would like. Aside from being in a gross violation of the FCRA, PRA 's vindictiveness in these matters is well documented with the XXXX XXXX XXXX as well as here on the CFPB site. 

My history of contact with PRA is as follows : 1. Late XX/XX/2018 - called to pay off accounts 2. Early XX/XX/2018 - called after I saw they were still reporting accounts as opened. Recorded both calls ( transcripts attached ). Was told they would continue to report accounts with balances and opened because I " settled for less '' but they were " paid in full '' and I did " not owe on them. '' 3. Disputed reports with PRA, credit agencies, and CFPB 4. PRA said they did nothing wrong 5. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX Emailed PRA ombudsman 6. XXXX XXXX current dispute Attachment breakdown : 1. Screen shots of accounts from credit reports ( XXXX XXXX ). Five total 2. Letters from PRA stating settlement for accounts. Two total 3. Transcripts of my calls to PRA. Two total. Audio can be provided upon request but system would not accept audio file for upload.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation