Consumer complaint received 2020-09-10
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: OH
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I have contacted Portfolio Recovery Associates several time via certified mail to request validation of alleged debts that they are trying to collect on. They refuse to supply the requested information, and they have failed to produce a signed consumer contract from the original creditors. 

The account numbers are:XXXX, XXXX, XXXX For the amounts of : {$1400.00}, {$780.00}, {$370.00} They have also produced letters that were supposedly sent to an address that I have not lived at since XXXX. These letters are dated XXXX of XXXX. 

The information I requested was : Your attempt at validating these alleged debts provide no original creditor documentation or contract per the FDCPA. It does not meet the requirements of Ohios debt collection statues. Let me remind you that Verification documents must come from the original creditor. The documents you provided are not sufficient verification documentation and therefore do not constitute validation of the " alleged debts '' as a copy of a bill is not sufficient.

As I stated in my last letter to you, under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I have the right to request validation of the alleged debts you say I owe. I am requesting proof that ; ( 1 ) I am indeed the party you are asking to pay these alleged debts ; ( 2 ) You possess documentation and a full accounting of the amount of these alleged debts that can be presented as evidence ; ( 3 ) There is some valid contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay these alleged debts ; ( 4 ) You, as a debt collector, produce documentation from the alleged creditors authorizing you to contact me and pursue the collection of an alleged debt ; and ( 5 ) You produce a license to collect debts in Ohio.

Also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you stop any and all collection activities pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

I am also requesting : 1. Date of Last Activity on Alleged Accounts 2. Any and All documentation provided from the original creditor 3. Produce proof of any/all obligations by way of transactions between Portfoilio Recovery and myself proving evidence of your authority to report, much less attempt to collect, on alleged debts.

4. Is Portfolio Recovery the debt collector or debt buyer? According to law, the right to collect on a debt is reserved for a cre ditor. In order
for XXXX XXXX XXXX to collect on a debt, there must be an established

relationship or permissible purpose with the consumer. As stated above, I am formally requesting you provide any/all proof of this established relationship or immediately cease your fraudulent collection attempts, including ceasing the reporting of the above-mentioned accounts with all reporting agencies. The FTC has concluded that reporting a debt to a consumer reporting agency is an attempt to collect a debt. As you can see, I was very specific with my request for information. They continue to send a copy of an old bill and no other information.  There have been multiple class action law suits against this company and it is easy to see why. They ignore FDCPA and FCRA laws and rely on their victim 's lack of knowledge to take advantage of them.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation