Consumer complaint received 2015-07-30
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: CT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action
Sub-issue: Sued w/o proper notification of suit

Complaint:
Early morning today, I checked my bank account online XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and I found that I have been charged {$1400.00} as part of a Legal Order. So I called XXXX XXXX XXXX to ask them about this because I did not know why I was being charged for a Legal Order. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX told me that they did n't have more information on this other than providing me with a phone number listed in this Legal Order ( I can not even view this information on my only bank account ) that forced XXXX to take money out of my bank account and give it to another party. XXXX gave me the phone number of the Connecticut 's XXXX XXXX Office XXXX. The number they gave me was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

I then called the CT XXXX Office. I was told by the XXXX Office that they issued the Legal Order on behalf of the debt collecting law firm XXXX XXXX XXXX and that XXXX XXXX XXXX is representing Portfolio Recovery Associates -- a private debt collection firm. My personal name was cleared of any possible wrongdoing in this case that led to the debt collection but I was told by the XXXX Office that the Legal Order was served on my mother -- whose name was on my bank account up until more than a year ago. The XXXX Office also told me that apparently monthly payments of {$35.00} XXXX for what service or product they do not know ) had not been paid and as such, over the months and years, the penalties increased to {$1400.00}. I was also told that I can fill out an exemption form ( CT form XXXX ) to have the money returned to my bank account and have my mom work out a payment arrangement with the debt collection agency. The XXXX Office proceeded to give me the phone number of XXXX XXXX XXXX -- the law firm. 

Before I called XXXX XXXX XXXX, I called my mother to ask her if she has been receiving anything from any debt collection agency or the law firm XXXX XXXX XXXX. She told me that she has not been receiving anything from either of those entities. She also has not even been aware of any outstanding debt under her name. And indeed, I can concur with her statements because I live in the same house as her and I have not seen any legal notice or anything from either of these two entities either. 

I called XXXX XXXX XXXX somewhere around XXXX today and was told that the I can not speak to them about the case unless my mom speaks to them ( since, they said, this was my mom 's case after all ) and gives them permission to speak to me on her behalf ( my mother can not speak XXXX very well ). The representative from XXXX XXXX XXXX told me that I had until XXXX to call him back today. I called him back at around XXXX today and was told by the office voicemail that the office has been closed at XXXX. This is starting to sound like it is outside the bounds of legality and I am starting to get suspicious. 

I want to emphasize that neither my mother or I were served any legal notice or bill in regards to this mysterious amount of {$1400.00} or anything requiring me or her to pay {$35.00} per month. We received nothing in the mail and nothing via email either.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation