Consumer complaint received 2018-06-22
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: IA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
Currently, Portfolio Recovery Associates is attempting to collect and lists an account on my credit report. The claim is that I have an unpaid balance in the amount of {$6400.00} from XXXX credit card. Portfolio Recovery Associates began attempting to collect in XX/XX/XXXX. Prior to their attempts XXXX was unable to be reached other than via online chat, and provided statements of varied amounts. The account in question originated from a XXXX XXXX account. I closed the account that had a {$5000.00} credit limit and had a balance just over {$3000.00} at the time. I continued making payment on the closed account until XXXX took the account and began placing late fees and charges on the closed account. Upon contacting XXXX, I was told conflicting information. One representative told me not to worry, and no further charges would be added. In fact, additional charges were added during account closure. Other XXXX agents continued to tell me I needed to pay or be reported to credit bureaus. I do have a XXXX account opened in XX/XX/XXXX that also closed in XX/XX/XXXX, but I have been making payments on this account monthly with a balance of {$1100.00}. 
I believe that the account Portfolio Recovery Associates is attempting to collect includes BOTH XXXX balances, as well as additional interest, charges, and fees that I did not make, agree to, or am liable. When Portfolio Recovery Associates contacted me initially to collect, I instructed them that I had reached an agreement with XXXX to pay the {$3000.00} balance and requested additional information. Portfolio Recovery Associates told me in XX/XX/XXXX that they did not need to contact XXXX, and did not need to provide me any information, rather I needed to pay the balance requested. Per federal fair trade collection law, I requested in writing Portfolio Recovery Associates not contact me until they provided the ORIGINAL account information and documentation. Portfolio Recovery Associates attempted two additional phone calls, and then sent me two statements from XXXX that were dated from XX/XX/XXXX, after the account had closed. I did not receive the original documentation. According to fair collection laws, Portfolio Recovery Associates had a 30 day timeline to provide the requested documentation and failed to comply with federal law. I have received repeated phone calls, letters, abusive language during the phone calls - not allowing me to speak, no response to document requests, the statements have the wrong balance and they have added funds to the balance ( my XXXX credit limit was {$5000.00} so {$6400.00} is not possible ), and threatened credit damage if I did not pay. See attached XX/XX/XXXX chat where I was told fees would be removed, and they were not removed. The balance already exceeded {$5000.00} from charges and fees on a closed account, and Portfolio Recovery Associates is attempting to collect {$6400.00}. The balance continued to increase with additional charges/fees that were not only unauthorized, but representatives repeatedly told me would not be charged or would be removed. 
I have been paying the one credit card I have access to records from XXXX, but I have NEVER received proper documentation from either XXXX or Portfolio Recovery Associates on the account. 
I have disputed he account on my credit report. Portfolio Recovery Associates also inaccurately represents my account on all three credit reports ( XXXX, XXXX, XXXX  ) as being an account opened in XX/XX/XXXX. This account did not open in XX/XX/XXXX, so it is making the dispute impossible since Portfolio Recovery Associates is reporting inaccurate information. I offered to pay the original {$3000.00} balance amount, and Portfolio Recovery refused partial payment, payment plan, or anything other than the full payment of a disputed balance. XXXX would also bargain fee removal for payments ( see attachment ). I was being repeatedly charged fees, and they would not remove them without payment. Several chats/calls were disconnected by XXXX. They contradicted by one representative stating charges should not be assessed and they would remove, and the next representative stating they could only remove one charge. More than {$2500.00} in charges and compounding interest was applied to my account as a result of XXXX taking the account from XXXX which did not charge the fees. 
After making a request to remove unauthorized late fees, I was met with a XXXX representative telling me the fees would continue to be assessed on the closed account. In XX/XX/XXXX, I received over {$500.00} in late fee charges that were also included in compounding interest charges. This was not part of my original XXXX agreement, it was a closed account, and the account balance was incorrect. Portfolio Recovery Associates added another {$1000.00} or more in fees/charges that are unknown. Basically, both companies are attempting to charge a debt more than double the amount I charged on the original credit account.

XXXX  never followed though with threats to report to the credit bureau. It was not until Portfolio Recovery Associates took the account that it was reported, inaccurately.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation