Consumer complaint received 2023-11-24
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC (NY)

XX/XX/XXXXXXXX   Dear CFPB, RE : Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC Deceptive and Illegal Debt Collection Attempts. 

I have communicated through written correspondence three times with Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC in response to a letter they sent me dated XX/XX/XXXX XXXX stating that they were attempting to collect a debt from me. ( See Attached First Letter from Portfolio ) Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC is demanding money from me, and I have not received any validation from Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC with regards to my XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX  written requests for validation/verification and proof of their ownership of the alleged debt mentioned in their letter. 

In an attempt to collect a debt, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC did not inform me of my legal rights to dispute this alleged debt in their first written debt collection letter communication with me dated XX/XX/XXXX, nor did they make it easy for me to do so, which is a violation of the FDCPA. ( See Attached First Letter from Portfolio ) In an attempt to collect a debt, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC also didn't inform me in their first debt collection letter of how they calculated their amount, including any interest, that they are demanding from me, which is a violation of Regulation F of the FDCPA. ( See Attached First Letter from Portfolio ) In an attempt to collect a debt, the next day after my first dispute with them, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC illegally and unfairly reported their alleged account on my consumer credit file on XX/XX/XXXX, and falsely stated on my consumer credit file that they resolved my XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  dispute. This is a misrepresentation by them as they never communicated with me at all within that 24-hour period between my first dispute and them reporting the account to my consumer credit file. This was a deceptive act! ( See Attached XXXX XXXX Credit Report ) In a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, AFTER my dispute with them and 23 days AFTER Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLCs first communication with me about this alleged debt, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC stated that they received my dispute communication and that I had a right to dispute the debt. In the letter, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC stated that I need to dispute the alleged account with them again. This was confusing to me because in the same letter they admitted that they already received my first communication of dispute of their alleged account. In this letter, Portfolio Recovery Associates also stated that they are NOT attempting to collect a debt from me. ( See Attached Second Letter from Portfolio ) On XX/XX/XXXX, AFTER I disputed with them and AFTER their, XX/XX/XXXX letter stating they were NOT attempting to collect a debt from me, Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC accessed my personal consumer credit report from XXXX without my written consent and without having a court order to do so. I never had any business transaction with Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC for them to do this. Why and How did Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC access my credit report? ( See Attached Portfolio Credit Pull of XXXX XXXX Credit Report ) Portfolio Recovery Associates is listed as the ONLY collection account on my personal consumer credit file which they are doing falsely, unfairly and illegally. Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC also reported false dates of this alleged account on my consumer credit file. Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC stated on my personal consumer credit report that this alleged account was opened XX/XX/XXXX, but had a first date of delinquency in XXXX of XXXX. This is impossible and proves that this account is completely inaccurate and false. ( See Attached XXXX XXXX Credit Report ) I have recently been denied credit from third party financial institutions because of this XXXX and only collection account that Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC illegally parked on my personal consumer credit file, which has now caused me feelings of powerlessness, XXXX, and XXXX. 

Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC is harassing, abusing, and oppressing me based on these actions they are doing to me. Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC blatantly ignores my requests for them to explain why they are doing this to me, and they continue to illegally access and post false information on my personal and confidential consumer credit report without my consent. How is Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC able to do this so easily to people? 

Because Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC has not validated this debt with me, or provided me with any documentation proving that they have a legal right to collect any debt from me, shows me that this is a bogus debt and an illegal debt collection attempt.

Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC has violated my rights under the FDCPA, the FCRA and the New York State General Business Law Section 349 ( Deceptive Practices Act ). 

I therefore demand that Portfolio Recovery Associates , LLC remove all information regarding this alleged account that they placed on my personal consumer credit reports with Consumer Reporting Agencies forthwith.