Consumer complaint received 2025-11-15 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB, I am filing this complaint to seek immediate assistance in resolving a breach of a written pay-for-delete agreement with Portfolio Recovery Associates ( PRA ) for a collection account. Despite full payment, the account remains on my credit reports from XXXX XXXX and XXXX, rendering the reporting inaccurate, misleading, and unlawful. This has damaged my creditworthiness and caused ongoing financial harm.

Details of the Incident : I entered into a written pay-for-delete agreement with PRA, which explicitly stated that upon full payment of the balance, the collection account would be permanently deleted from all my credit reports ( XXXX XXXX and XXXX ).

I fulfilled my obligation by paying the full amount via ACH on XX/XX/2025 ( proof attached, including transaction confirmation ). 
However, PRA has failed to instruct the credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ) to delete the account, and it continues to appear on all three reports as of the current date. This non-compliance makes the reporting factually inaccurate, as the payment was conditioned on deletion, altering the legal status and character of the debt.

Violations of Federal Laws : This conduct violates multiple provisions of federal law, including but not limited to : Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) : 602 ( a ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 ) : Declares that consumer reporting must promote accuracy and fairness ; the continued reporting undermines this purpose by misrepresenting a resolved debt.

607 ( b ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) : Requires CRAs ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of information. By failing to verify or remove the account after my disputes ( if any have been filed ) or upon notice of the agreement, the CRAs are not ensuring accuracy.

611 ( a ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) : Mandates that CRAs conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information and delete or modify unverifiable or inaccurate data within 30 days. The account is now inaccurate due to the unfulfilled deletion condition ; failure to delete post-dispute violates this.

623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) & ( a ) ( 2 ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ) : Prohibits furnishers ( PRA ) from reporting inaccurate or incomplete information to CRAs. Reporting the account without deletion renders it incomplete and misleading.

623 ( b ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ) ) : Requires furnishers to investigate disputes, correct inaccuracies, and update or delete information. PRA 's failure to honor the agreement and direct deletion after payment breaches this duty.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. ) : 807 ( 2 ) ( A ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ) ( A ) ) : Prohibits false representation of the character, amount, or legal status of any debt. PRA 's promise of deletion induced my payment; not honoring it misrepresents the debt 's status.

807 ( 10 ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 10 ) ) : Bans the use of any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with debt collection. Offering a pay-for-delete agreement to secure payment and then refusing to delete is deceptive.

808 ( 15 U.S.C. 1692f ) : Forbids unfair or unconscionable means to collect a debt, including post-payment failure to fulfill agreed terms that affect credit reporting.

Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA, 12 U.S.C. 5531 et seq. ) : 1031 &
1036 ( 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536 ) : Prohibits unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices ( UDAAP ) in connection with consumer financial products. PRA 's inducement of payment via a deletion promise, followed by non-compliance, is
deceptive and abusive, causing foreseeable harm to my credit and finances. The CRAs ' continued publication of the misleading information exacerbates this.

Breach of Contract ( Common Law/State Law ) : The written pay-for-delete agreement constitutes a binding contract. My full performance ( payment ) entitles me to PRA 's performance ( deletion ). Failure to do so is a material breach, potentially violating state contract laws ( e.g., if applicable, California 's Civil Code XXXX for contract damages or New York 's General Obligations Law ). This breach has caused actual damages, including impaired credit access and higher interest rates.

These violations have resulted in tangible harm, including denied credit opportunities, increased borrowing costs, and emotional distress. Under FCRA 617 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681o ) and 618 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n ), I may be entitled to actual damages, statutory damages ( up to {$1000.00} per willful violation ), punitive damages, and attorney 's fees. Similarly, FDCPA 813 ( 15 U.S.C. 1692k ) allows for actual damages, statutory damages up to {$1000.00}, and fees.

Requested Relief : I request that the CFPB investigate this matter and require : Immediate and permanent deletion of the PRA collection account from all my credit reports at XXXX XXXX and XXXX. 
Written confirmation from PRA that they have updated all CRAs to reflect the deletion and will not re-report the account.

Compliance enforcement against PRA and the CRAs for FCRA, FDCPA, and CFPA violations, including any fines or penalties.

Compensation for damages, including actual financial losses and statutory awards.

Systemic review of PRA 's practices to prevent similar issues for other consumers.

Thank you for your assistance in protecting my rights. I am available for any further information and have attached the written agreement, ACH payment proof, and
recent credit report excerpts.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation