You need to send them a certified, return receipt debt validation, cease and desist calling, or "not me" letter (think of it as the best $6.47 you ever invested). Also send it first class mail in case no one will sign for it. Make a notation of that fact at the bottom of the letter. You also need to report them to the proper agencies to which I have provided links to. Then you need to go out and get a consumer lawyer to sue them on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket) and let them pay you for the harassment. If everyone did these three things, these crooks would be bankrupt and we would all be the richer for it. Use these web sites to find an attorney in your state that will probably take the case on a contingency basis (no money out of your pocket up front): http://www.consumeradvocates.org/
http://www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-atto ... tates_value=All
Everything else you need to know follows including at least two agencies where you should report their criminal activities.
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES AKA PRA
Good news, they got slapped hard for 82 million recently: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article21073359.html
Also the NY AG slapped them again it seems: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-0 ... ion-in-new-york
CFPB fines them for lying: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/newsroom/cfpb- ... lect-bad-debts/
I have to wonder why an allegedly “legitimate” business would need over 500 phone numbers to call out on?
Web page with contact information: http://www.portfoliorecovery.com/contact_us.html
Make sure you read how they just lost an 83 million dollar lawsuit against them: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article21073359.html
Make sure you read how the NY AG spanked them bad on May 1, 2014 in the following BBB page.
BBB page with 1,334 (the BBB wiped off 49 complaints so that Portfolio could keep their A rating) complaints, 12 negative reviews a government action from the State of New York, an alert, and yet they get an accredited A rating (back up from a B+, they removed 31 complaints and 2 negative reviews to get them that rating, but they must still must be paying big bucks for that rating boost): http://www.bbb.org/norfolk/business-reviews/d ... olk-va-51000164
Bizapedia has them as a Delaware Corporation started in 2007 as opposed to the information on the BBBB page that says 1996:
http://www.bizapedia.com/de/PORTFOLIO-RECOVERY-LLC.html
http://www.bizapedia.com/addresses/120-CORPOR ... K-VA-23502.html
Other complaint sites:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/portfolio-recovery-associates-c275360.html
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/Portfolio_Recovery_Associates_LLC.htm
Cases against PRA:
http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%2020130416695
http://www.prweb.com/releases/Class-Action/Lawsuit/prweb5253574.htm
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district- ... 2707/228930/60/
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/casdce/3:2015cv00768/471398
http://www.bigclassaction.com/lawsuit/portfol ... olations-of.php
http://leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%20201409 ... SOCIATES,%20LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2015cv02765/308374
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/pennsylva ... -practices-act/
http://www.creditreportproblems.com/portfolio ... cpa-violations/
http://designertoday.com/News/6736/Reader.Get ... .Prejudice.aspx
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=PORTFOLIO+RECOVERY+ASSOCIATES%2C+LLC
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/14a0266p-06.pdf
http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2012/12/28/11-56600.pdf
http://statesboro.biz/News/702/Class-Action-L ... f-The-TCPA.aspx
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCOURTS-mie ... 1_12-cv-11526-2
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCOURTS-kye ... 5_13-cv-00147-0
And a CFPB case about a lawyer who works for PRA.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/ ... ction-lawsuits/
Some more interesting reading:
"PRA may also sometimes make harassing calls and send out threatening letters. In some cases they may have your information by mistake ~ so they are sending the WRONG PERSON collection notices!"
They were listed among the worst offenders on the late Bud Hibb's site!
It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and that they have the legal right to collect it. You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general
Called me on a Sunday afternoon!! Really!! Isn't that against the law? Don't people and companies know that most people don't answer numbers they don't know???? Leave a msg if you want me to call back!!