Debt collection -- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action -- Complaint #18090161
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 18090161
Company: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-Issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt
State: North Carolina
ZIP Code: 27540
Date Received: 2025-12-02T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2025-12-02T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Consumer Narrative
I am filing this complaint because Portfolio Recovery Associates is reporting inaccurate and misleading information on my credit report and may have illegally re-aged a debt in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and CFPB regulations. The original creditor, XXXX XXXX Bank XXXX, opened the account on XX/XX/XXXX. The debt was later sold to Portfolio Recovery on XX/XX/XXXX, according to their disclosures. I stopped paying the original creditor several years before the account was transferred, and the Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ) occurred years before that transfer. However, Portfolio Recovery is reporting a Last Payment of {$98.00} on XX/XX/XXXX, even though that payment was not made to Portfolio Recovery. That amount was paid to XXXX XXXX XXXX under legal threat of wage garnishment, not as a voluntary continuation of the account. I disputed the debt after making that payment and XXXX XXXX ceased collection efforts. Portfolio Recovery is inaccurately reporting the payment as if it were an active payment or acknowledgment of the debt. This action is misleading and harmful, and appears to be an attempt to make the debt appear more recent than it actually is, potentially extending collection activity time and damaging my credit score. Violations FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) prohibits changing or manipulating the DOFD to re-age an account. FCRA 607 & 611 require accurate reporting and reinvestigation of disputed information. CFPB Regulation F prohibits misleading representations of payment status or account age. North Carolina collection laws prohibit false representation of account status when attempting to collect. Harm Caused Because of the way the account is being reported : It appears new and active when it is actually nearly 6 years old. My score is significantly more damaged than it should be. I am being penalized for a payment that I was pressured to make under threat of legal action. The reporting interferes with my ability to obtain housing, credit, and financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Complaint #18090161 about?
Complaint #18090161 was filed against Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC regarding Debt collection specifically about Took or threatened to take negative or legal action. It was received by the CFPB on 2025-12-02T12:00:00-05:00.
How did Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC respond to this complaint?
The company responded with: "Closed with explanation". The response was timely.
What is the risk level of this complaint?
See the risk assessment section for details on this complaint's risk profile.
How do I file a similar complaint?
You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select the appropriate product category (Debt collection) and describe your issue in detail.
Can I see other complaints against Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC?
Yes, visit the Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC company profile at readthecomplaint.com/company/portfolio-recovery-associates-llc to see all complaints, risk scores, and analysis.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated based on publicly available CFPB complaint data. It does not constitute financial or legal advice.