FDCPA Cease & Desist
How to Stop Portfolio Recovery Associates Collection Calls
If Portfolio Recovery Associates keeps calling you, federal law gives you a way to end it. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you can demand in writing that a debt collector stop contacting you. Once your letter arrives, the calls have to stop. Here is who Portfolio Recovery Associates is, why they have your number, and exactly how to shut the calls down.
PRA bought your account from the original lender, so you deal with PRA now, not your old bank. You still have the full set of FDCPA rights against them.
Who is Portfolio Recovery Associates?
Portfolio Recovery Associates, part of PRA Group, is one of the biggest debt buyers in the country. It purchases defaulted credit card and auto loan accounts from lenders and then collects on them directly. PRA has faced regulatory action in the past over its collection and lawsuit practices, so document every interaction. You may also see them listed as PRA Group on your credit report or caller ID.
Company type
debt buyer
Commonly collects
credit cards · auto loans · personal loans
You can check any collector's complaint history in the CFPB's public complaint database at consumerfinance.gov before you engage with them.
Your rights when Portfolio Recovery Associates calls
Two federal rules control how Portfolio Recovery Associates may contact you. The FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692c) gives you the right to cut off contact entirely with a written request. Regulation F, in force since 2021, adds hard limits on call frequency: a collector may not call you more than 7 times within 7 days about a single debt, and after speaking with you they must wait 7 days before calling about that debt again.
- Validate first. Within 30 days of first contact you can demand proof of the debt. Collection must pause until they provide it.
- Then send a written cease and desist. Cite 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c) and send it by USPS Certified Mail with return receipt. Phone requests do not trigger the law. It has to be in writing.
- Keep everything. Save the receipt, the green card, and a log of any call after delivery. Each violation is worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus attorney fees, and consumer attorneys take these cases on contingency.
Start Your Cease & Desist Letter for Portfolio Recovery Associates
Cites 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c) and your state's debt collection law. Formatted for USPS Certified Mail. Instant PDF download.
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Portfolio Recovery Associates FAQs
Is Portfolio Recovery Associates a legitimate company or a scam?
Portfolio Recovery Associates is a real debt buyer based in Norfolk, Virginia, not a scam operation. But legitimate company does not mean accurate debt. Collectors regularly pursue balances that are wrong, already paid, past the statute of limitations, or belong to someone else. Ask for written validation of the debt before you pay or even acknowledge it.
Why is Portfolio Recovery Associates calling me?
Portfolio Recovery Associates typically collects credit cards, auto loans, personal loans. As a debt buyer, they purchased your account from the original creditor and now collect for themselves. If you do not recognize the debt, request validation in writing within 30 days of their first contact.
How do I make Portfolio Recovery Associates stop calling?
Send a written cease and desist letter citing 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), the FDCPA cease communication provision. Send it by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Once Portfolio Recovery Associates receives it, they may only contact you to confirm they are stopping or to notify you of a specific legal action. Any other contact is a violation worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus attorney fees.
Can Portfolio Recovery Associates still sue me after I send a cease and desist?
Yes, a cease and desist stops contact, it does not erase the debt. If the debt is valid and within the statute of limitations, Portfolio Recovery Associates could still file suit. In practice, most accounts are never litigated. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline, because ignoring a lawsuit leads to a default judgment.
Dealing with a different collector?
Want the full legal background? Read our guide on how to stop debt collector calls under the FDCPA or check your state's cease and desist rules.
Company details are provided for general information and may change. This page is not legal advice and kweldoc is not affiliated with Portfolio Recovery Associates. kweldoc is a document drafting tool, not a law firm.