Sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates?

Debt Lawsuit Attorneys

Flat Fees. No Hourly Rate.

We have defended thousands of collection lawsuits. Several hundred of them were filed by Portfolio Recovery LLC. See some of our hundreds of Portfolio Recovery Results

Weston Legal, PLLC

4.9

Based on 750 reviews

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timothy mclaughlin

21:57 16 Aug 22

I couldn’t be happier with Weston Legal. When I raised some concerns about my case, they immediately had “all hands on deck”. Casey, the attorney who handled my case was amazing. This firm was able to settle on a debt with a plaintiff that wouldn’t budge on amounts initially. Attorney Casey called me numerous times to keep me informed of case updates, even from his cell phone. The personal service was truly amazing.I am extremely happy with Weston Legal.

Silvio Gomez

02:44 10 Aug 22

I want to give a special thank you to Jessica Owens for helping me the whole way through my process. Jessica was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions in a timely manner. I would highly recommend using Weston Legal and I would use them again in the future!

Chastity Harris

19:29 04 Aug 22

My experience working with Ryan and the Weston Legal team have been an amazing one. I love the fact they have a payment plan you can set up to pay off your fee. Also, I really appreciate that they take care of everything for you without you having to step foot in the courtroom. Both times I have used them they were able to offer me with great settlement offers for less than what was owed. They will always be my go to if I ever need them again. Thank You!

Nancy Montemayor

12:12 27 Jul 22

Casey is an amazing attorney he was able to get me a great outcome on my case! The entire staff was very courteous and always willing to assist. I interviewed several firms prior to choosing this firm. I knew after working with Casey that I made the right choice. He is an incredible attorney with a true passion for his job would highly recommend Weston Legal.

Carolina Sanders

14:29 12 Jul 22

My experience as a client with with Weston Legal team was Awesome. They are very professional, understanding, honest and keep you updated about your case. I highly recommend Weston Legal to anyone who is needing help with a Debt Law Suit because they got mines dismissed. “ You are in Good Hands with Weston Legal.” Give them a call and I guaranteed you will not be disappointed.

Geneva Nunn

22:48 07 Jul 22

I received a letter about a debt creditor that wanted to sue me. And you know when you hear sue you get scared. So, I called Weston Legal PLLC and the explained to me what was going, still don't understand nothing about this so of course I hired them. Months goes by then it's time for court Miss Clarissa start calling to talk about the case. I know I was so unready for this, but she was understanding with me. She would call me talk about the case then talk to the attorney then call me back. No matter how much I apologize she will say no ma'am if you need me, please call me no matter what she gave me her number in case I had any questions. Thank you for that. A few days before court she explains to me something and then I had the chance to talk to Mr. Ryan. Once he got on the line and we started talking about the case, the way he was talking all I could say was let's go to trial. When someone talks and make you understand something it in a good way no matter what go for it. Fast forward received a call today with GOOD NEWS. Thank y'all so much

Alana Sanders

02:06 03 Jul 22

Highly recommended for anyone in need of true financial help! We had unexpected financial problems after a dire medical situation and the Weston Legal team fought for the most reasonable outcome, beyond our expectations. Andrew, Melissa, Sarah, and Ryan, they all had our best interest at heart and we all worked together to create our best case scenario. They follow through at every step and make the legal system easy to navigate. We are so blessed to have them on our side!

Shabaura Perryman

15:13 24 Jun 22

Weston Legal provided me with great service. They were professional and worked to settle a debt significantly less than what I expected. Casey was very professional, and worked in my best interest. I truly appreciate his work and knowledge.

Crystal G. Robinson

17:11 15 Jun 22

Best experience ever! I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve needed legal representation and Weston Legal addressed all of my concerns. The process was very long due to the nature of the service but Jessica started off with assurance and encouragement; but over the last 2.5 years, Casey was absolutely the best when it came to communication, answering my questions, addressing my concerns and putting my mind as ease by explaining all processes and next steps. He always did his due diligence and consulted with other colleagues. I would definitely return to Casey and Weston Legal should I ever need representation again!

SlayVenom Goblet

10:07 11 May 22

Casey and the team at Weston Legal are amazing. They are very easy to work with. They took care of everything, from doing all of the paperwork to going to court for me. All I had to do was send them the documents and sign. They are polite, professional and efficient. They resolved my issue. I would definitely use them again and I highly recommend you do too. A great thank you to Casey and everyone there.

Juan Davila

23:37 06 Mar 22

Wanted to share my experience with Weston Legal. Unfortunately last year I had to file for bankruptcy. After looking through several firms, I found that Weston Legal had great experience and reviews regarding this issue, so I contacted them. I was surprised to get a response within a few hours. Jessica A. was the first person to contact me and she was very helpful in explaining what the process would be. Whenever I had a question Jessica A. would always respond in a timely manner. Weston legal was able to help me resolve my case within a few months. I highly recommend them.

Sandy Coleman

21:56 21 Mar 21

Jessica walked me through every step of the process with such compassion & I’ll be forever in her debt. It was an emotional experience that I couldn’t have done without Jessica & Sarah’s help. Thank you for making it a seamless & painless procedure. Your kindness & professionalism will be remembered forever!

Virginia Milligan

13:46 31 Jan 21

I have used this firm 2 times to help with issues. The rate is fair, helpful that it is a flat fee. The helped to negotiate a decent deal. You cant always get what you want to happen, but a fair deal is better than no deal. And both times it was fair.

Daniel Bustos

19:34 04 Jan 21

I have been working with Jessica and have found her to be a valuable asset. She replied to my multiple queries in timely and professional manner. She took the time to answer whatever question I may have, and kept me abreast of the progress being made on my case. I am thankful for the help I've received with my case.

Who Is Portfolio Associates Recovery LLC?

Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC is a buyer of charged off debt. Portfolio may be showing up on your credit report or they may have served you with a lawsuit. Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC files thousands of collection lawsuits each year against consumers. PRA will hire a local collection attorney to file the lawsuit.

Portfolio Recovery will rely on witness testimony in a “business record affidavit” when trying to prove their case against you. It is important to fully understand the rules of evidence when attacking these affidavits and any documents attached. If you have recently been served with a Portfolio Recovery LLC lawsuit then you should take action to protect yourself.

Is Portfolio Recovery Associates Suing or Harassing You?

If you have been sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates, you are not alone. This debt collection company buys delinquent accounts from other companies and entities. It then uses various tactics to collect the debt from individuals including, but not limited to, harassing individuals with telephone calls and letters before filing lawsuits. According to the website, the company states, “We’re here to help you pay your debt.” Unfortunately, many times they forcibly obtain judgments and garnish bank accounts if you ignore them.

Who Owns Portfolio Recovery Associates?

Portfolio Recovery Associates is owned by PRA Group, Inc. operating under the name of Portfolio Recovery Associates, Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc., PRA, or PRA LLC. It is a publicly traded company with an average stock price of around $57 a share (known as PRAA on NASDAQ). In addition to owning Portfolio Recovery Associates, PRA Group, Inc. also owns several subsidiaries including MuniServices, LLC, PRA Receivables Management, LLC, and PRA Holding I, LLC. The founder of PRA Group, Inc. is Steven D. Fredrickson. He co-founded PRA Group, Inc. in 1996 and has served as its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President since March 2002. The other co-founder, Kevin Stevenson, currently serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

The company headquarters is located in Norfolk, Virginia:

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (PRA LLC)
120 Corporate Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23502
757-519-9300
888-772-7326
www.portfoliorecovery.com

According to the company website, PRA Group operates in North America and Europe. The North America operations include businesses in Virginia, Alabama, California, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. It also has an office located in London, Ontario. A list of company offices can be found on the company website.

What Types of Debt Does Portfolio Recovery Associates Purchase?

Portfolio Recovery Associates purchases several types of debt from various companies and entities throughout the United States. Most debts are delinquent unsecured debts that have been charged off by the original creditor such as credit card debt, medical debts, and personal loans. The company also purchases a large number of debts that are included in Chapter 13 bankruptcies.

Some of the companies or entities that Portfolio Recovery Associates purchases accounts from include:

Credit card companies
Hospitals or other medical providers
Banks
Credit unions
Retailers (i.e. department stores and other retail stores)
Telecommunication companies
Utility companies
Automobile finance companies
Consumer finance companies
Student loan lenders

Portfolio Recovery Associates pays the creditor a percentage on the dollar for the delinquent account. The creditor benefits by receiving some of the debt that it has charged off as bad debt and believes that it will never collect from the individual. Portfolio Recovery Associates benefits by receiving the account for less than is owed on the account with the intention of collecting the full amount owed from the individual thereby making a profit on the purchase. In order for this to be profitable for Portfolio Recovery Associates, the company must aggressively pursue collections efforts against each account.

Complaints Against Portfolio Recovery Associates for Unfair Collection Practices

The Better Business Bureau reports that during the past three years, 1,311 complaints were closed through the BBB. Of those complaints, 1,169 complaints were due to billing and/or collection issues. An alert on the BBB’s website refers to a settlement by Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC with the State of New York regarding allegations that the company violated New York laws in its debt collections practices. N.Y. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, “Debt collectors must follow the same rules the rest of us do when bringing lawsuits — in this case, suing for debts that were not enforceable in the first place.”

Portfolio Recovery Associates often files lawsuits on debts that are too old to collect in an attempt to “scare” individuals into paying these debts even though there is no legal obligation on the part of the consumer to repay the debt due to its age. The company has agreed to pay $475,000 in penalties.

Portfolio Recovery Associates is also facing more problems as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) investigates the company to determine if it has violated provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act. According to the CFPB, more than 11,000 complaints were filed between July 2013 and January 2014 against various debt collection companies, including Portfolio Recovery Associates. PRA ranked third for having the most complaints.

Another class action lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court in California from 2011. Plaintiffs claim that Portfolio Recovery Associates violated fair debt collection laws by using an autodialer to contact consumers on their cellphones. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act sets forth the actions that a debt collector may not use in an attempt to collect a debt. Other provisions of the FDCPA include:

A debt collection cannot contact you before 8am or after 9pm unless you give the company permission to do so.
Debt collectors cannot contact you at work if you inform the company you cannot receive calls at work.
The use of threats of harm or violence is prohibited.
Callers cannot use obscene or profane language.
Repeatedly calling a person to harass or annoy that person is prohibited.
Debt collectors cannot say that you can be arrested if you do not pay the debt.
Debt collectors cannot misrepresent the amount you owe, falsely claim that you committed a crime, state they are a government official or calling from a government agency, or state that the papers they are sending or have sent to you are legal forms if the papers are not legal forms.
Debt collectors cannot contact you by postcard, use a false company name, or give false credit information about you to a credit-reporting agency.
A debt collection company cannot publish a list of names of people who have not paid their debts.

There are other provisions of the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act that an attorney can review with a consumer if the consumer believes he or she is being harassed or threatened by a debt collection company such as Portfolio Recovery Associates. Consumers have several courses of action they can take to stop creditor harassment and hold the company responsible for its unfair collection practices.

What Happens With a Judgment?

Bank Garnishment

Your Bank Account Can Be Frozen and Emptied by Many Judgment Creditors

Judgment Lien

A Judgment Can Often Cloud Title on Your Homestead Property

Credit Report Damage

A Judgment is Published on your Credit Report as a “Public Record”

Property Sold

With a Judgment, certain property can be sold at auction to pay towards the judgment

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Without a Lawyer

Default Judgment

The vast majority of collection lawsuits end up with a judgment against the consumer. This is primarily because the consumer did nothing to protect themselves or they attempted to defend the lawsuit themselves.

With a Lawyer

Dismissal or Settlement

Most of our cases are dismissed by the creditor prior to trial or we reach a favorable settlement for our clients depending on the circumstances of their situation.

Our Results with Portfolio Recovery LLC

1) Portfolio Recovery LLC vs. Our Client
900,413; Harris County Court at Law No. 1
Result: Case Dismissed, no money paid to Portfolio Recovery

2) Portfolio Recovery LLC vs. Our Client
JC1100809G; Dallas County Justice Court 4-1
Result: Case Dismissed, no money paid to Portfolio Recovery

3) Portfolio Recovery LLC vs. Our Client
02-JC-11-00259; Collin County Justice Court 2-1
Result: Case Dismissed, no money paid to Portfolio Recovery

4) Portfolio Recovery LLC vs. Our Client
62710; Travis County Justice Court 1-1
Result: Case Dismissed, no money paid to Portfolio Recovery

5) Portfolio Recovery LLC vs. Our Client
986,262; Harris County Court #2
Result: Case Dismissed, no money paid to Portfolio Recovery