Portfolio Recovery Associates Fraudulent, unlawful scam artists Norfolk Virginia

Typical PRA behavior. On July 1, I received a call stating that I owe Capital One about $2200 for an old credit card. Told the girl I didn't remember having a Capital One account or one that was unpaid. I asked her what the Date of Last Activity was and she stated 'early 2002'. I proceeded to inform her that it was past the SOL in Texas, so even if it was mine, they were outta luck. She started to get irate, screaming about how "You spent their money, now pay it back!" She then got really mad when I laughed at her and told her to have a nice day and hung up.

Pulled my credit report, and they had posted the account on all three. Best part is they 're-aged' the account by claiming the DOLA was in 6/2009. I sent them a validation letter, which they responded to by sending a computer print-out that says "Yep, you owe us this money." I sent a second one saying "Yeah, that so doesn't work for me", and they determined that one was 'frivolous' and the dispute 'resolved'. My next order of communications will be the court papers they are served with for the half-dozen FDCPA violations I have them on (so far). Wonder if they'll consider that 'frivolous', especially with the treble damage laws in Texas. Probably.

The best thing to do with these scumbags and the other bottom-feeding Junk Debt Buyers is learn the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, any state laws that apply.....then communicate with them enough to get plenty of $1000/each violations, then sue the pants off them.

I will be filing a complaint with the Texas and Virginia AG's offices, and the FTC, but apparently that hasn't been doing much good. Maybe if enough of us do.....who knows. Their desperate actions are the signs of a business in desperation. My biggest question is not with them, but with the Feds. Why hasn't the regulation-happy Federal government stepped in here?

NightOwl
College Station, Texas
U.S.A.