Portfolio Recovery Associates lawsuit: what to do if PRA sues you
Portfolio Recovery Associates does take people to court, so papers naming it may well be real. They can also be fake. Confirm the case with the court first, then respond before the deadline. This page covers both, PRA's record on lawsuits, and where to get free help.
Which state do you live in?
Time limits on debt and some collection rules depend on your state.
Key takeaways
- In a 2009 comment to the FTC, PRA said it keeps an active litigation department and files civil actions in all 50 states, calling litigation a last resort.[1]
- Confirm any summons with the court, calling a number you found on the court's official website.[2]
- Respond by the date on your papers. Ignoring a case lets the court enter a default judgment against you.[3][4]
- In 2023 a court ordered PRA to pay a $12 million penalty after the CFPB alleged, among other things, that it sued after the time limit had run.[5][6][7]
- A collector must not sue on a time-barred debt, but you usually have to raise the time limit yourself.[8][9]
Does PRA really sue people?
Yes. In a 2009 comment to the FTC, PRA said it keeps an active litigation department and files civil actions in all 50 states, calling litigation a last resort.[1] When PRA owns the account, the lawsuit is filed in the name of Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, and the papers should also name the original creditor. Its parent company is PRA Group, Inc.[12]
That makes a real summons plausible, and it is also why scammers use PRA's name. Treat any papers as possibly real until the court tells you otherwise.
First, confirm the case with the court
Fake court papers and threatening lawsuit calls are a common scam.[13][14] The court named on the papers is the one place that can confirm a case exists:
- Look the court up yourself and use the phone number on its official website, not the number on the papers.[2] Give your name and the case number and ask whether the case is open.
- Do not pay anyone who calls demanding money to "settle before court". Courts do not take payment by text, phone or email.[2]
- To ask PRA about the account, use the number on its own website, 1-800-772-1413.[15] Disputes in writing go to Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, Disputes Department, 140 Corporate Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502.[15]
Our free scam checker lists the warning signs in a call, text or letter, and our phone number lookup shows the numbers we have confirmed for PRA.
Your deadline to respond
The court papers set the deadline and say whether you must file a written answer, go to a hearing, or both.[4] Respond on time, in person or through a lawyer, even if you believe you owe something.[3] If you do not respond, PRA can win by default without proving anything.[3][4]
That is how most of these cases end: Pew found that more than 70 percent of debt collection lawsuits finish in a default judgment.[16][17] Once you respond, PRA has to prove the debt is valid and that it owns it.[3] See our guide to answering a debt lawsuit for the steps.
Old debts and the time limit
A collector must not sue, or threaten to sue, on a debt past your state's time limit.[8][9] The court generally will not raise this for you; it is a defense you put in your answer, which is why forms such as Washington's answer form list it.[18]
Check the dates carefully with PRA. Among the CFPB's allegations in the case that ended in the 2023 judgment was that PRA sued after the statute of limitations had run.[5][6][7] Our time-limit check gives your state's limit.
PRA's record with regulators and the courts
- 2015 consent order. The CFPB found that PRA, like Encore, pressured consumers with false statements and filed lawsuits using robo-signed court documents. PRA had to pay $19 million in refunds and an $8 million penalty, and stop collecting on $3 million of debts.[10][11]
- 2023 court judgment for breaking the 2015 order. The CFPB alleged that PRA kept collecting on unsubstantiated debts, threatened lawsuits without the required documents, sued after the statute of limitations had run, and mishandled credit report disputes. The court entered the order on April 13, 2023: a $12 million penalty and at least $12.18 million in redress. PRA neither admitted nor denied the allegations.[5][6][7]
- North Carolina class action settlement. A class action filed in Durham County in 2016 alleged violations of the North Carolina Prohibited Practices by Collection Agencies Act. PRA settled, and the North Carolina General Court of Justice pre-approved the settlement on January 12, 2024.[7][12]
None of this decides your case, but it is a good reason to ask PRA to prove what it claims.
Free and low-cost help
We do not prepare court papers or give legal advice. If PRA has sued you, start with free legal help, or talk to a consumer lawyer: a collector that breaks the federal debt collection law can be ordered to pay the consumer's damages and legal fees.[21]
- Free legal aid. If your income is limited, a legal aid office may take your case for free. Find legal aid near you (Legal Services Corporation).
- Your state's legal help website. Plain-English guides and court forms, often with a debt lawsuit section. Choose your state on LawHelp.org.
- A consumer lawyer. Lawyers who defend debt lawsuits are listed by state in the National Association of Consumer Advocates directory.
- The court's self-help center. Most courts have one. Find it on the court's own website, using the court name on your papers.
We are not a law firm and do not recommend or endorse any lawyer. Any lawyer shown for a state is a paid advertisement.
Common questions
Does Portfolio Recovery Associates sue people?
Yes. PRA told the FTC in 2009 that it has an active litigation department and files civil actions in all 50 states, describing litigation as a last resort.
How do I know a PRA summons is real?
Contact the court named on the papers, using a phone number from the court's official website. Courts do not ask for payment by text, phone or email.
What happens if I ignore a PRA lawsuit?
The court can enter a default judgment, without PRA proving the debt. Respond by the deadline on your papers.
Can PRA sue me on an old debt?
A collector must not sue on a debt past your state's time limit, but you usually have to raise the time limit yourself in your answer.
Can you help me answer a PRA lawsuit?
No. We do not prepare court papers. Legal aid, your court's self-help center or a consumer lawyer can help.
References
- Portfolio Recovery Associates comment to the FTC debt collection litigation roundtable (July 31, 2009). Federal Trade Commission.
- Watch out for fake court messages. Judicial Council of California, California Courts Self-Help Guide.
- What should I do if I'm sued by a debt collector or creditor?. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- What to do if a debt collector sues you. Federal Trade Commission.
- Enforcement action: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (2023 stipulated judgment). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- CFPB orders repeat offender Portfolio Recovery Associates to pay more than $24 million (Mar. 23, 2023). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- PRA Group, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. U.S. SEC.
- FDIC Consumer Compliance Examination Manual, VII-3 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. FDIC.
- 12 CFR Part 1006 (Regulation F), eCFR. eCFR.
- CFPB takes action against the two largest debt buyers for using deceptive tactics to collect bad debts (Sept. 9, 2015). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Encore, PRA reach settlement with the CFPB (Sept. 9, 2015). insideARM.
- PRA Group, Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year 2023, legal proceedings note. U.S. SEC.
- Fake and abusive debt collectors. Federal Trade Commission.
- Phony debt collection scams. Minnesota Attorney General.
- Portfolio Recovery Associates collection letter dated Feb. 24, 2023 (published by a consumer law firm). Donaldson Williams.
- How debt collectors are transforming the business of state courts (May 2020). The Pew Charitable Trusts.
- Growth in debt lawsuits presents challenges for courts, consumers (May 6, 2020). The Pew Charitable Trusts.
- Respond to a debt collection lawsuit. WashingtonLawHelp.org.
- 15 U.S.C. 1692i, legal actions by debt collectors. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- CFPB orders Portfolio Recovery Associates to pay $24 million. American Banker.
- 15 U.S.C. 1692k, civil liability. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
Every legal point on this page links to its source. Last checked October 5, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected], and see our change history. This guide is general information, not legal advice.