PRA - did I catch an error?

[Anonymous]

 I have two accounts with Portfolio, been emailing chief compliance officer with no reply, every time I call I explain that I won't pay unless I can get the accounts deleted. No luck so far.

Just noticed this on my 3B Reports - on Equifax BOTH accounts show "Portfolio Recovery Associates" as the Original Lender, while on the other two bureaus they show the actual original lenders - Synchrony Bank and CapitalOne.

Is this enough of a discrepancy/error that I can dispute or request deletion? Or does it not really matter? 

[silver_idle]

That may be an error in reporting on their end and if you dispute it, there is a chance that they will update the report with the correct information, though if they do not update it in time, then the CRA will remove the report but that doesnt stop the CA from submitting updated and correct information back to the report. Also keep in mind that if the CRA does remove the item from the report, youre still responsable for the debt if it remains unpaid and they can still send letters asking for you to remit payment, give offer of settlement, or sue (if still within the SOL in your state).

In my opinion if a PFD doesnt work, you could always settle and once your report is updated you can send GW letters to them asking for the removal of the item. If youre stuck on needing to do a PFD, you can try to get in contact with someone in a higher office, though while I may be wrong with this one, they may have a filter in place to probably send emails to spam unless they send an email first. Probably due to the increase in people trying to get in contact with PRA for removal of negative information from their report, but I could be wrong with that one and that they are either ignoring the information or referring it to a different department to make a decision. They are not obligated to respond to settlement offer. 

[Anonymous]

Debts are for $360 and $700 - too small to sue. Would they bother re-submitting if disputed for such small amounts? Also would this be a good basis for disputing with all three bureaus, or just the one where they're listed as original lender?

[silver_idle]

The amount isnt to small to sue you for so trust me on that (the lowest ive seen PRA sue for would be about around $200 but idk the context of that since I was just browsing the court records online being curious) so if they feel its worth the time, they would and 8/10 yes because they are obligated to report correct and accurate information to the CRA, so even if it gets removed by the CRA, as long as they report accurate information, it may come back up and even if they didnt, youre still liable for the debt. Since you said its not on any other CRA but that one, you may get somewhere on that CRA since the information isnt correct, but as for the others, they reported correct information (according to you) and would come back as valid/verified. 

[RobertEG]

A dispute is limited to the verification or correction, or if neither can be done, the deletion, of the information that is identified as being inaccurate and under dispute.

Catching an error in some reporting is not per se basis for deletion of the entire collection.

If the debt collector fails to verify or correct, then the CRA will correct or delete.  If you have identified the error as being an incorrect original creditor, then the CRA will likely simply correct as asserted by you in the dispute.

The CRA would not delete the entire collection, as the legitimacy of the collection is not at issue in the dispute.

As for suing, the FCRA does not permit a consumer to bring their own private civil action on the basis of inaccuracies in reporting.

A consumer must first file a dispute, requiring the furnisher to do an investigation of the accuracy and respond back to the CRA.

If the furnisher verifies information that is knowingly inaccurate, the consumer then obtains the right to bring civil action for lack of reasonable investigation of the dispute, but not directly for their having reported inaccurate information.

See FCRA 623(c).

[Anonymous]

THIS WAS IT! PRA DELETED!

My calls and emails weren't getting me anywhere. I finally sent the same exact message I'd sent in an email as a letter - got another no, but was told to contact the disputes department.

Pointed out the error and didn't expect much. Was asked for screenshots of myFICO and my actual report. 

Two days later and it's already gone from 2/3 bureaus and will delete completely within a few days.

YMMV but I'm beyond happy. Middle mortgage score  at 625! 

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

I don't want to be a Debbie downer, but that doesnt mean it will stay off. They may have pulled it until they can put together the correct information to resubmit it. PRA are pros. They will go by the book to cement their cases. You said 2/3 bureaus had the wrong info and I'm betting the 1 that wasn't pulled has the correct info. As for having amounts too small to sue, you should do more research into PRA. Their bread and butter is filing lawsuits in the hope that it isn't contested and they win by default.

[Anonymous]

Accounts are actually off all three now - letter on the way which should be the (hopeful) final statement.

[nativenyer]

Can you PM the email contact you are using? Thanks.