In 1996, two bankers started giant debt-collection business Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (PRA), with its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and other commonwealth offices in Danville and Hampton as well as in other states. In about 25 years, PRA has become one...

Dynamic Guidance And Advocacy Throughout Northern Virginia
Debt Collector Abuse
FDCPA bans debt collectors from trying to collect stale debts
On April 26, 2023, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reinforced its official stance that debt collectors may not attempt to collect stale consumer debts. The agency did so in a new Advisory Opinion about this prohibition of the Fair Debt...
A significant shift in policy by credit bureaus
In addition to the health crisis created by a worldwide pandemic, many U.S. residents also experienced borderline catastrophic financial problems that resulted in a significant decline in credit scores. Debt caused by medical bills increased significantly for many who...
Are changes in the FDCPA resulting in abuses?
Towards the end of 2021, changes in rules under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) were enacted to allow third-party debt collectors to pursue delinquent balances through email, texts, and social media accounts. Collection agencies hailed the decision as...
How the FDCPA can protect you
Financial problems create stress while performing the most normal of tasks. Answering the phone or checking mail is an exercise in significant anxiety as past-due notices pile up. The feelings of helplessness are only made worse with aggressive debt collectors engaged...
Abusive tactics to collect debt are illegal. Virginians have options.
If a creditor or debt collector uses coercion, harassment, profanity or threats to try to get someone to pay a debt, the alleged debtor has rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Since Congress passed this law, debt collection is no...
Borrower rights in wage garnishment for student loan collection
It can be confusing – even threatening – when a student loan borrower gets a collection notice that their wages will be garnished to repay the educational loan. Anyone who receives such a garnishment notice – which would mean their employer might be required to send...
Defenses to suits on mortgages for already-foreclosed property
What can a Virginia consumer do when – years after they went through foreclosure on their home because they could not make the payments – they now face a lawsuit on a deficiency balance on the mortgage, perhaps because they were underwater on the...
Has a student loan servicer violated fair debt collection law?
Student loans are a serious concern for many Americans. According to Forbes, more than 44 million people owe about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S. This debt may feel overwhelming, and you could be struggling to make student loan payments. The good news...
Successful Defense in a Zombie Debt Buyer Case
We had another happy client, defending him from a zombie debt buyer.Back in 2007, the client lost his home to foreclosure. At the time, he had a second mortgage on his home which he also defaulted on. Years went by, and he heard nothing from the second mortgage...