The phone number 800-988-8019 is a known toll-free number primarily associated with Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA), one of the largest and most active debt buyers and collection agencies in the United States. PRA purchases vast portfolios of charged-off debts—such as credit card debt, personal loans, auto loans, and cell phone bills—from original creditors for a fraction of the original value. Their business model is to then attempt to collect the full amount (or a settled portion) from consumers.
Their persistent calls are a direct signal that they believe you have an outstanding debt they now own. This is far more than a nuisance; it is a significant indicator of a financial issue that is actively damaging your credit score. The constant calls themselves do not harm your score, but the account they represent certainly does.
How They Are Hurting Your Credit Score:
The presence of a debt collection account on your credit report is one of the most severe negative items. Here’s the direct connection:
The Debt is Reported: When PRA acquires your debt, they report the account in collections to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This is how they leverage the credit reporting system to pressure payment.
Major Derogatory Mark: A collection account is a severe derogatory mark. It signals to future lenders that you have previously failed to repay a debt as agreed, making you a high-risk borrower.
Significant Score Drop: Depending on your initial credit score, a single collection account can cause a drop of 50 to 150 points. This is especially true for newer FICO models, which weigh recent collections heavily.
Long-Term Impact: A collection account can legally remain on your credit report for up to 7 years and 180 days from the date of the first delinquency (the date you first fell behind with the original creditor, not when PRA bought it). This long-lasting effect can hinder your ability to:
Secure loans (mortgage, auto, personal) or get approved for credit cards.
Obtain favorable interest rates, costing you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.
Rent an apartment, as most landlords conduct credit checks.
Even get certain jobs, especially in finance or government sectors.
Understanding your rights and how to deal with the debt collection agency calling from 800-988-8019 is crucial to stopping the harassment and mitigating the severe damage to your financial health.
The number itself is legitimate and is a well-documented contact number for Portfolio Recovery Associates, a publicly-traded company (NASDAQ: PRAA). However, the debt collection industry is also rife with scammers who "spoof" (fake) legitimate numbers to gain your trust.
How to Verify Legitimacy:
Demand a "Validation Notice": Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have the right to request written validation of the debt. Do not acknowledge the debt or make any payments over the phone. Simply state: "I am requesting written validation of this debt, sent to me via mail, as is my right under the FDCPA." A legitimate agency will comply. A scammer will not or will be unable to.
Check Your Credit Report: Go to AnnualCreditReport.com (the official site for free weekly reports) and pull your reports from all three bureaus. See if "Portfolio Recovery Associates" or the original creditor is listed in the collections section. This is a key way to monitor your credit score health.
Verify the Company: If they claim to be PRA, you can contact PRA's main customer service line (found on their official website, pra.com) to verify that the call and representative are legitimate.
Beware of Red Flags: Scammers will often:
Threaten immediate arrest or jail time. (This is illegal; debt collection is a civil matter, not criminal).
Pressure you for immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
Refuse to provide a mailing address or verifiable details about the original creditor.
Ask for highly sensitive information (like your full Social Security number or bank account number) before providing any verification.
You have powerful rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
Send a Formal "Cease and Desist" Letter: You have the right to demand that they stop all communication with you. Send a letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested. Clearly state that you wish for all communication to cease. Once they receive this, they can only contact you to confirm they will stop or to notify you of a specific action, like a lawsuit.
Document Everything: Keep a log of every call: date, time, name of the representative, and a summary of what was said. If they use abusive or threatening language, note it verbatim. This log is critical evidence.
File a Complaint: If the harassment continues after your cease and desist letter, or if they violate the FDCPA (e.g., calling before 8 am or after 9 pm, using profanity, making false threats), file a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and your state's Attorney General's office.
Do not simply ignore them. Blocking the number may stop the calls, but it does not make the underlying debt or its impact on your credit report disappear. Ignoring a legitimate debt can lead to far worse outcomes, including a lawsuit, wage garnishment, or a bank levy if they obtain a judgment against you.
The best course of action is to engage on your terms: demand written validation and communicate primarily in writing to create a paper trail. This addresses the problem rather than hiding from it.
Yes, they can and do. As a legitimate debt collection agency, PRA has the legal right to file a lawsuit to collect a debt they own. However, they can only do this if the debt is within the statute of limitations for your state, which typically ranges from 3 to 6 years for most debt types (it can be longer for some debts like student loans).
If you are served with a lawsuit, DO NOT IGNORE IT. You must respond by the deadline stated in the court papers. If you fail to respond, they will almost certainly win a default judgment against you, which grants them much stronger collection powers like wage garnishment or placing a lien on your property.
Verify the Debt: Your first step is to request written validation. Once you receive the letter, cross-check the details with your own records and your credit report.
Negotiate a "Pay-for-Delete": This is the most effective strategy for dealing with collections. You negotiate with PRA to pay all or a portion of the debt in exchange for them completely removing the collection account from all three credit bureaus. This is not guaranteed, and you must get this agreement in writing before you send any payment.
Dispute Inaccuracies: If any information about the debt is incorrect (wrong amount, wrong date, not your debt), you have the right to dispute it with both the collection agency and the credit bureaus. They are required by law to investigate. If the information cannot be verified, it must be removed. This is a core service offered by credit reporting services.
Wait for the 7-Year Limit: If the debt is very old and set to fall off your report soon, and you are certain you cannot be sued (statute of limitations has expired), sometimes the best strategy is to wait it out.
1. If I pay Portfolio Recovery Associates, will it help my credit score?
Paying a collection account does not automatically remove it from your credit report. It will typically be updated to a "paid collection" status. While this looks slightly better to some lenders who manually review applications, the negative item itself remains for the full 7-year period and continues to harm your score. This is why a negotiated "pay-for-delete" is so valuable for your credit score recovery.
2. How long will this collection account stay on my credit report?
The clock starts from the date of the first missed payment that led to the account being charged off (the "date of first delinquency"). The collection account can remain on your report for 7 years from that original date, not from the date PRA bought it or the date you pay it.
3. Is it better to settle the debt or pay it in full for my credit score?
From a credit score perspective, a "paid in full" and "settled for less than the full amount" are both considered settled debts. The key is the removal of the account, not the amount paid. If you can negotiate a lower settlement amount and still get a "pay-for-delete," that is often the most financially advantageous path.
4. Should I ever give them my personal or banking information over the phone?
No. Until you have received written validation and have a written agreement in place, do not provide sensitive information. If you agree to a settlement, use a secure method like a money order or a payment portal on their verified official website. Avoid providing direct bank account access over the phone.
5. I didn't know about this debt. What if it's not mine?
This is why the written validation request is your most powerful tool. If the debt isn't yours, or if it's a result of identity theft, you can dispute it. Send the debt collection agency a letter stating the debt is not yours and demand they cease collection and correct your credit report. If it's identity theft, include an FTC Identity Theft Report and file a police report.