Sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates in Montana? Here's What to Do Next

2015 · consent order

$27M total ($19M consumer refunds + $8M civil penalty)

CFPB found that PRA collected on unsubstantiated debt, filed misleading affidavits in debt-collection lawsuits, misrepresented its intent to prove debts if contested, and sued consumers on time-barred debts.

CFPB source

2023 · consent order

$24M+ total ($12.18M consumer redress + $12M civil penalty)

CFPB found that PRA violated the 2015 order by continuing to collect on unsubstantiated debt, suing without required documentation, suing on time-barred debt, and failing to investigate consumer disputes in its credit reporting.

CFPB source

Statute of Limitations Defense

In Montana, the statute of limitations for credit card debt is 5 years. If your last payment was more than 5 years ago, the debt is time-barred. Portfolio Recovery Associates has been the subject of CFPB findings related to suing on time-barred debts — check your dates carefully and raise the SOL defense in your Answer.

Lack of Standing / Chain of Title

As a debt buyer, Portfolio Recovery Associates must prove they actually purchased your specific account. Demand the complete chain of title — the purchase agreement, bill of sale, and assignment documents. In Montana courts, failing to produce this documentation can result in dismissal.

Challenge the Amount

Demand a complete accounting from the original creditor's last statement through the current claimed balance. Any unauthorized fees, post-charge-off interest, or collection costs not in the original agreement should be disputed line by line.

Montana Wage Garnishment Exemptions

Federal limits apply.

Montana Consumer Protection Act

In addition to the federal FDCPA, Montana's Montana Consumer Protection Act may provide additional protections and remedies against Portfolio Recovery Associates's collection practices.

Montana Court System

Small claims limit $7,000. Justice courts handle smaller civil cases. District court for larger amounts. Filing fees in Montana typically range $30-$250.

Who is Portfolio Recovery Associates?

Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA) is a major debt buyer owned by PRA Group, Inc. They purchase defaulted consumer debts from banks and credit card companies and pursue collection through calls, letters, credit reporting, and lawsuits.

Has PRA been in trouble with regulators?

Yes. In 2015, the CFPB ordered PRA Group to pay $108 million for using litigation tactics that violated the law, including suing consumers without verifying debts and collecting debts that were not owed.

Can I beat a PRA lawsuit?

Yes. Many PRA lawsuits can be successfully defended by challenging their standing to sue, demanding proof of the chain of title, raising statute of limitations defenses, and challenging the accuracy of the amount claimed.

What should I do if PRA contacts me?

Request debt validation in writing within 30 days of their first contact. Do not acknowledge the debt or make any payments, as this could restart the statute of limitations in some states. Consider consulting with a consumer rights attorney.

Can PRA garnish my bank account?

Only after obtaining a court judgment. If PRA sues you and you do not respond, they will get a default judgment that allows wage garnishment and bank levies in most states. Filing your Answer is the critical first step to prevent this.

How long to respond in Montana?

21 days from service.

What is the SOL?

5 years for credit cards and open accounts. 8 years for written contracts.

Can wages be garnished?

Yes. Federal limits apply.

Where are cases filed?

Small claims up to $7,000. District court for larger amounts.

Is the collection agency suing me actually licensed in Montana?

Most third-party collectors and debt buyers operating in Montana are required to hold a collection agency license issued by the Montana Department of Administration under MCA Title 32, Chapter 4, Part 3. You can verify a license by searching the Department's online licensee lookup or calling the licensing bureau. If the company suing you is not currently licensed, that is a complete defense to the collection action under Montana law, because an unlicensed collector lacks legal standing to collect or sue on the debt. Courts have dismissed cases on this ground, and consumers have also pursued affirmative claims under the Montana Consumer Protection Act when an unlicensed entity attempted collection. Before you spend energy fighting the underlying balance, verify the license. If the license lapsed at the time the suit was filed or at the time demand letters were sent, raise it in your answer as both an affirmative defense and a potential counterclaim, and request that the case be dismissed.

How long do creditors and debt buyers have to sue me in Montana?

Montana's statute of limitations on a written contract, including most credit-card agreements, is eight years under MCA 27-2-202, which is one of the longest in the country. Oral contracts have a five-year limit. The clock generally starts running from the date of last payment or the date of default, depending on the contract terms. Once the statute has run, the debt becomes time-barred and you have a complete defense to a lawsuit, but the burden is on you to raise it as an affirmative defense in your answer. A time-barred debt does not disappear and a collector can still ask you to pay voluntarily, but they cannot lawfully sue, threaten to sue, or imply that legal action is available. If you are unsure of the date of last payment, request itemized account records under FDCPA validation rules and review your credit report to find the charge-off date.

What can a collector take from my paycheck or bank account in Montana?

Montana follows the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act cap on wage garnishment: a creditor with a judgment can take the lesser of 25 percent of your disposable earnings or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. Disposable earnings means what is left after legally required deductions such as taxes and Social Security. Certain income is fully exempt from garnishment, including Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, most retirement and pension payments, unemployment, and workers' compensation. If a collector levies your bank account and exempt federal benefits are deposited there, the bank is required under federal rule 31 CFR 212 to protect two months of those deposits automatically. You can also file an exemption claim with the court to release frozen funds. Montana's homestead exemption protects up to $400,000 of equity in your primary residence from most judgment liens.

Can I be arrested for not paying a debt in Montana?

No. Montana does not have debtors' prisons and you cannot be jailed for failing to pay a consumer debt. Any collector who threatens arrest, criminal charges, or jail time is violating both the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692e) and the Montana Consumer Protection Act. That said, there is a real risk people confuse: if a court orders you to appear for a debtor's exam or post-judgment discovery and you ignore the order, the judge can issue a civil bench warrant for failing to appear, not for owing the debt. The fix is simple: open your mail, respond to court papers, and show up to any scheduled hearing or exam. If you get a threatening call mentioning warrants or criminal charges before any lawsuit has been filed, document the call, save voicemails, and report it to the Montana Office of Consumer Protection and to the CFPB. Those threats are textbook FDCPA violations and they often signal a scam.

What does the Montana Consumer Protection Act add on top of the federal FDCPA?

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act covers third-party collectors and debt buyers but does not directly reach the original creditor. The Montana Consumer Protection Act, MCA 30-14-101 et seq., is broader: it prohibits unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts in trade or commerce and applies to original creditors as well as collectors. Remedies under the MCPA include actual damages, attorney fees, and treble damages for willful violations. The Office of Consumer Protection within the Department of Justice enforces the Act and accepts complaints. Practical use looks like this: if a national bank or a hospital billing department engages in misleading collection conduct, you may not have an FDCPA claim because they are the original creditor, but you may have an MCPA claim. The combination of FDCPA against the collector and MCPA against the original creditor or debt buyer creates real settlement leverage.