Financial Consumer Protections

We have successfully advocated for and defended numerous protections related to lending, and we continue to fight efforts to lower regulations and increase fees for companies seeking to make predatory loans.

Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC v. Houston
In 2018, the North Carolina Justice Center won a $4 million class action settlement in the lawsuit against debt-buyer Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (PRA). A North Carolina court has taken the first step in approving the settlement of a class action lawsuit brought against PRA by the NC Justice Center, along with attorneys Travis Collum, Suzanne Begnoche, and Adrian Lapas. The case is Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC v. Houston (Iredell County case no 12-CVS-642) and involves claims that PRA violated the state’s debt collection law by sending written notices of intent to file collection lawsuits to persons in North Carolina and by filing collection lawsuits in North Carolina without (1) having sufficient proof of the amount of the debt allegedly owed and without sending that proof to debtors prior to filing a collection lawsuit, and (2) by failing to provide sufficient proof that it owned the debt when it filed collection lawsuits. If the settlement receives final approval by the Court, PRA will pay $4 million into a settlement fund for distribution to class members and will dismiss all lawsuits that are pending against class members.

For more information about the settlement, visit www.praclassactionnc.com or email PRAclass@ncjustice.org.