How to Write a Pay-for-Delete Letter to Portfolio Recovery Associates
A pay-for-delete letter is a written settlement offer to Portfolio Recovery Associates in exchange for complete removal of the account from your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports. Collectors are not legally required to agree, but many will — particularly on older debts they bought for pennies on the dollar. The key is to get the deletion agreement in writing before sending any payment.
About negotiating pay-for-delete with Portfolio Recovery Associates
Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA Group) is one of the largest publicly traded debt buyers in the United States. It buys charged-off credit-card and consumer-loan portfolios from major issuers at a fraction of face value and collects them itself, including through litigation in some states. PRA is a debt owner, not a contingency agency working for the original creditor.
What Portfolio Recovery Associates accounts look like on your credit report
- Collection tradelines for purchased charged-off credit cards
- Retail and store-card balances originally issued through partner banks
- Older consumer installment and online-loan accounts acquired in portfolio sales
What actually matters when you dispute with Portfolio Recovery Associates
- Because PRA owns the debt, it has full authority to settle on its own terms — including deletion — without asking an original creditor for permission. Get that term in the written agreement before sending money.
- PRA files collection suits in some jurisdictions. If you have been served, respond to the court by the deadline; a validation letter is not a substitute for an answer in a lawsuit.
- Request the account-level assignment, not just a statement. A generic bill of sale that does not name your account is a common weak point in purchased-debt files.
What a response from Portfolio Recovery Associates usually looks like
Expect a validation response in roughly 30 to 45 days, usually copies of billing statements from the original issuer. PRA generally pauses reporting-related collection activity while a written dispute is open, and settlement negotiations typically take two to four weeks of back-and-forth.
Where to send this letter
Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC120 Corporate Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23502
Send FDCPA/FCRA disputes and debt-validation requests here.
Step-by-step: sending a Pay-for-Delete Letter to Portfolio Recovery Associates
- Verify the debt is still within your state's statute of limitations.
- Generate your pay-for-delete offer (typically 40% of the balance).
- Mail the letter Certified — never call or pay over the phone.
- Only send payment after you receive a written deletion agreement.
What to expect
14–30 days when the collector engages; some go silent and require a follow-up.
Third-party collectors are free to negotiate deletion as part of a settlement, and many will respond within a few weeks. Never pay until you have the deletion agreement in writing on company letterhead.
Frequently asked questions
Is pay-for-delete legal?
Yes. Collectors are free to negotiate the terms of payment, including deletion. The original creditor's contract with the bureaus discourages it, but third-party collectors routinely agree.
What percentage should I offer?
Most negotiations settle between 30% and 50% of the original balance. Our generator suggests 40% as a starting point.
Will paying restart the statute of limitations?
In many states, a payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock on the debt. Confirm your state's rules before sending payment, especially on older accounts.
Can I fax a pay-for-delete letter?
You can if the collector publishes a fax number, but always get the deletion agreement in writing first and send your offer by certified mail so you have a dated record. Never negotiate deletion over the phone.