FDCPA Enforcement Tracker

FDCPA Enforcement Actions
(2023-2025)

I've been tracking every major debt collection enforcement case. Portfolio Recovery got fined $24M in 2023—for the same violations they were fined $27M for in 2015. Performant just got completely banned from student loans.

Here's what I found:

$156M+
Total Penalties
+89%
Complaint Increase
4
Companies Banned
7
Major Cases

Last updated: January 2025

Major Enforcement Cases (2023-2025)

Every one of these started with violations that could have been caught with automated call monitoring. Traditional QA samples 5-10% of calls—these companies learned the hard way what's hiding in the other 90%.

Portfolio Recovery Associates

March 2023Repeat Offender
$24.18M
+ $27M in 2015
Violations:
  • Missing Mini-Miranda warnings
  • Improper caller identification
  • Collecting on unsubstantiated debt
  • Time-barred debt without disclosures
  • Suing without required documentation
  • Failed to respond to disputes properly

Key Detail: This was their SECOND violation for the same issues. Fined $27M in 2015, violated the consent order, then fined $24M again in 2023. One of the largest debt collectors in the United States.

CFPB Enforcement Action (April 13, 2023)

Performant Recovery, Inc.

December 2024Permanent Ban
$700K
+ Industry Ban
Violations:
  • Deliberately delayed student loan rehabilitation to generate fees
  • Instructed agents to "DELAY, DELAY, DELAY" borrowers within 65 days of default
  • Cost borrowers 16% of loan balances in unnecessary fees
  • Violated Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

Key Detail: Internal manager emails literally said "the objective is to delay as much as possible without getting Performant in trouble." Permanently banned from federal student loan collections.

CFPB Order (December 9, 2024)

Strategic Financial Solutions (StratFS)

January 2024Shut Down
$100M+
Illegal fees collected
Violations:
  • Charged illegal advance fees before settling any debts
  • Falsely claimed attorneys would provide debt relief (work done by non-attorneys)
  • Misled consumers through web of shell companies
  • Violated Telemarketing Sales Rule

Key Detail: Multistate action with CFPB + 7 state attorneys general. Court granted temporary restraining order the day after filing. Assets frozen, receiver appointed, company shut down.

CFPB & State AGs lawsuit (January 10, 2024)

The Pattern

Complaints Surging

202398,000
2024207,800
+89%
Year-over-year increase

Most Common Violations

Missing Mini-Miranda43%
Phantom Debt Collection29%
False Legal Threats28%
Harassment Tactics24%
Improper Disclosures19%

95% of Calls Go Unmonitored

Traditional QA samples 5-10% of calls. Every case above involved violations that could have been caught with automated monitoring of 100% of calls. Portfolio Recovery was fined twice for the same violations because they kept missing them in unmonitored calls.

$1,000
Per violation (can multiply quickly)
Class Action
One pattern = thousands of violations
License Loss
State and federal restrictions

Check Your Calls for These Violations

ANVO monitors 100% of your calls for FDCPA compliance. Catch violations before they become enforcement actions.

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