Premier Credit of North America LLC or PCNA is a third-party collection agency based in Indiana. PCNA has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including failure to verify debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If you have been contacted by Premier Credit of North America, make sure you understand your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Premiere Credit of North America, LLC is a legitimate collection agency, founded and incorporated in 1999. The BBB established a profile page for PCNA in 2008. PCNA is listed as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates PCNA’s annual revenue at $55.7 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 280 people, with an estimated 480 total employees at all locations.
According to its website, Premiere Credit of North America is “a leading national accounts receivable management firm…successfully managing more than two million accounts valued at nearly $17 billion” and has made a “commitment to perform at the highest level of compliance in all areas…while generating excellent recovery results.” PCNA’s “management team…combines the best of experience and expertise with a proven record of accomplishments in leading industry practices.”
Premiere Credit of North America is a full-service collection agency that utilizes the Flexible Automated Collections System (FACS) as its “core collection system…enabling customized and consistent collection methodology, data security, telecommunication functionality, and complete contact monitoring for both written and phone correspondence.” In addition, PCNA’s “dedicated team of accounts receivable… management…professionals provide industry-leading analytics; …and dedicated client service representatives.” PCNA also provides customized client reports, including average payment size; batch and aggregate liquidation rates; batch tracking; calls per account; contact rate; conversion rates; payment amount per contract; and skip tracing efforts and results.
Premiere Credit of North America provides collection services for a “wide range of debt asset classes, including college and university tuition and accounts receivable; federal student loans; healthcare receivables; private student loans; federal, state, and municipal debt; and utilities.
Premiere Credit of North America employs a “culture of compliance” in which “associates, supervisors, and managers undergo training…about the many laws and regulations that govern our industry, including” the Consumer Credit Protection Act; the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA); the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA); the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA); the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA); the Higher Education Act of 1964 (HEA); and the Privacy Act. Their Consumer Resources page includes several links to consumer debt websites.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 97 complaints against Premiere Credit of North America in the preceding 3 years, with 28 complaints closed in the past 12 months. Most of the complaints allege problems with billing and collections. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has not posted any complaint data about PCNA. Justia lists at least 20 cases of civil litigation involving PCNA.
Premiere Credit of North America, LLC
2002 Wellesley Boulevard, #100
Indianapolis, IN 46219-2417
Telephone: (317) 322-3630
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely PCNA would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
Get Free BBB A+ Attorney. Call 475-277-1600 NOW
Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases
In January 2015, in United States District Court, Southern District of California, a judge issued an Order in a case alleging Premiere Credit of North America had violated state and federal FDCPA provisions. In this case, PCNA was identified as “an accounts receivable contractor authorized to perform collection activities on defaulted student loans on behalf of” Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC), a loan guarantor providing “services to the United States Department of Education (ED).” Specifically, in December 1983, a federal student loan was issued to someone identified as the plaintiff. The loan became delinquent, and in October 1985, a final notice was sent to the plaintiff. When the delinquency lapsed into default, the loan was transferred to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), and in April 1991, CSAC obtained a judgment on the loan. In September 2009, the loan was transferred to ECMC, who “initiated administrative wage garnishment actions against” the plaintiff. In March 2012, PCNA sent a notice of wage garnishment to the plaintiff. In April 2012, the plaintiff sent Premier Credit of North America an unsigned letter requesting a hearing and stating that he objected to the wage garnishment on the grounds that it “would be an extreme financial hardship” and “that he did not owe the debt.” At a September 2012 hearing, ED issued a decision regarding the garnishment, “finding that he had presented insufficient evidence to prove that he did not owe the debt,” and in October 2012, informed the plaintiff that they would continue collection activity. At the January 2015 hearing, the plaintiff alleged “that he was the victim of identity theft and that he did not take out the loan at issue,” and that as a result, Premier Credit of North America had violated federal and state FDCPA laws by “collecting on a debt that the plaintiff did not owe…and…making false representations, including that the plaintiff owed the debt.”
Premiere Credit of North America argued that the FDCPA did not apply in this case because “either: (1) the Higher Education Act (‘HEA’) statutory provisions bar the application of the FDCPA statutory provisions alleged by the plaintiff, or (2) HEA regulations bar the application of the FDCPA statutory provisions alleged by the plaintiff.” The court agreed that because PCNA was acting as a representative of a guarantor for federal student loans that, unlike many consumer debt collection disputes, the HEA may have jurisdiction with regard to legal questions regarding loan servicing. However, the court rejected PCNA’s argument that the HEA pre-empted the FDCPA, indicating that the laws were not in conflict, and that regardless, even if the HEA may allow certain leeway with regard to wage garnishment, it could not be interpreted as a means of obstructing the protections under the FDCPA. The court did agree that HEA may pre-empt state collection regulatory laws, but the plaintiff voluntarily retracted his state FDCPA claim, rendering the point moot. Thus, the court rejected Premier Credit of North America’s motion for summary judgment on the basis of the inapplicability of the FDCPA; however, the remaining issue of whether the plaintiff took out the loan or was the victim of identity theft was left unaddressed, allowing the complaint to continue to further proceedings.
Here are some past Press Releases of Lawsuits Brought On By Lemberg Law Against PCNA
October 10, 2017. On behalf of our client, Lemberg Law recently filed a complaint in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana. The case, against Premiere Credit of North America, charges the debt collection agency with violating federal law and asks for $1,000 in statutory damages, plus other relief.
The law is very clear about a consumer’s right to validate a debt, and to stop collection calls. Our client says that Premiere Credit of North America violated both of those rights. He says that, after Premiere Credit of North America contacted him about a debt, he went to Premiere Credit of North America’s website and completed a request asking them to validate the debt and to stop calling him. Even so, Premiere Credit of North America kept calling him on a daily basis. Our client told a Premiere Credit of North America debt collector that he’d requested information about the debt but hadn’t received a response. Our client says that the debt collector told him that PCNA didn’t have to provide him with any information about the debt, and that our client had to pay the debt immediately. Our client filed a complaint with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Premiere Credit of North America responded to the CFPB that our client wasn’t the person they were trying to collect from.
The lawsuit charges that Premiere Credit of North America violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by engaging in harassing behavior; by using false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt; by using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt; and by continuing collection efforts even though the debt had not been verified.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“With your help the nagging collection calls have ceased! I was thrilled I was also able to get damages from the collection agency. I am unable to adequately express my joy. I am so thankful I made the call.”
“I would recommend your company to anyone. You have the debt collectors off my back, and I will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the entire procedure your employees were courteous and professional. I was blown away by their efficacy also.
“After speaking to one of the partners, and going over the plan of action, I felt I’d chose the perfect company to go to work for me. He was very accommodating in describing what was going to happen. I would strongly recommend Lemberg Law to anybody being hassled by debt collectors”
“I just wanted to let you know we received the check from your office on now and I wanted to take some time to inform you that we really appreciate all of your efforts in this matter.”
We can absolutely help. Call us today.
Share your story
Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
Premier Credit put a hold on all accounts at Chase bank (checking, savings, my son’s custodial checking account) for more than the amount that we owed to INDOR. We had zero notice that we even had been sent to them for collections. We had zero notice that they were going to place a hold on our accounts. We never had any phone calls or conversations with them. We just woke up one morning and they had frozen our bank accounts. My husband spend more than 4 hours trying to call them to speak to them regarding the account freeze. When he finally did get in touch with them, he authorized them to take the total amount due from a different account that we have at a different bank. They processed the payment in full during the conversation. This was on Thursday 11/ 7/19 midday. On the phone when he paid the bill in full we requested a receipt or some form of documentation that we had paid the bill. We also asked for them to release the hold on our Chase Bank account. Today is Monday, 11/11/19 and we have received nothing from them and our bank account still has a hold placed on it. We have called Chase Bank and they say that they have received nothing from Premier Credit in order to release the hold on our funds.
We have been calling them all day on Friday (more than 5 hours spend constantly redialing the number to try and get through. We have also bee calling them all day today (Monday, 11/11) and the phone rings and then goes immediately to a busy signal. No one ever answers, only the busy signal. They placed a hold on our accounts for $5086.58 and the amount that we owed (and already paid in full) was only $3035.00.
We still cannot access our money and we have incurred a $75 legal fee to Chase, and have had other checks not clear the bank which is causing more fees. Since we can’t get though to them on the phone we don’t know what else to do.
Premier Credit stole $16000. from my sisters savings account. Ye I am on the account but only for legal and convenience service. Neena at the Debt Agency says I have 14 days to contest this deduction. Chemical Bank in Michigan faxed all of the requested info IE bank statements, proving the money is not mine. No deductions or deposits into this account. Chemical Bank did all that was ask. But before the 14 day period was expired they took out money and said no “paperwork” was received, although Chemical Bank has confirmation. This is obvious stealing funds from an innocent customer of Chemical Bank. Please help me have Premier Credit return these funds so that I do not have to sue them for fraud and stealing funds. I truly would like a call back. Thanks so much
Premiere Credit of North America continue calling even though I asked them not to call. As a result I stopped answering all calls on my phone and allow them to go to voice message.
I am a past employee of PCNA from 2013 to July of 2018 Justice will be served soon enough…
why don’t someone file a class action lawsuit against Premiere??!
In 2011-12, my ID was stolen and someone in Indianapolis filed my tax returns for 2012. I never lived or worked in Indiana and never filed or owed taxes. I started getting harassing calls from this company over the past 4 years regarding past Taxes/debt to State of Indiana. I informed them regarding validity and correctness of their false claim without any success. Finally, 3 weeks ago they put a levy on my checking account and took All money.
Now I’m left with all the problems of correcting their fake debt collection error. I have contacted a lawyer for further actions.
I believe this company is a Fraud itself and may be a part of a BIG Scam. First,They steal people’s Identity, then create a fake debt for businesses they work with and then go after all those people to Collect FAKE debt by harrasing calls, send letters that look like Junk mails, and never send certified mails. After few years, they file a judgment in Indiana or any another state, then Finally, put a Levy on your bank account to collect Debt money. Now, you are out of money and have to spend more money to fight them to correct their Fraudulent Errors.
Premiere credit will not release a debt that was paid to the state of Indiana in June of 2017 garnishment still continue to this day not sure where my money is please contact me at 260-318-5142