How to Settle Debt With Central Portfolio Control

George Simons | January 30, 2025

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Patrick Austin
Attorney from George Mason
Patrick Austin, JD

Patrick Austin is a licensed attorney with a background in data privacy and information security law. Patrick received his law degree at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the National Security Law Journal.

George Simons
Co-Founder of SoloSuit
George Simons, JD/MBA

George Simons is the co-founder and CEO of SoloSuit. He has helped Americans protect over $1 billion from predatory debt lawsuits. George graduated from BYU Law school in 2020 with a JD-MBA. In his spare time, George likes to cook, because he likes to eat.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: To settle debt with Central Portfolio Control, validate the debt, negotiate a settlement for less, respond promptly to lawsuits, and know your FDCPA rights. Solo can help with all this and more.

If Central Portfolio Control has contacted you about an unpaid debt or you have been served with a debt collection lawsuit by this agency, do not throw your hands up in despair. You have certain legal rights and protections when being contacted by a debt collector or when sued by a debt collector in court.

Settle debt with Central Portfolio Control

You can negotiate debt settlement at any stage of the collections process. SoloSettle makes it easy.

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What is Central Portfolio Control?

Central Portfolio Control is a debt collection agency operating out of Minnetonka, MN.

Who does Central Portfolio Control collect for?

Central Portfolio Control specializes in the collection of severely overdue debts that consumers owe to other businesses and financial institutions. To be more specific, Central Portfolio Control collects debt for:

  • Automotive loans and leases
  • Commercial loans
  • Construction firms and contractors
  • Credit card debt
  • Equipment leasing
  • Homeowner associations
  • Mortgages
  • Overdraft DDAs
  • Retail credit card debt
  • Student loans

Read Central Portfolio Control reviews online

Looking for intel about what other people have said about their debt collection experience with Central Portfolio Control? If so, take a moment to read these real online reviews:

It’s reasonable to say the online reviews of Central Portfolio Control are a mixed bag (some positive, some not so positive). Nevertheless, there are many reviews supporting the claim that proactive communication with a debt collection is a viable strategy for achieving a resolution to your debt collection matter. Let’s consider the review posted by an individual named Denton:

“It was great working with Brandon to resolve my debt. From the start, he was incredibly considerate, always listening to my concerns and making sure I felt comfortable every step of the way. He took the time to explain all my options and never rushed me into any decisions. His empathy and understanding really made me feel like he wanted to see me win. It’s wintertime but he warmed my heart with kindness. God Bless you Brandon!”

Denton’s review highlights what you can achieve by proactively engaging with Central Portfolio Control. Denton established a line of communication and discovered that Central Portfolio Control was open to working with him to resolve his debt issue. You may be able to have a similar experience.

Use FDCPA violations to defend yourself in court

The FDCPA rules are just as important as any other debt collection statute. If your debt collector violates any of these rules, you can build up a case against them to defend yourself in court. Here is what you need to know about FDCPA rules and how to use them to your advantage.

Get every communication with Central Portfolio Control in writing

Many debt collection agencies misrepresent information as a tactic to push the debtors into honoring their debts. Some claims are often made through a phone call.

As a result, it is difficult for a debtor or court to hold debt collectors accountable for undocumented claims. You must request the collection company to make every claim in writing. FDCPA requires that official communication from the debt collectors be done through the U.S mail system.

You have a right to ask Central Portfolio Control to mail you an official communication. If they ignore your request, you may be able to defend yourself in court citing their lack of response.

Ask Central Portfolio Control prove you actually owe the debt

It is common for Central Portfolio Control to purchase charged-off accounts from other companies. As a result, they may have lost track of the details of the debt, especially if the debt has moved from one collector to another. You may challenge Central Portfolio Control and demand they disclose more information on the debt.

Request a debt validation from Central Portfolio Control by sending a debt validation letter. This forces Central Portfolio Control to provide the following information about the debt:

  • The original creditor
  • The exact amount owed
  • The procedure for disputing a debt
  • Proof that the debt has not been cleared

If they do not provide those details within 30 days, you can dispute the debt claims. Central Portfolio Control cannot pursue your case and use any debt collection tactics against you until they provide the requested information.

If they ignore your request and go ahead with filing a lawsuit, you can file a small claim action against them in a state court. You will need to provide the following evidence for your case:

  • A mailed letter to Central Portfolio Control requesting the information.
  • Proof that the letter was delivered.
  • Failure by Central Portfolio Control to provide the information within the stipulated 30 days.

Understanding your rights and protections under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law establishing what debt collectors can, and cannot, do in their efforts to recover on a debt. For example, the FDCPA states that debt collectors are not allowed to harass debtors or use any unfair means to collect their debt.

Here is an overview of your rights and protections under this federal law.

  • Making calls to you while at work if your employer does not allow calls during working hours.
  • Making calls to you at odd hours.
  • Talking to another person other than your lawyer or spouse about your debt.
  • Threatening to arrest you if you fail to pay the debt.
  • Threatening to seize your property if you fail to pay unless they have a warrant.
  • Using obscene language and threats against you.
  • Stating a different amount of the debt other than what you owe.
  • Making any false allegations about the debt.

If you believe a debt collector violated any of these guidelines, you may be able to use it as evidence in your defense in court within one year. The violation does not count as evidence after one year.

A successful ruling may have you compensated for damages. If there is no proof of damages, you may be awarded up to $1,000 and any court and attorney fees reimbursed.

Use SoloSuit to respond to debt collection lawsuits in 15 minutes.

Check the statute of limitations when Central Portfolio Control contacts you about a debt

The statute of limitations is the period within which a creditor can file a lawsuit for defaulted debt payment. When this time elapses, the debt collectors are not allowed to file any lawsuits regarding the debt.

Different states have different statute limitations that differ by type of debt and agreement (whether in writing or verbal).

The statute of limitation period starts to count from the date a debtor defaults payment. If you decide to make a late payment of the debt or pay after pleading guilty in a lawsuit, the statute of limitation period starts over.

The debt becomes time-barred once the statutory period expires. Even though you know that your debt is time-barred and you can prove it, it is still a good idea to reply to a lawsuit from Central Portfolio Control regarding your debt.

You will then use evidence of time-barred debt as your defense.

Negotiate with Central Portfolio Control and settle your debt

If you owe the debt and want to avoid going through the contentious and stressful litigation process associated with a debt collection lawsuit, then you can try negotiating a debt settlement. Central Portfolio Control may agree to settle for a lesser amount than what is owed, especially if you make a reasonable lump sum offer.

If you were served with a Summons and Complaint regarding a debt collection lawsuit, then now is the time to act and not bury your head in the sand hoping the debt will magically disappear. If you take just a few proactive steps, you could potentially get Central Portfolio Control off your back and get them to accept a significantly lower amount through negotiated settlement.

The debt settlement process can be as simple as following these steps:

  1. File a written Answer if you’ve been sued. In the event Central Portfolio Control escalated the situation by filing a debt collection lawsuit, make sure to respond via an Answer in a timely manner. This will prevent a default judgment and give you time to negotiate outside of a court setting.
  2. Calculate how much you can afford to pay to settle the debt. Determine what you can reasonably afford to pay toward the balance of the debt. For example, if you owe $10,000 and have sufficient funds to pay $5,500 toward the debt without negatively impacting your ability to pay other necessary living expenses, then this calculation provides a guidepost for settlement talks.
  3. Make a fair offer. Send your offer to Central Portfolio Control, preferably in writing, but you can also call, email, or use the SoloSettle platform to negotiate.
  4. Be ready to negotiate. Do not be surprised if they decline your initial offer. This is perfectly normal. In fact, you should be ready to engage in multiple rounds of negotiations.
  5. Get it in writing. If you have success in reaching an amicable settlement agreement, then make sure to get the terms and provisions in writing. Also, make sure both you and the debt collector sign the agreement.

To learn more about debt settlement negotiation, check out this video for attorney negotiation strategies and tips:

SoloSettle makes it easy to start the debt settlement negotiation process. Remember to keep copies of all agreements you reach with Central Portfolio Control and honor your part of the agreement.

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Make an Offer

What to do if you are sued by Central Portfolio Control

We've covered a lot here, but here's a quick overview of what to do if you get sued by Central Portfolio Control and how you can beat them in court:

  • Take careful notes when you receive phone calls before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm. Debt collectors are prohibited from calling you before or after regular business hours. They also cannot call you at work or use foul language.
  • Be sure to file an Answer to the debt collection lawsuit within the proper time frame.
  • In the Answer, you should consider raising at least one affirmative defense, such as the company violated the FDCPA. Also, demand that ERSolutions prove that you owe the amount they say. They also need to prove you are the person who owes the debt.
  • Consider filing a counterclaim if you think they violated the FDCPA.

These are effective methods for how to beat Central Portfolio Control in court.

Use these steps to draft an Answer to your debt lawsuit

If Central Portfolio Control has sued you for a debt, the first step to beating them in court is to respond by filing a written Answer. Follow these six steps to draft the best Answer for your case:

  1. The Answer isn't the place to tell your side of the story in detail: Most people feel pretty defensive when they get sued for a debt. In fact, many consumers respond by writing a lengthy letter describing their side of the story. This can actually end up weakening your case. In your Answer, you should stick to the basics. Respond to each claim against you that is listed in the Complaint document. You can either admit, deny, or deny due to lack of knowledge.
  2. Deny Deny Deny: Most attorneys recommend that you deny as many of the claims as possible. Denying is kind of like saying, “prove it,' which forces Central Portfolio Control to do more work on their end. In fact, many debt collectors would rather drop the case then prove their claims. Some don't even have the proper documentation needed for proof.
  3. Include defenses: After you've responded to each claim, include a section where you assert your affirmative defenses. These are legal reasons that Central Portfolio Control's case against you is invalid. We discussed the statute of limitations above, which is a great example of an affirmative defense. SoloSuit can help you make the right affirmative defenses, the right way.
  4. Use standard formatting or “style”: Your Answer should look clean and professional. You should use standard legal formatting for your margins, font, font size, and spacing. At the top of the document, include a caption that states the case information: court location, party information (your name and the name of the party suing you), and the court case number.
  5. Include certificate of service: At the end of the Answer document, include a certificate of service that verifies you sent a copy of the Answer to the attorneys representing Central Portfolio Control. This should include the exact name and address you used.
  6. Sign it: Don't forget to sign your Answer! Most courts reject Answers without signatures, so it's important to remember this crucial step.

Watch this video to learn more about these 6 steps:

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources


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