Penn Credit Debt Collection

If Penn Credit Corporation is calling you, leaving voicemails, or has shown up on your credit report, you are not alone — and you have rights. Penn Credit is one of the busiest collection agencies in Pennsylvania, and consumers across the country report a steady stream of calls, robocalls, and pre-recorded voicemails from the company. Federal law limits what Penn Credit can do to collect a debt, and when a collector crosses the line you may be entitled to money damages — often with no out-of-pocket cost to you. This page explains who Penn Credit is, why it may be contacting you, and exactly how to push back.

Who is Penn Credit Corporation?

Penn Credit Corporation is a third-party debt-collection agency headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Unlike a debt buyer that purchases old accounts, Penn Credit is primarily a contingency collector — it works on behalf of the original creditor or a government agency and takes a percentage of whatever it recovers.

The company is one of the larger accounts-receivable operations in the country and handles a high volume of government, municipal, and institutional debt. Because of that volume, its automated dialing and voicemail systems reach an enormous number of consumers — which is exactly why complaints about repeated calls are so common.

Why is Penn Credit calling me?

Most people first hear from Penn Credit through a phone call or a pre-recorded voicemail, often from a number in the 800-900 range — Penn Credit's main consumer line is 800-900-1381. If you searched that number after a missed call, this is who it belongs to.

Penn Credit typically calls about a past-due account it has been hired to collect: a government or municipal debt, an unpaid utility or toll balance, a medical bill, a student-loan-related balance, or a similar institutional account. A call does not prove the debt is valid, that the amount is correct, or that you are the right person — collectors routinely contact the wrong consumer or chase debts that are inaccurate or already paid.

Who does Penn Credit collect for?

Penn Credit is best known for collecting on behalf of public-sector and institutional clients rather than for itself. Its accounts frequently include state and local government agencies, municipal courts and citations, toll authorities, public utilities, healthcare systems and hospitals, and education-related balances.

Because Penn Credit collects for the creditor, the original account holder — the utility, the hospital, the government office — usually still owns the debt. That matters: it affects who you dispute with, who you can demand validation from, and how the account should appear on your credit report.

Is Penn Credit Corporation legitimate, or a scam?

Penn Credit is a real, licensed collection company that has operated for decades — it is not a phantom-debt scam in the way some fly-by-night operations are. But 'legitimate company' and 'legitimate debt' are two different things. A real collector can still call the wrong person, misstate a balance, report an account inaccurately, or violate the law in how it contacts you.

Scammers also impersonate well-known collectors like Penn Credit. If a caller demands immediate payment by gift card, wire, or cryptocurrency, refuses to send written validation, or threatens arrest, treat it as a red flag. A legitimate collector must, on request, send you written verification of the debt — and you should never pay based on a phone call alone.

How to tell if a call, letter or text is really from Penn Credit

Penn Credit Corporation collects for a lot of government and utility clients — toll authorities, municipal courts, hospitals, parking bureaus — so its first contact frequently concerns a bill people genuinely do not remember. Below are the identifiers Penn Credit itself publishes, so you can check them against whatever you received. Numbers and addresses for other collection agencies are in our debt collector phone numbers and addresses list.

Phone numbers and text short code Penn Credit publishes

These are the numbers listed on Penn Credit's own disclosures page. If a caller gives you one of these, the number itself is consistent with the real company — though that still tells you nothing about whether the debt is valid.

• Main phone number: 800-900-1381.
• District of Columbia line: 800-900-1379.
• Colorado line: 303-309-3839.
• Text message short code: 59304. Penn Credit discloses that it sends text messages from this short code and that you can stop them by texting STOP to 59304, or by replying STOP to any text it sends you. If you are trying to find out who is texting you from 59304, that is Penn Credit.

Other numbers people report as Penn Credit

Penn Credit appears to make outbound calls from a block of numbers beginning 800-900-13. Consumers and other consumer-law firms commonly report calls from 800-900-1364, 800-900-1392, 800-900-1393, 800-900-1382 and 800-900-1361.

None of those five numbers appears on Penn Credit's own disclosures page, so we cannot confirm that the company uses them. We note only that they fall within the same block as the numbers Penn Credit does publish, and that they are reported often enough to be worth recognizing. If one of them called you, treat it the way you would treat any unlisted number: as unverified until the caller sends you something in writing.

We keep separate pages on three of them: why 800-900-1361 is calling you, 800-900-1364 and 800-900-1392 — what Penn Credit collects on, how to stop the calls, and what to check on your credit report.

Where Penn Credit mails from

• Mailing address: P.O. Box 69703, Harrisburg, PA 17106. Penn Credit also publishes this box with the ZIP+4 form 17110-9703. Collection letters and payment remittances are commonly directed here.
• Street address: 2800 Commerce Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110. This is the address Penn Credit currently publishes and the one that appears in government contracting records.
• Colorado office: 7200 South Alton Way, Suite B-180, Centennial, CO 80112.
• An older address you may still see: 916 S. 14th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104. This address appears on older records and correspondence. Seeing it does not by itself mean a letter is fake.

Numbers and addresses that are not on this list

Collection agencies rotate outbound numbers and use third-party dialing vendors, so a genuine Penn Credit call can display a number the company has never published. An unfamiliar number is not proof of fraud, and a familiar-looking one is not proof of legitimacy.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a collector must identify itself and must send a written validation notice within five days of first contacting you, stating the amount of the debt and naming the creditor. Since Regulation F took effect on November 30, 2021, a collection text must also give you a reasonable and simple way to opt out.

To verify a caller claiming to be Penn Credit:

• Do not call back the number in the voicemail or text, and do not open a payment link from it.
• Ask for the written validation notice, in writing, before you discuss or pay anything.
• If the debt is supposedly a government or utility bill, contact that agency directly using a phone number you look up yourself — not one supplied in the message — and ask whether the account was actually placed with Penn Credit.
• Never give bank account or card numbers to someone who contacted you first.

Texting STOP ends the messages, but it does not resolve the account and it does not stop the debt from being reported. If the balance is wrong, the debt is not yours, or it is already paid or disputed, that is a separate problem with remedies under the FDCPA and, where it appears on your credit report, the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Penn Credit's track record: a $4.675 million voicemail settlement

Penn Credit's collection methods have drawn significant legal scrutiny. In a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Penn Credit was accused of sending pre-recorded 'ringless' voicemails to consumers' cell phones without their consent, in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

To resolve the case, Penn Credit agreed to a $4.675 million class-action settlement, which received court approval in 2021. As is typical, Penn Credit denied wrongdoing and settled to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.

The takeaway for consumers is simple: if you have received repeated pre-recorded calls or voicemails from Penn Credit that you never agreed to, you are not imagining a pattern — the company's automated-contact practices have already been challenged in court.

Your rights when Penn Credit contacts you

Two federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) governs how third-party collectors like Penn Credit may communicate with you, and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) restricts robocalls and pre-recorded messages to your cell phone without consent.

• Penn Credit generally may not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time.
• It may not call you repeatedly to annoy or harass you, or use abusive or threatening language.
• It may not contact you at work after you tell it your employer prohibits such calls.
• It must stop contacting you if you send a written request to cease communication.
• It may not send pre-recorded or auto-dialed calls or ringless voicemails to your cell phone without your prior consent.
• On request, it must send written validation of the debt — and stop collecting until it does.

How to stop Penn Credit's calls and robocalls

1. Write down every contact — date, time, the number that called (for example 800-900-1381), and what was said or left as a voicemail. Save voicemails; they can be powerful evidence in a TCPA case.
2. Send Penn Credit a written 'cease communication' letter and a request for written validation of the debt. Keep a copy and send it so you have proof of delivery.
3. Do not consent to future automated calls — and never give a new phone number to a collector unless you intend to allow calls to it.
4. If the calls, robocalls, or voicemails continue after your written request, that ongoing contact may itself be a violation you can act on.

Is the Penn Credit account on your credit report even yours?

Before paying, ask whether the account is accurate — and whether it is even yours. Penn Credit collects for many different creditors, and the information reported is often wrong, which is where your strongest rights lie.

• It isn’t your debt (identity theft). If the account was opened in your name by someone else, a Penn Credit entry can be a sign of identity theft.
• It’s someone else’s account on your file (a mixed credit report). If the debt belongs to another person with a similar name or Social Security number, you may have a mixed credit file.
• The details are wrong. An incorrect balance, wrong dates, a duplicate, or a re-aged account are all credit reporting errors you can challenge — and recover damages for.

Each is a potential Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) violation that can require the item to be corrected or deleted and entitle you to damages — often at no cost to you.

How do I remove Penn Credit from my credit report?

If a Penn Credit collection account is on your credit report and it is inaccurate — wrong amount, not your debt, already paid, or too old to report — you can dispute it under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Send a written dispute to each credit bureau reporting the item and to Penn Credit directly, explain what is wrong, and include supporting documents.

The bureau and the collector then have 30 days to investigate. If the account cannot be verified as accurate, it must be corrected or deleted. If the account is the product of identity theft, create an FTC Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov and submit it together with your dispute — it triggers additional protections and can require the item to be blocked.

Where to send a dispute or written request to Penn Credit

You can mail a written dispute, validation request, or cease-communication letter to Penn Credit at its Harrisburg office. Sending your request in writing — and keeping proof of mailing — protects your rights far better than a phone call, which leaves no record.

Penn Credit places collection calls from several numbers in the 1-800-900-13xx range — consumers most often report calls and caller-ID entries such as 800-900-1361, 800-900-1370, 800-900-1381, 800-900-1382, and 800-900-1392 (sometimes shown with a +1 prefix) — and its letters and payment notices often list a payment address of P.O. Box 69703, Harrisburg, PA 17106 — which is why many people search these to identify who is contacting them. Always confirm the correct return address on your most recent letter before mailing.

Penn Credit Corporation, 2800 Commerce Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Its main consumer phone line is 800-900-1381.

Penn Credit phone numbers people search for

Penn Credit contacts consumers from more than one number, so the number on your caller ID or in a text message is often the only clue you have about who is trying to reach you. These are the lines people most often look up, each with its own page here.

• 800-900-1361 — a collection line in the 800-900-13xx block.
• 800-900-1364 — another collection line in the same block.
• 800-900-1392 — another collection line in the same block.
• 888-725-7020 — the callback number Penn Credit puts in its consumer text messages.
• 833-237-6917 — a second callback number that appears in Penn Credit texts.
• 800-900-1370, 800-900-1379, 800-900-1381, 800-900-1382 and 800-900-1393 are reported as well. 800-900-1381 is the company’s main published consumer line and 800-900-1379 its District of Columbia line.

A call or a text from any of these numbers is a communication from a debt collector. It does not by itself mean the debt is valid, that it is yours, or that the amount is right — and if Penn Credit is reporting the account to the credit bureaus, whether that report is accurate is a separate question governed by the FCRA.

How The Kim Law Firm helps with Penn Credit

Our first focus is your credit report: if Penn Credit is reporting a debt that is not yours, belongs to someone else, or is inaccurate, we pursue the credit bureaus and Penn Credit under the FCRA to get it corrected or deleted — and to recover damages. We help with credit reporting errors, identity theft, and mixed credit files.

The Kim Law Firm represents consumers against Penn Credit and other collectors under the FDCPA, the TCPA, and the FCRA. If Penn Credit is calling relentlessly, leaving pre-recorded voicemails, or reporting a debt you do not recognize, we can step in, deal with the collector for you, and pursue damages when the law has been broken.

Because these laws let us recover our fees from the collector, our review is free and we work on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis. Save your call logs and voicemails, then start your free case review or call us at 855-996-6342 to find out where you stand.

Dealing with a different collector? We also handle Jefferson Capital Systems, plus major debt buyers like Portfolio Recovery Associates, Midland Credit Management, LVNV Funding, and Cavalry Portfolio Services. See the full list on our furnisher & debt collector resource page.

Contingency collectors and debt buyers are not the same thing

Penn Credit works on contingency: it collects on behalf of the original creditor or a government agency and keeps a percentage of what it recovers, rather than buying the account outright. That distinction changes several practical things. A contingency collector does not own the debt, so it usually cannot settle without the creditor's agreement, and the account may be recalled and handed to another agency at any point. A debt buyer, by contrast, owns what it collects, reports as the owner and often carries thin documentation about how the balance was calculated in the first place.

• Midland Credit Management — one of the largest debt buyers, collecting accounts it owns outright.
• Portfolio Recovery Associates — another major purchaser of charged-off consumer debt.
• LVNV Funding — a debt buyer whose accounts are collected by an affiliated servicer.
• Jefferson Capital Systems — a buyer of charged-off portfolios that also reports to the bureaus.
• Cavalry Portfolio Services — collecting on accounts purchased by an affiliated buyer.

Ask in writing who owns the debt and who the current creditor is, because the answer determines who you negotiate with and who is responsible for what appears on your credit report. If an account is being reported by a company that only collects on commission, that is worth examining, and if two companies are reporting the same underlying debt, one of those tradelines is wrong. Both questions belong in the same dispute letter.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Penn Credit calling me from 800-900-1381?

That number is Penn Credit Corporation's main consumer line. The company is a collection agency, so a call usually means a creditor — often a government agency, utility, toll authority, or hospital — has hired Penn Credit to collect a past-due balance. A call alone does not prove the debt is valid or that you are the correct person, so you can ask for written validation before doing anything else.

Is Penn Credit a scam?

No — Penn Credit is a real, long-established collection company, not a phantom operation. But a legitimate collector can still make mistakes or break the law, and scammers sometimes impersonate known collectors. Never pay by gift card, wire, or cryptocurrency, and always demand written validation before paying anything.

Can I sue Penn Credit for harassment?

Yes, potentially. If Penn Credit violated the FDCPA or sent pre-recorded or auto-dialed calls or voicemails to your cell phone without consent in violation of the TCPA, you may be entitled to statutory and actual damages. Penn Credit has already paid a $4.675 million class settlement over its voicemail practices, so these claims are far from hypothetical.

How do I get Penn Credit off my credit report?

If the account is inaccurate, dispute it in writing with each credit bureau and with Penn Credit under the FCRA. They have 30 days to investigate, and anything that cannot be verified must be corrected or removed. If it stems from identity theft, file an FTC Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov and submit it with your dispute.

Does paying Penn Credit remove it from my credit report?

Not automatically. A paid collection can still remain on your report as 'paid,' which is why it is important to confirm any settlement terms in writing before you pay. If the account is inaccurate in any way, disputing it may be a stronger path than paying it.

How much does it cost to hire an FCRA or FDCPA lawyer?

Usually nothing up front. These consumer-protection laws let prevailing consumers recover attorney's fees from the collector, so The Kim Law Firm reviews your case for free and works on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis. You can find out where you stand at no cost.

Who is calling me from 800-900-1364, 800-900-1392 or 800-900-1393?

These numbers — also written 8009001364, 8009001392 and 8009001393 — are widely reported by consumers as Penn Credit collection calls. Penn Credit does not list them on its own disclosures page, so we cannot confirm the company uses them. They do fall inside the same 800-900-13 block as the numbers Penn Credit does publish, and collection agencies commonly dial from numbers they never publish. Do not call the number back. Ask instead for the written validation notice the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires within five days of first contact.

Who is calling me from 800-900-1382 or 800-900-1361?

800-900-1382 and 800-900-1361 (also written 8009001382 and 8009001361) are reported by consumers as Penn Credit numbers, but neither appears on Penn Credit's own disclosures page, so we cannot confirm them. The numbers Penn Credit does publish are 800-900-1381 for general calls, 800-900-1379 for the District of Columbia, and 303-309-3839 for Colorado.

What address does Penn Credit mail from?

Penn Credit's mailing address is P.O. Box 69703, Harrisburg, PA 17106, which the company also publishes in ZIP+4 form as 17110-9703. Its street address is 2800 Commerce Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110, and it operates a Colorado office at 7200 South Alton Way, Suite B-180, Centennial, CO 80112. Older letters and records may still show 916 S. 14th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104. Send written disputes by certified mail and keep a copy.

Who is texting me from 59304?

59304 is the text-message short code Penn Credit discloses on its own website. You can stop the texts by replying STOP or by texting STOP to 59304. Stopping the texts does not resolve the account, does not stop other forms of contact, and does not remove the debt from your credit report.

Where we practice, and what to do if you are somewhere else

The Kim Law Firm is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and that is where we handle matters directly.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal statute. It applies the same way in every state, it is enforced in federal court, and the rules a collector has to follow do not change when you cross a state line. So the answer to "does this apply to me in Ohio" is yes — but the answer to "can you represent me in Ohio" depends on the case and on where it would be filed.

If you are outside Pennsylvania and New Jersey, contact us anyway. Some matters can be handled from here. Some are better sent to a consumer lawyer admitted where you are, and we will tell you that plainly rather than let a deadline run while you wait. Either way you will get an answer, and the review costs nothing.

The one thing that does not wait is the clock, and under this statute it is short. An FDCPA claim generally must be brought within one year of the date the violation occurred, not one year from the day you found out about it. If the calls or the letter you are asking about were last year, that clock may already be most of the way run.