How To Deal With Central Portfolio Control

What Is Central Portfolio Control?

Central Portfolio Control, Inc. (CPC) is a nationally licensed debt collection agency based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They handle a wide range of consumer debts, including credit card balances, personal loans, and medical bills. In some cases, CPC is hired to collect debt on behalf of another company. In others, they may have purchased the debt and now own the account themselves.

Here is Central Portfolio Control’s contact information: 

🌐 Website: https://cpcrecovery.com/ 

📞 Phone number: 1 (800) 834-2147

📍 Address: 10249 Yellow Circle Drive, Suite 200, Minnetonka, MN 55343

Why Is CPC Contacting Me?

If Central Portfolio Control is reaching out to you, they’re likely trying to collect on a past-due account. Once a debt has been placed with CPC — whether they own it or are collecting for someone else — you’ll typically need to work with them directly. That includes asking questions, disputing the debt, or discussing payment or settlement options.

Is Central Portfolio Control Legit?

Yes, Central Portfolio Control (CPC) is a legitimate debt collection agency. They're accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), an organization that tracks consumer complaints, and as of late 2025, hold a “B” rating.

📉 That said, many consumers have shared negative experiences with the company. In the past three years, nearly 300 complaints have been filed with the BBB, and CPC currently has a 2.2 out of 5-star customer rating. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency that helps protect people from unfair financial practices, has also received more than 1,000 complaints about CPC in just the past year.

Most complaints mention problems like being contacted about a debt the person didn’t owe, getting frequent or unwanted phone calls, or not receiving a validation letter after asking for one. Complaints like these may point to potential violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Note to reader: These reviews and complaints highlight relevant issues but may not represent all consumers’ experiences.

🛡️ The FDCPA is a federal law that protects you from harassment, false statements, and other unfair behavior by third-party debt collectors. If you believe a debt collector has violated your rights, you can file a complaint with the CFPB and, in some cases, take legal action.

How Do I Know if I’m Being Scammed?

While CPC is legitimate, scammers may use the company’s name to try to con you. Be cautious if someone pressures you to pay right away, refuses to answer basic questions, or asks for sensitive details like your bank account number or Social Security number. A legitimate debt collection agency should already have this information.

🚩 Read our guide to the 8 Red Flags of Debt Collector Scams to learn more about these scams.

The best way to protect your personal information is to validate your debt (more on this below) and ask questions. 

📣 If you think you’re dealing with a scammer, you can report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is a government agency that specializes in protecting consumers' rights. 

Do I Have To Pay Central Portfolio Control?

If CPC contacts you, it’s important to confirm the debt is accurate first. Debt collectors don’t always have accurate account information, especially if the debt has been sold or passed between companies. Verifying the debt helps protect you from paying something you don’t actually owe.

To figure out if the debt is legitimate, you need to validate the debt to verify that:

• The debt is an actual debt that you owe.

• The debt collector genuinely owns the debt.

• The amount of debt is accurate.

If CPC can’t verify the debt or got the details wrong, you can ask them to stop contacting you. But if they can prove the debt is yours and that they’re allowed to collect it, you’ll need to decide what to do next.

Step 1: Send a Debt Verification Letter

If you haven’t already received a debt validation letter from CPC, you need to request one from them. You can also craft and send your own debt verification letter.

Debt collectors are required to send you a debt validation letter. This letter should include important details about the debt they’re trying to collect, like the amount owed, the name of the original creditor, and information about your right to dispute the debt. 

🗓️ They must send this letter either before or within five days of first contacting you. Once you receive it, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. During that 30-day window, the collection agency must pause collection efforts — including phone calls, letters, and emails — until they respond to your dispute.

If they’re unable to verify the debt during that time, they typically can’t continue collecting, and you likely don’t need to pay it.

If the collector does verify the debt within the 30 days, your next step depends on whether you agree with the details they’ve provided.

📝 If the validation letter is missing information or if you still have questions, you can send CPC a debt verification letter. This lets you ask for documents that confirm the debt is accurate and that CPC has the legal right to collect it.

Step 2: Decide What To Do Next

If the debt collector can prove the debt is valid, you'll need to decide how you want to move forward. It might not feel like it, but you still have options.

The three main options are to: 

• Dispute the debt

• Negotiate or settle the debt 

• Ignore the debt (while this is technically an option, this is not recommended) 

Option 1: Dispute the Debt

If you disagree with the amount on the debt validation letter or other details outlined in the letter, you have the right to dispute the debt. The validation letter should explain how to do this and give you a deadline.

If the debt collector’s information is wrong, it may also be reported incorrectly on your credit reports. Many people check their credit reports after hearing from a collection agency to see whether the debt appears there and, if so, whether the details are accurate.

🧾 You can get free weekly credit reports from all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — at AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you find an error on your credit report, you can dispute it directly with the credit bureau that’s reporting it. This usually means explaining what’s wrong and, if possible, including documents to support your claim. Some people choose to send what's called a 609 letter, which is a request asking the credit bureau to share how they verified the information.

Option 2: Negotiate the Debt and Make a Settlement Offer

If you can’t afford to pay the full amount, you may be able to negotiate a lower payoff through a debt settlement. This means offering to pay part of the balance in exchange for having the rest forgiven — and resolving the account for good.

Many people don’t realize that debt collectors are often willing to accept settlements ranging from 40% to 60% of the original amount owed. Collectors may be willing to accept less than the full balance because recovering part of the debt (especially on older or unpaid accounts) can still be profitable for them.

If you want to try negotiating, you can start with a debt settlement letter or call the company directly. It’s common to begin with a lower offer, and be prepared for some back and forth before reaching an agreement.

🤝 To learn more about negotiating a successful settlement, read our Guide To Winning Against Central Portfolio Control.

Option 3: Ignore the Debt (Not Recommended)

Dealing with debt can be overwhelming, and debt collectors are persistent. If you’re tempted to just ignore them, you’re not alone. But ignoring the debt or the debt collector won't resolve the issue. In fact, it can add to your stress and anxiety.

What Happens if I Ignore Central Portfolio Control?

Ignoring a debt collector like CPC won’t make the debt go away, and it could lead to bigger problems over time. Here’s what can happen if you don’t respond:

• Your credit score may drop.

• Interest, fees, or even court costs could be added, increasing the total amount you owe.

• CPC might decide to sue you. If they win in court, they could get permission to garnish your wages.

Even though most negative marks fall off your credit report after seven years, the debt itself may not disappear. As long as the statute of limitations hasn’t expired, a collector can still try to recover the debt.

Bottom line: The best way to reduce stress and uncertainty is to understand the situation and take action early, while you still have the most options.

Can Central Portfolio Control Sue Me?

Yes. If CPC’s attempts to collect a debt go unanswered, they may take legal action and file a debt collection lawsuit.

Whether or not a debt collector sues you depends on many factors, such as:

• Your state’s wage garnishment laws

• The amount of time your debt has been in collections

• The amount of debt you owe

📄 If you get sued, you’ll know when you receive a summons and a complaint. These are official court documents notifying you of the lawsuit and outlining the case details. Depending on your state’s laws, the papers may be mailed to you, delivered to you in person, or left with an adult at your home. 

If you're sued, it’s important to respond. If you don’t, the court may automatically rule in favor of the debt collector. If you're worried about responding on your own, but you can't afford a lawyer, you can draft an answer letter for free or a small fee using our partner SoloSuit. They've helped over 300,000 people respond to debt lawsuits, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee.

SoloSuit is an affiliate partner, which means Upsolve may earn a small commission if you choose to use their paid service. This helps keep our services free.

Let’s Summarize…

Central Portfolio Control (CPC) is a legitimate debt collection agency focusing on consumer debts like credit card bills and personal loans. If they contact you, you need to validate that the debt is accurate. If it is, take action and respond to CPC as soon as possible. If you owe the debt, try to negotiate a settlement offer to pay less than the full amount you owe and resolve the issue.