You got a text or letter from Penn Credit Corporation about a toll bill or an account you barely remember. It looked suspicious, almost like a scam. A $4.675 million class action settlement in 2021 and a former CEO’s criminal guilty plea tell a more complicated story than a simple phishing attempt.
Key Takeaways
- Penn Credit Corporation is a real, licensed debt collector based in Harrisburg, PA, not a scam
- They collect for toll authorities (E-ZPass), government agencies, healthcare providers, and utilities
- Their toll bill texts are legitimate but resemble phishing, so verify before clicking any link
- A $4.675 million settlement in 2021 resolved TCPA claims over illegal pre-recorded voicemails
- A former CEO entered a criminal guilty plea in 2021, and the company entered a deferred prosecution agreement
- The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win
📞 Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
🏢 Who Is Penn Credit Corporation
Penn Credit Corporation is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered at 2800 Commerce Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The company has operated since 1987 and collects consumer and government debts nationwide. Their clients include toll authorities, state agencies, healthcare providers, and utilities.
They are also known as Penn Credit Corp and PCC Trust. Their website offers an online payment portal for consumers who have verified their debt.
In our practice, we request Penn Credit’s original account-placement documentation on every file. That record shows what authority the company has and whether the balance matches what the original creditor reported. Given their documented history of balance-disclosure disputes, that verification step matters more than it would with most collectors.
- Also known as: Penn Credit Corp, PCC Trust
- Address: 2800 Commerce Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9307
- Fax: (717) 231-4849
- Website: penncredit.com
📞 What Are Penn Credit Corporation’s Phone Numbers
Penn Credit calls and texts from a small set of known numbers. Any of the following may appear on your caller ID.
- Main phone: (717) 238-7124 / 717-238-7124 / 7172387124
- Toll-free: (800) 900-1367 / 800-900-1367 / 8009001367
- Also reported: (800) 900-1300, (800) 900-1381
If you receive a call or text from a number not listed here claiming to be Penn Credit, verify it against these numbers or their official website before you share any information.
🤔 Why Is Penn Credit Calling Or Texting You
Penn Credit is contacting you about a debt assigned by one of its creditor clients. The most common surprise is toll debt. Many consumers don’t realize unpaid tolls get sent to a collection agency, and the text notification looks identical to a phishing attempt.
- Toll authorities: including E-ZPass networks and state toll road agencies, once unpaid tolls accumulate fees
- Government agencies: state income tax debts, municipal fines, and other government accounts
- Healthcare providers: hospital and medical bills
- Utilities: electric, gas, and other utility accounts
- Other creditors: student loans, financial services, and commercial accounts
⚠️ Is Penn Credit Corporation A Scam
No. Penn Credit Corporation is a real, licensed debt collection agency. Their toll bill texts and collection letters are frequently mistaken for phishing attempts, which is a reasonable reaction given how those messages look.
A real Penn Credit contact will reference a specific account, toll authority, or original creditor by name, and direct you to their official website or the phone numbers above. Penn Credit will never demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If a message asks for those payment methods or creates false urgency, treat it as a scam.
🚫 Is Penn Credit Corporation Banned By The FTC
No. Penn Credit Corporation has not been banned by the FTC. No federal enforcement action against the company is documented in current records.
The absence of an FTC ban does not mean Penn Credit’s practices go unchallenged. A former CEO pleaded guilty to a criminal charge involving improper influence to obtain a government contract, and the company entered a deferred prosecution agreement in 2021. That is a criminal matter separate from the consumer protection lawsuits described below.
In our practice, we treat a missing FTC action as only one data point. Private lawsuits and the $4.675 million TCPA settlement often reveal more about a collector’s actual tactics than a federal regulator’s public record.
⚖️ Has Penn Credit Corporation Been Sued
Yes. Penn Credit’s legal record includes a large TCPA settlement and multiple FDCPA lawsuits alleging misleading balance disclosures and improper collection tactics.
- $4.675 Million TCPA Voicemail Settlement (2021): Resolved allegations that Penn Credit left pre-recorded voicemails using DirectDROP Voicemail technology without consent, covering calls made between April 2015 and May 2021.
- Time-Barred Debt Lawsuit, Virginia (2017): A proposed class action alleged Penn Credit attempted to collect state income tax debts past the statute of limitations using misleading methods.
- FDCPA Dispute Rights Lawsuit (2017): Alleged Penn Credit told consumers disputes had to be submitted in writing, when the FDCPA also allows oral disputes.
- Baker v. Penn Credit Corporation (2017): Alleged failure to disclose that the total balance was accumulating interest, making the stated amount misleading.
- Adler v. Penn Credit Corp. (2020, S.D.N.Y.): Alleged ambiguous collection letters that failed to clearly communicate consumer rights.
- Gurzi v. Penn Credit Corp. (2020, M.D. Fla.): Addressed alleged violations tied to DirectDROP Voicemail technology.
- Curry v. Penn Credit Corporation (2015, W.D.N.Y.): Alleged general FDCPA violations.
In our practice, we cross-check every Penn Credit letter against the balance-disclosure gap alleged in Baker and the dispute-rights restriction alleged in the 2017 FDCPA case. Those patterns can still surface in current correspondence. That review often reveals which specific claim applies to your account.
📋 How Can You Remove Penn Credit From Your Credit Report
Check the original delinquency date first. The seven-year reporting clock runs from that date, not from when Penn Credit acquired or reported the account.
- If the entry is inaccurate, dispute it in writing with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, including documentation of the error. Bureaus must investigate within 30 days
- If the entry is accurate, negotiate pay-for-delete before paying, with written confirmation specifying removal from all three bureaus
- If Penn Credit reported inaccurately, you may have separate grounds for an FCRA claim
🛑 How Can You Stop Calls From Penn Credit
If Penn Credit’s contact feels relentless or their tactics have crossed a line, you have specific legal tools available.
1. Send A Cease-and-Desist Letter
Mail a written request via certified mail to their Harrisburg, PA address. Once received, Penn Credit may only contact you to confirm cessation or notify you of legal action. Keep your certified mail receipt, since continued contact after that is potentially a separate FDCPA violation.
2. Request Debt Validation
Within 30 days of first contact, send a written validation request. Penn Credit must provide the original creditor’s name, the exact amount owed, and proof of its right to collect. Collection must pause until they respond adequately.
3. Hire An Attorney
Once Penn Credit knows you have legal representation, all contact routes through your attorney instead of you. The Wood Firm PLLC works on contingency and offers a free case review before you commit to anything.
🤝 How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Penn Credit Corporation Debt Harassment
Penn Credit’s documented patterns, including the $4.675 million voicemail settlement, misleading balance disclosures, and restricted dispute rights, give us specific angles to investigate from the first call. If DirectDROP Voicemail technology reached you without consent, that is a TCPA claim separate from any FDCPA violation.
We send a legal notice immediately after you retain us, and contact typically stops within 48 hours. You pay nothing unless we win, and Penn Credit pays our attorney fees if we prevail. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free consultation.
📣 Penn Credit keeps contacting you, and you deserve answers. Visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency, so if Penn Credit violated federal law, they pay our fees.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Penn Credit Corporation
Is Penn Credit Corporation a scam or legitimate
Legitimate. Penn Credit is a real, licensed debt collector founded in 1987 in Harrisburg, PA. Their toll texts look like phishing attempts, which is why so many people search whether Penn Credit is a scam. Verify any text by calling their official number before clicking any link.
Why is Penn Credit calling me about a toll bill
Penn Credit collects for toll authorities and E-ZPass networks once unpaid tolls exceed a threshold. This is standard practice for most state toll systems. Verify the account directly and request a full fee breakdown before paying.
What are Penn Credit’s phone numbers
Their main number is (717) 238-7124, and their toll-free number is (800) 900-1367. They also call from (800) 900-1300 and (800) 900-1381. Verify any other number through their official website before providing information.
What was the Penn Credit $4.675 million settlement about
A 2021 class action settlement resolved allegations that Penn Credit left pre-recorded voicemails on cell phones without consent, violating the TCPA. The class covered calls made between 2015 and 2021. If you received such a voicemail during that period, you may have had a valid claim.
Who does Penn Credit collect for
Toll authorities, government agencies, healthcare providers, utilities, and other creditors. They collect on behalf of the original creditor rather than primarily purchasing debt outright.
What happens if I don’t pay Penn Credit
They may report the account to credit bureaus, file a lawsuit for a judgment, or sell the debt to another collector. Some states also impose vehicle registration holds for unpaid tolls in collections. Verify the debt first, since an inaccurate or time-barred balance may not need to be paid at all.
✅ What Should You Do Next If Penn Credit Is Contacting You
Verify any text or call against Penn Credit’s official numbers before clicking a link or making a payment. Request written validation if the balance doesn’t match your records. If Penn Credit already violated federal law, contingency representation costs you nothing upfront. Call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
Jeff Wood represents consumers exclusively, never creditors or collectors. He holds federal court admissions across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. He practices from Little Rock, AR.
