If Professional Choice Recovery (PCRI) has appeared on your credit report or is contacting you, this is a Nebraska-focused collection agency that sues consumers more quickly and aggressively than most small regional collectors.
A 2025 lawsuit filed against PCRI by Legal Aid of Nebraska describes the agency garnishing a college student’s educational grant money, leaving his account at zero. The student said he needed the money to eat. That case highlights why responding quickly and knowing your rights matters here.
This guide walks through who PCRI is, why they’re contacting you, and how to respond.
Who Is Professional Choice Recovery?
Professional Choice Recovery, Inc. (PCRI) is a debt collection agency based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company is not BBB-accredited and operates primarily in the Nebraska market. PCRI collects for healthcare providers, financial institutions, and education-related creditors in the Lincoln and broader Nebraska area.
Unlike many small regional collectors, PCRI actively uses an attorney network to pursue lawsuits. A documented BBB case shows PCRI obtaining a court judgment only 46 days after referring an account to their attorney’s office. That timeline is unusually fast and signals a collector that moves toward litigation quickly.
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The 2025 Lawsuit Against PCRI
In 2025, Legal Aid of Nebraska filed a lawsuit against PCRI on behalf of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student named Bauer. PCRI had sued Bauer over a $2,879 medical bill, obtained a judgment, and then garnished his bank account. The money that was taken was from an educational grant, which is exempt from garnishment under state and federal law. Bauer said he needed the money to eat.
The lawsuit also alleged that PCRI conducted a debtor’s examination through a legal assistant rather than a judge or referee as required by Nebraska law, and threatened the consumer with arrest for non-appearance. Legal Aid’s attorney stated that these practices weren’t unique to PCRI but had been used “in Lancaster County for years.”
If PCRI has garnished your wages or bank account, verify whether any of the funds were from exempt sources such as educational grants, Social Security, disability benefits, or other protected income.
Why PCRI Is on Your Credit Report
PCRI collects for clients in three main sectors:
- Healthcare: Hospital bills, physician group charges, and medical balances from Nebraska providers.
- Education: Unpaid tuition and institutional fees from colleges and universities.
- Financial services: Bank accounts, credit cards, and consumer loan balances.
If you’ve never lived in Nebraska or done business with Nebraska-based institutions, an account from PCRI is worth scrutinizing carefully.
What PCRI Cannot Do Under Federal Law
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to PCRI. Under federal law, they cannot:
- Threaten arrest for unpaid debt: Consumer debt is not a criminal matter. Threatening arrest for failure to appear at an improperly conducted debtor’s exam may itself be a violation.
- Call at odd hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
- Contact you at work after you say stop: Written cease-contact requests must be honored.
- Garnish exempt income: Educational grants, Social Security, and other protected funds cannot be garnished.
- Conduct debtor exams improperly: Nebraska law requires exams to be conducted by a judge or referee, not a legal assistant.
- Use harassing language: Profanity and repeated calls meant to annoy violate the law.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information. Nebraska residents can also file complaints with the Nebraska Attorney General’s office. File federal complaints at consumerfinance.gov.
Medical Debt Reporting Rules Apply
If your PCRI account involves a medical bill, specific credit reporting protections apply. All three major credit bureaus voluntarily agreed to these changes in 2022 and 2023:
- Medical debts under $500 are not reported on credit reports at all.
- Paid medical collections are removed from credit reports entirely.
- Unpaid medical debt has a one-year waiting period before it can be reported.
If your PCRI medical account falls into any of these categories and is still showing on your credit report, dispute it immediately.
Verify the Debt Before Paying Anything
Don’t pay or admit the debt is yours until you’ve verified it. Send a written debt validation request by certified mail within 30 days of first contact. Ask for the original creditor, the amount owed, and documentation showing PCRI’s authority to collect.
For medical debts, also request an itemized bill and confirmation that your insurance was properly billed. For education debts, verify the specific charges and semester they relate to.
Given PCRI’s documented speed in obtaining judgments, don’t delay sending this request.
How to Check Your Credit Report for PCRI Errors
Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Is the balance correct? Is the account date accurate? Is it listed under the right original creditor? Does it appear more than once?
Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute. File disputes directly with each credit bureau.
How Long Can PCRI Legally Pursue the Debt?
Nebraska has a 5-year statute of limitations on written contracts and open accounts. If you no longer live in Nebraska, the relevant state is typically where you currently reside.
Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can reset the clock, so check the original delinquency date before responding.
Your Options for Resolving a PCRI Account
Once you’ve verified the debt, consider these paths:
- Go to the original creditor: For medical or education debts, contacting the original provider directly may produce faster and better results, especially if there are insurance or billing errors.
- Negotiate a settlement: PCRI may accept a reduced amount before referring the account to their attorney. Get any agreement in writing.
- Request a pay-for-delete: Ask whether PCRI will remove the account in exchange for payment. Get it in writing before paying.
- Dispute if inaccurate: If the debt involves exempt funds, insurance errors, or reporting inaccuracies, dispute with the credit bureaus and consider consulting a consumer attorney.
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If PCRI Files a Lawsuit
PCRI sues quickly. The documented BBB case shows a judgment obtained within 46 days of attorney referral. If you receive a summons, do not ignore it. Nebraska requires a response within the deadline specified.
If you’re sued, also verify that any debtor’s exam PCRI requests is conducted by a judge or referee, not a legal assistant. The 2025 Legal Aid case specifically challenged PCRI’s exam procedures. Consult a Nebraska consumer protection attorney or Legal Aid of Nebraska if you cannot afford one.
How to Contact Professional Choice Recovery
Handle all communication in writing whenever possible. Here’s how to reach them:
- Address: Professional Choice Recovery, Inc., 620 N 48th St., Suite 107, Lincoln, NE 68504
- Phone: (402) 476-3535
Bottom Line
PCRI is a small Nebraska collector that sues faster than most comparable agencies. The 2025 Legal Aid lawsuit highlights specific risks around garnishment of exempt income and improper debtor exam procedures.
Respond quickly to any contact, verify the debt before paying, and consult a Nebraska consumer protection attorney if PCRI threatens or files a lawsuit. Don’t let the timeline catch you off guard.
Brooke Banks is a personal finance writer specializing in credit, debt, and smart money management. She helps readers understand their rights, build better credit, and make confident financial decisions with clear, practical advice.