exv32w1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Steven D. Fredrickson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


Date: October 25, 2004		By: /s/ Steven D. Fredrickson Steven D. Fredrickson
		Chief Executive Officer, President and
		Chairman of the Board of Directors
		(Principal Executive Officer)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Kevin P. Stevenson, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


Date: October 25, 2004		By: /s/ Kevin P. Stevenson Kevin P. Stevenson
		Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President,
		Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)