-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ETpO5tnIoVsMfQNp1iztCP5gjWmOKIJFolrzneqDG/6LgoB9f42IN5+zqmEPktXf
 cuvt6cRlhT+lRmvjvUQIfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001203422-03-000001.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0001203422-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818133731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001203422-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030818

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBERTS DAVID N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001203422

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50058
		FILM NUMBER:		03852515

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANGELO GORDON & CO.
		STREET 2:		245 PARK AVE.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10167

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		245 PARK AVE 26TH FL
		STREET 2:		C/O ANGELO GRODON & CO
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10167

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185348
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING, COLLECTION AGENCIES [7320]
		IRS NUMBER:				753078675
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 CORPORATE BLVD STE 100
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7575199300X3003

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 CORPORATE BLVD STE 100
		CITY:			NORFOLK
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23502
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001185348</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRAA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS DAVID N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>245 PARK AVE 26TH FL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O ANGELO GORDON &amp; CO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10167</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-12-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Originally acquired in connection with Credit Agreement between AG PRA 1999 Funding Co., LLC and the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by AG PRA 1999 Funding Co., LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David N. Roberts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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