Florida Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection

1. Florida Florida Statute Statute of of Limitations Limitations on on Debt Debt Collection Collection Many creditors or debt collectors continue to bring up charges in court against customers even when they know that the statute of limitations has expired on the cases. Some firms just file a lawsuit, even without any records to serve as proof of the case. That’s how some unscrupulous companies take advantage of a consumer’s lack of knowledge. If you don’t know about the statute of limitations, you’ll find yourself giving in to those demands. Here’s what you need to know about debt in in Florida Florida to help you with your financial and budgetary decisions. debt relief relief What What is is the the Fair Fair Debt Debt Collection Collection Practices? Practices? The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or FDCPA is a federal law that prohibits collectors from undertaking any action to collect a debt that they cannot legally take. Filing a lawsuit when the statute of limitations has already passed is illegal. If you find yourself in this situation, you can file your own case under the FDCPA. The law also keeps debt collectors from calling consumers at work or engaging in tactics that abuse, mislead, or harass consumers into paying what they owe, Nolo says. What What is is the the Florida Florida Consumer Consumer Collection Collection Practices Practices Act? Act? The Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act or CCPA sets limitations on the methods that debt collectors and creditors can use to get consumers to pay the amounts they owe. Also, the CCP serves provides support for the terms and conditions set down by the FDCPA. By knowing what’s allowed and not, you can tell if your rights are being violated. You can also take steps to ensure that it won’t happen in the future.

2. What What Practices Practices are are Prohibited Prohibited by by the the FCCPA? FCCPA? There are plenty of horror stories about the invasive methods that some debt collection agencies resort to. Many of these are prohibited by the FCCPA. Here’s a look at some of the practices that fall under abusive, unfair, deceptive, and harassment. ● Does the debt collector pretend to be a police officer and say s/he needs to get the amount you owe on behalf of a government agency? ● Does the debt collector use threats or force of violence to get you to comply? ● Does the agency call you at your workplace, your officemates, and even your boss in an attempt to humiliate you to get you to pay up? ● Does the agency call you up between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. without your permission, just to disrupt your sleep? ● Does the debt collector use vulgar or abusive language when s/he calls you, your family, friends, coworkers, and others? What What Can Can You You Do? Do? One way to deal with debt is to make an appointment with a company that knows debt relief programs inside and out. A simple consultation can tell you a lot about options you hadn’t considered before or didn’t know about. If a company has filed a lawsuit on you, plan how you’ll proceed. First, check the validity of the lawsuit. That will save you a lot of time and effort if you find out that the statute of limitations has passed and know what to do if it hasn’t.