Orlando Debt Collector Abuse Attorney
Debt collectors are typically allowed to try and collect on the debt consumers owe. However, there are certain actions that creditors are prohibited from doing, including abusing consumers. There are both state and federal laws that were put in place to protect consumers from abusive actions, and to give them certain recourse if they are a victim of them. Below, our Orlando debt collector abuse attorney outlines common abusive tactics, and the recourse available.
Common Types of Debt Collector Abuse
There are many tactics debt collectors use to try and intimidate you into paying the debt you owe. Not all of these tactics are fair, or even legal. There are many laws that protect consumers from abusive debt collection tactics. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to debt collectors in every state and prohibits them from the following:
- Calling you during certain times, such as before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm local time,
- Calling you several times a day,
- Contacting you at work after you have asked them not to,
- Using obscene, vulgar, or inappropriate language to intimidate you,
- Threatening to make the debt public,
- Threatening to act illegally, such as assaulting you if you do not pay the debt,
- Revealing certain information about the debt to your employer,
- Threatening to file the lawsuit when they do not intend to do so,
- Misrepresenting themselves as law enforcement, a lawyer, or as a government agency or employee, and
- Disclosing information about your debt to anyone but immediate relatives.
The FDCPA typically only applies to third party debt collectors. However, the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) is a state law that largely mirrors the FDCPA. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the FCCPA protects consumers from both third party debt collectors and original creditors.
What to Do if a Debt Collector is Abusive
The first thing to do if you believe you are being treated unfairly by a debt collector is to contact an Orlando debt collector abuse attorney. An attorney can draft a debt validation letter, forcing the debt collector to verify the debt. If the debt collector cannot prove that they own the debt, which they often do not, they have no legal right to try and collect it.
A lawyer can also help you file a lawsuit against any debt collector that has engaged in abusive behavior. Under the FDCPA, you can recover any loss you sustained, as well as up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
Our Debt Collector Abuse Attorney in Orlando Provides Sound Legal Advice
As though dealing with debt that has become difficult to manage is not hard enough, dealing with abusive debt collectors is even more challenging. At Florida Law Advisers, P.A., our Orlando debt collector abuse attorney can contact them on your behalf, force them to validate the debt, and help you explore your other legal options. Call us now at 1 (800) 990-7763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.
