St. Petersburg Bankruptcy Lawyer
Creditor harassment is a substantial issue for many and the behavior of collectors can at times border on abuse. Taking this in mind, legislation has been passed to draw a line between the types of actions that are tolerated when it comes to collecting debt.
Prohibited Actions
The Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) prohibits the enforcement of a debt when the person knows that the debt is not actually legally owed. It also prohibits specific actions on the part of a creditor or debt collector of any kind, including:
- The use of profanity or vulgar language
- Threats of force or violence
- Pretending to be a law enforcement officer or employee of any government agency
- Informing the debtor’s employer of his debt
- Continual communication with the debtor so as to constitute harassment
- Attempting to enforce a debt when the creditor or debt collector knows that the debt is not legitimate
There are numerous other actions which may constitute creditor harassment as well. Under the FCCPA, a debtor may be able to recover up to $1,000 in damages from the debt collector or creditor, as well as attorney fees and more.
A lawyer at LeavenLaw may be able to help you if you or someone you know has been the victim of some form of creditor abuse. With our knowledge of the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) as well as the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) we are able to effectively represent our clients’ interests by providing aggressive legal representation.
Our firm can trace its roots back to 1972, representing clients in a variety of legal matters throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Today, we have three office locations, in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and represent clients in those cities as well as in the surrounding areas. We also offer a free consultation with an experienced attorney to begin helping you so call our firm as soon as possible.
