Until September 20, 1977, debt collectors used aggressive tactics to collect delinquent consumer debts. With the passage of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors are prohibited from using abusive language and making direct or implied threats.
The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from deceiving consumers, such as impersonating a law enforcement official during a phone call. Florida legislators enacted the Consumer Collection Practices Act (CCPA) to provide supplementary protections for consumers against unscrupulous third party debt collectors.
If Doctors Business Bureau contacts you in regard to an outstanding debt, you should speak with a licensed Florida lawyer to determine the best strategy to fight back against unlawful debt collector behavior.
Does the CCPA Set a Statute of Limitations?
One of the supplementary provisions of the CCPA sets a time limit for third party debt collectors to pursue the collection of outstanding consumer debts. Florida law differentiates the statue of limitations for oral and written credit contracts.
For written credit contracts, third party debt collectors are allowed to pursue debt collection cases for up to five years. Oral contracts and revolving credit accounts have a statute of limitations spanning four years.
Fees and Interest Charges
Virtually every state limits how much a debt collectors can charge for fees and interest on outstanding credit accounts. However, Florida is one of nine states that do not place restrictions on the amount of money third party debt collectors can charge for fees and interest.
When contacted by a debt collection agency such as Doctors Business Bureau, you should speak with an experienced Florida consumer protection lawyer to expedite the resolution of a debt collection case.
Otherwise, you can expect a delinquent debt to increase substantially because of fees and interest tacked on by the third party debt collector.
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How Much Can a Debt Collector Garnish in Wages?
According to the CCPA, third party debt collectors must win judgments to request employers garnish employee wages. After winning a judgment, a third party debt collector like Doctors Business Bureau has the legal authority to garnish 25% of a consumer’s disposable wage or 30 times the federal minimum wage.
Florida law permits debt collectors to garnish the lesser of the two amounts. However, debt collectors cannot garnish the wages of consumers that fall below the 30 times federal minimum wage threshold.
An Experienced Lawyer Can Help You
Wage garnishment is a life altering series of events that can permanently damage your financial security. By speaking with a licensed Florida consumer protection lawyer, you ensure a debt collector such as Doctors Business Bureau abides by Florida wage garnishment law.
A lawyer can also help you craft a cease and desist letter, as well as file a claim that seeks actual damages for one or more violations of the FDCPA and/or CCPA.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Doctors Business Bureau or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.