Are You Being Called By Florida First Financial Group, Inc.?*

Are you being called by Florida First Financial Group, Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know

Are debt collectors calling you in the evening and at work, leaving hostile and abusive voice messages when they fail to get you on the line? Are they telling you that nonpayment can cause you to lose your driver’s license and even your house? This type of consumer bullying is completely illegal, and you can make it stop.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits third-party debt collectors from threatening or bullying people into paying a debt. If they subject you to any of the following collection tactics, they’re breaking the law.

• Using profane and abusive language
• Telling you that you can be arrested and sent to prison if you don’t pay
• Talking to uninvolved parties such as your friends, family, and co-workers about the debt
• Refusing to validate the debt and prove that they are authorized to collect it
• Using an autodialer to leave a stream of pre-recorded messages
• Claiming to be police officers or other law enforcement figures

Company Profile: Florida First Financial Group, Inc.

If you are being called by Florida First Financial Group, Inc., information about the company is below.

Florida First Financial Group, Inc. is a debt collection company located in Tampa, Florida. It opened its doors in 1988, has less than 10 people on staff, and is managed by Tony Rossi. Civil litigation files retained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website indicates that people who felt that they were being harassed by Florida First Financial Group, Inc. sued the company to seek compensation.

Alleged Violations against Florida First Financial Group, Inc.

According to PACER, on or about August 17, 2007, at 10 am, collectors for Florida First Financial Group, Inc. allegedly called a Florida resident at work. Not knowing the reason for the call, she returned it, only to discover that the company was pursuing her for a medical debt.

The collector, a Mr. Williams, allegedly rejected her offer of a payment plan and demanded that she pay immediately. If she did not, “FFF” would sue her and the summons would be served on her at work. He also allegedly called her a liar, told her that he knew that she had bad credit and she should look at her track record. He later allegedly called her workplace and told the receptionist that he would be coming to meet her, which frightened her enough to leave early. When she returned, he left a voicemail stating, “I sent some of my guys to meet you, and apparently you called out today. So we need to set up another time to meet.”

Feeling harassed by Florida First Financial Group, Inc., the plaintiff hired a consumer attorney and sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Using abusive language
• Using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Failing to send her a debt validation letter

The matter was later dismissed.

Hire an Attorney

The phone number for this debt collection agency is 1-813-237-1114. If you see it on your caller ID, it means that you are being called by Florida First Financial Group, Inc.. If they threaten you when you are unable to pay, hire a consumer attorney who can help you file a claim against Florida First Financial Group, Inc.. Mistreating consumers in this way is illegal, and you could be awarded $1,000 per FDCPA violation, plus court costs and attorney fees. No matter how much you may owe, debt collectors must obey the law during all collection attempts or receive expensive penalties.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 8:07-cv-01882-SCB-TGW from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.

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 Florida First Financial Group, Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.