When it comes to being in debt in Florida, there are unpleasant realities you often face. There are dozens of debt collection agencies throughout the country that don’t play by the rules. Collectors are on the prowl seeking to recover significant debts, which they can purchase for as little as 3 to 10 cents on the dollar. All it takes to be a target of ceaseless phone calls and text messages is to have an outstanding debt or to be mistaken for someone who does.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is enforced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consumer law attorneys in Florida. This act protects consumers from calls placed by automatic dialing systems and prerecorded messages. It holds that collectors cannot call your cell phone or send you text messages without your consent. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects the privacy of the consumer himself. It places restrictions on the time of day you can be contacted and in what manner, among other things.
THE FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law that prohibits up to 200 common debt collection practices because they constitute harassment. Some of the most common behaviors prohibited are:
THE TCPA
The TCPA prohibits the manner in which such companies reach out to consumers. With an increasing number of communication channels, this law seeks to protect consumers from being hunted left and right by debt collectors. A knowledgeable Miami TCPA attorney is a significant resource in these cases.
Focus Receivable Management is a company based out of Georgia that was founded in 2001 to collect debts. Since then, it has been sued several times for violating the FDCPA and the TCPA. In 2011, the company was sued by Tiffany Wells for consumer harassment and unethical conduct. They had allegedly refused to validate the amount owed, refused to quit calling after Ms. Wells asked, called continuously with the intent to harass Ms. Wells, and discussed the debt with others. The matter was settled outside of court.
Tiffany Wells v. Focus Receivable Management occurred in California, but Florida debtors are frequent victims of such harassment. Focus Receivable Management has one main number you should be aware of, which is 1-877-362-8766. If you receive calls or texts from this company, it may be possible to receive compensation of $500 to up to $1500 per call or text for the harassment with the aid of a Florida TCPA attorney like Jibrael S. Hindi and his experienced team of business and consumer law attorneys. Call The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi at 1-844-JIBRAEL today or contact us online.