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Anthony Gonzalez, Esq.:
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Plantation, Florida, Debt Collection Defense Lawyers
Debt collectors are notorious for attempting to collect debts they have no legal ability to collect. Just because a debt collector says you owe money does not mean they have the right to file a lawsuit against you to collect on it. At Light & Gonzalez, PLLC, our lawyers are ready to represent consumers to defend against debt collectors and to investigate their abusive practices to see if there might be claims you have as a consumer to recover compensation for their unlawful harassment and abuse. Both federal statutes and Florida statutes provide remedies for debtors who have been the victim of unfair debt collection practices. Contact the Plantation, Florida, debt collection lawyers at Light & Gonzalez, PLLC, to request a free consultation.
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Debt Collection Is More Concentrated In The Southeastern United States
Statistical studies on the regional distribution of debt collection activities have shown that the southeastern region of the United States has some of the highest concentration of debts that have been sent to collection and, consequently, the highest levels of debt collection activity. A working paper by the Urban Institute demonstrates a correlation between debts in collection with regions hit particularly hard by the foreclosure crisis and higher percentages of uninsured. Florida is no exception; because Florida was hit hard by the foreclosure crisis and because there are a great number of uninsured individuals living in South Florida, it comes as no surprise that there are a lot of people facing debt collection, and just as many at risk of being the target of illegal, harassing debt collection efforts.
Map from Urban Institute Working Paper
The CFPB Shows Debt Collection Will Not Be Stopping Anytime Soon
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau releases annual reports on complaints it receives from consumers on debt collection behavior. Unfortunately, even though the economy has been recovering steadily since the Great Recession, debt collection efforts are showing no signs of stopping.
Even more disturbing is that the most common complaint filed with the CFPB is that debt collectors are attempting to collect debt that is not actually owed.
The most common debt collection complaint is about continued attempts to collect a debt that the consumer reports is not owed. The vast majority of these consumers report that the debt is not their debt (61%) or that the debt was paid (27%), while the remaining consumers report that the debt resulted from identity theft (8%) or was discharged in bankruptcy (4%).
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 2017 Debt Collection Annual-Report at page 17.
CFPB Complaint Statistics
Type of Complaint
2015
2016
Disclosure verification of debt Continued attempts to collect debt not owed
12,900
17,500
Improper contact or sharing of info
34,300
36,200
False statements or representation
5,600
5,400
Communication tactics
8,100
7,800
Taking or threatening an illegal action
15,200
13,500
Grand Total
85,100
88,000
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 2017 Debt Collection Annual-Report
Contact A Plantation, Florida, Lawyer To Discuss Your Rights Under The Law
Do not let yourself be victimized by illegal debt collection activities. You have a right to defend any lawsuit that has been brought against you, and you have a right to pursue claims against debt collectors who have attempted to collect a debt from you that you do not owe. If a debt collector has threatened you with imprisonment or in any other way, contact Light & Gonzalez, PLLC, today to speak with an attorney to discuss your legal options.
