Articles

Plain-language educational articles on Florida consumer law. Each piece answers one question. Newest first.

FCRA Disputes: When the Credit Bureau's Reinvestigation Is Just a Rubber Stamp
When a consumer disputes an item on a credit report, federal law requires the credit bureau to investigate. In practice, the investigation is often a brief electronic ping to the furnisher and a copy-and-paste verification of whatever the furnisher reports back. A plain explanation of what the FCRA actually requires, why auto reinvestigations frequently fall short, and what to do when a dispute is verified incorrectly. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 25, 2026
Your Car Was Repossessed: Notice Requirements and the Deficiency Balance
After a car is repossessed, the lender almost always sells it and bills the borrower for the difference between the sale price and the loan balance. The deficiency claim is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code and by state law, and lenders frequently fail to follow the notice rules that protect borrowers. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 23, 2026
Sued by LVNV Funding? How the Process Actually Works
LVNV Funding is a major debt buyer that files consumer collection lawsuits across the United States, often through the servicer Resurgent Capital Services. A plain explanation of who LVNV is, how the lawsuit moves through court, and what defenses tend to apply. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 20, 2026
Sued by Midland Funding? What to Do in Your First 30 Days
Midland Funding is one of the largest debt buyers in the United States and files tens of thousands of consumer collection lawsuits a year. A plain explanation of what to do in the first thirty days after being served, why most defendants lose by default, and what changes when you respond on time. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 18, 2026
I Paid the Debt. Why Is My Credit Report Still Wrong?
A plain explanation of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the dispute process, and what to do when a paid debt still appears as unpaid on your credit report. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 16, 2026
A Debt Buyer Sued Me in the Wrong Court. Now What?
Debt buyers sometimes file consumer collection lawsuits in the wrong court. A plain explanation of personal jurisdiction, venue, and the FDCPA's venue protections, plus what to do if the lawsuit was filed somewhere it should not have been. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 13, 2026 . Updated May 18, 2026
I Got a Robocall From a Number That Looked Local. What Are My Rights?
A plain explanation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the rules on robocalls and spoofed caller-ID, and what to do if your phone is being targeted by automated calls. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 11, 2026
My Landlord Kept My Security Deposit. How Do I Get It Back?
A plain walkthrough of how security deposit law generally works, what a tenant should do in the first thirty days after move-out, and what evidence wins these cases. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author writing on national patterns.
Published May 9, 2026
Used Car Fraud: The Red Flags to Check Before You Sign Anything
Five common used-car fraud patterns, the fifteen-minute pre-purchase check, and what remedies federal odometer law and state consumer-protection statutes may provide after the fact. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author writing on national patterns.
Published May 9, 2026
I Got a Wage Garnishment Notice. What Should I Do First?
A plain explanation of what a wage garnishment notice is, how much of your paycheck is protected by federal law, what state exemptions may apply, and what to do in the first week after the notice arrives. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 3, 2026
A Debt Collector Called Me. What Are My Rights Before I Pay Anything?
A plain explanation of what a debt collector must prove before you owe anything, what a validation request is, and what to do in the first thirty days after a collector contacts you. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 2, 2026
Wage Garnishment After a Debt Lawsuit: What the Notice Means and How to Respond
A national guide for consumers facing wage garnishment after a debt-collection judgment. The federal cap on what a creditor can take, the difference between pre-judgment and post-judgment garnishment, what wages and benefits are protected, and how to respond if you got the notice. Educational, not legal advice. Florida-licensed author.
Published May 2, 2026 . Updated May 9, 2026
Portfolio Recovery Associates Sued Me. The Case Was Dismissed Because They Could Not Prove the Debt.
When Portfolio Recovery Associates sued me in Florida, I appeared, answered, and demanded the original documents. PRA could not authenticate them and the case was dismissed. A working lawyer's field report on what happened and why the same gap shows up in most debt-buyer cases.
Published April 30, 2026