Topic
Debt Defense
What to do when a debt collector or junk debt buyer sues you in Florida. The rules, the deadlines, and the defenses.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Articles
In Florida, a debt collector may not contact your employer before a court judgment, with two exceptions
Florida law bars a debt collector from contacting your employer before a final judgment, unless you gave written permission or agreed in writing you owe.
No, a debt collector may not harass you in Florida. Here is where the law draws the line
Florida law bans debt collector calls so frequent they can be expected to harass you, plus abusive words and late-night calls. Here is where the line is.
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. Written for a national audience.
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. Who LVNV is, how the lawsuit moves through court, and what defenses tend to apply. Educational, not legal advice. Written for a national audience.
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. 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. Written for a national audience.
A Debt Buyer Sued Me in the Wrong Court. Now What?
Debt buyers sometimes file consumer collection lawsuits in the wrong court. How personal jurisdiction, venue, and the FDCPA's venue protections work, plus what to do if the lawsuit was filed somewhere it should not have been. Educational, not legal advice. Written for a national audience.
I Got a Wage Garnishment Notice. What Should I Do First?
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. Written for a national audience.
A Debt Collector Called Me. What Are My Rights Before I Pay Anything?
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. Written for a national audience.
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.
Sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates? How One Case Was Dismissed Because PRA 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 field report on what happened and why the same gap shows up in most debt-buyer cases.
