Ask a Question

Get free answers to your Collections legal questions from lawyers in your area.

Lawyers, increase your visibility by answering questions and getting points. Answer Questions
Florida Collections Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation, Collections and International Law for Florida on
Q: Can an American living in Germany be successfully sued or have collections put against them from someone in the states?

Im an American living in Germany and do not plan to return to the states. I signed a contract with a company out of Florida regarding medical consulting in relations to a claim with the Veterans Administration (Im a vet). The company did not do as advertised and thus we are in a dispute over... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Mar 30, 2020

Of course you can be sued. The creditor will have to jump thru some hoops to get you served in Germany though. But regardless, once you are served, its just like you lived in the states. If the creditor obtained judgment, and wanted to enforce the judgment, it would have to go through a process to... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Do I have to return a Fact Information Sheet sent to me by a debt collector from a case entered in 2012?

On March 21, 2020, I received a letter from a debt collector saying the following:

"Pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.977 and the Final Judgment entered on January 10, 2012, please return the completed Fact Information Sheet to our office within 30 days from the date of... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Mar 22, 2020

Yes, you have to complete and return the fact information sheet. If you fail to do so they can seek an order holding you in contempt of court.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Collections for Florida on
Q: Can a person, who is not named in a summons, refuse to accept service?
Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Mar 4, 2020

Certainly someone unrelated to the defendant can refuse. Probably need more facts and unless your question is one of idle curiosity, the person refusing should probably consult his or her own lawyer.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections and Stockbroker Fraud for Florida on
Q: Is it illegal to purposely overdraft your checking account?

I had $1000 dollars in my bank account, I moved all of it into a investing website, but I accidentally did it twice, and now I'm in the hole for $1000, but I've already invested all the money. I know I can pay it back and the overdraft fees back by the end of the month, am I able to do... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Mar 3, 2020

Its not illegal. You have only a certain amount of time to replace the money. You pay it back as soon as humanly possible whether its against the law or not because the overdraft amount is not your money

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Is a student responsible for tuition/book fees if the institution (a private) Kiser University, closed down.

The student does not have the money to pay for the tuition. Parent that signed them up (Mother) Divorced and does not make enough money to cover costs as well and does not own a home. Moved to Pensacola approx. 4 yrs ago. The credits are not transferable and now the University closed its doors.

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Mar 3, 2020

If you registered, signed an agreement to repay tuition, and actually took any classes offered by Kaiser University you are liable to them--regardless if they closed their doors. On the other hand, you may also have a valid claim against Kaiser University for failing to live up to its written... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: I have a question about settling a credit card debt.

I have a closed cc with jp Morgan that's over a year old for 5400.00. Today I received a settlement offer from collection agency for $580.00. I know there can be tax implications and it will impact my credit score, but other than that, are there any other negatives for accepting this offer?... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Feb 25, 2020

A settlement offer is that - an offer to settle the account. The offer must be in writing, which I assume it was, judging by your post. If you comply with the offer, they cannot then retract it. You should keep all correspondence, to include your response(s) and a copy of the cancelled check, for... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights, Collections and Small Claims for Florida on
Q: In Florida, is there a usual or set fee to send a letter of demand on money owed, or does it vary by lawyer or firm?

Have a copy of a hand written agreement by the person who owes me the money & notarized, for a specific amount to be paid per month. (Along with texts of agreement being made and pics sent by them of the letter while being written.) The payments have not been received since the initial payment... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Feb 25, 2020

The fee is whatever you and the lawyer agree upon.

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for Florida on
Q: What do I do when the plaintiff does not respond?

A debt buyer is suing me in county court. My lawyer has tried to reach out to the debt buyer’s attorney, however there has been no response. This has been ongoing since the middle of November. What are my options? Thank you.

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Feb 5, 2020

Why are you searching on-line for your options when you are currently represented? Are you unsure about your attorney's advice? - or has your attorney failed to advise you?

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Appeals / Appellate Law and Collections for Florida on
Q: I got sentenced to 10 years on a trafficking charge in 2012, with that conviction was a $100,000 fine. When I went

to prison I filed an appeal. I won my appeal and my conviction was overturned. When I got home from prison I had to start paying on the fine, I've been paying $75 a month for the last 4 years. I know I shouldn't be paying the fine, how do I go about not paying anymore and getting my money... View More

Terrence James O'Sullivan
Terrence James O'Sullivan
answered on Feb 5, 2020

I think it depends on the appellate decision and what exactly was “overturned”. A lawyer would have to review your file and likely, if applicable, file a motion in court to address the issue. I hope this helps.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: I won in sm. claims court FL. Not been paid. Defendant has filed countersuit for $10,000 in Canada- can they
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Jan 27, 2020

If you are being sued in Canada-but have never lived there--you might be able to get out of harms way very quickly; but you need to hire a lawyer to help you do it.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections and Small Claims for Florida on
Q: Years ago I lent some money to a friend. He vanished and recently discovered he is a paralegal in Montana.

The loan was made in California. I live in Florida now. He is Montana. I have sent by certified mail and certified email. I know he got the correspondence. I have offered him payment plans. I have asked him to contact me if there is some issue. He continues to ignore me. I doubt there is much I can... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 14, 2020

You're probably right: there doesn't appear to be anything you can do. You would have to sue him in either California or Montana, and the statutes of limitation in either of those states are probably less than 10 years.

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Where to obtain key record of a debt filed as default judgment in court in 2003 collectors didn’t respond to prove it?

I doubt the debt filed in court in 2003 belongs to me . Collectors didn’t respond to my two certified letters asking them to send me original contract with the bank signed by me and the original date and amount of the debt at delinquency. It seems that they don’t have those documents because... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Dec 6, 2019

This question is much ado about nothing important. If the debt goes back to 2003 it is uncollectible because of the statute of limitations. These bottom-feeders know that; and that is probably why they will not respond to you. And

whatever you do, do NOT agree to pay them anything--at least...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Hello and Good Morning, Do commercial collection agencies have to disclose all fees being charged to the debtor in FL?

Our business was placed in a commercial collection agency for a past due bill which we recognize and we are willing to pay although the collection agency does not want to disclose a detailed breakdown of what they are charging under "collection fees" which are close to $5000 and this... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Dec 6, 2019

Not specifically. There is a statute which deals with commercial collection agencies, but it addresses only the requirement that an agency register with the state as such.

if I read the facts correctly, you owe the creditor $X.xx but the collection agency is demanding $X.xx plus $5,000; and...
View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Can Collection lawyers proceed with debt collection if they did not prove a debt never responded to verification letter?

A default judgment was filed in court in2003 for credit card debt .Writ of execution issued while I was living abroad . First notice I received three months ago when my bank account was put on hold and instantly drained to the last penny never knew before about the judgment until I received a... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Dec 3, 2019

Yes they do it all the time, whether it is legal or not doesn't matter as they get a default judgment and the judges just blindly sign whatever the collector puts in front of them, it is like a conveyor belt of submitted garbage and trash from these collections companies that turn into cash.... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: what can a collections lawyer do with a eviction case from 2016.. Can they take me to jail?

They told me they could put a hold on my person. I explained to her that due to bad health and being unemployed that I couldn't pay the fee that started out at $2184.84 then they said the lowest they could go was to $700. When I asked for documentation regarding this she said they didn't... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Nov 14, 2019

Ignore them, they are lowly collection people, they cannot arrest you, they can try to file a lawsuit and get a judgment and if you do not have anything or make very little, they cant even collect that at all, they are trying to fear-monger you into paying or agreeing to do something that you do... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: Can a collection agency report an old debt as new?

I had a collection fall off my credit score and here recently the same collection was reported under a new debt collection agency. They're reporting old past due amounts as if they are new. Is this legal?

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Nov 12, 2019

No. Unless you somehow renewed this old debt (by trying to make payments recently) you will need to contact the credit bureau and file a challenge to this old debt.

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: I’m counterclaiming someone suing me - should I Or do I have to put a dollar amount I’m Suing for on counterclaim
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Nov 7, 2019

Yes; but if you are in a small claims court the dollar amount should not be too high because the county court judge will lose jurisdiction--and you will end up paying larger filing fees.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Collections for Florida on
Q: What is notice of withdrawal of notice of voluntary dismissal
Linda Liang
Linda Liang
answered on Nov 4, 2019

Are you being sued by someone? It seems a party has filed notice to withdraw the complaint and changed their minds thereafter.

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Collections for Florida on
Q: If my credit card is charge off can they keep adding to my balance
Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Nov 1, 2019

1. Who is they?

2. Generally, after the CC is charged off, the balance is frozen. However, interest may accrue on the charged off balance, depending on your credit card agreement and how your creditor or its outside lawyers interpret the agreement.

3. If the creditor brings a...
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Collections, Landlord - Tenant and Small Claims for Florida on
Q: Can a landlord send a claim to collections without litigation first? Miami, FL

After vacating my apartment complex, my previous landlord is threatening to send claims to collections. We did not put down a security deposit. We dispute the claim they are making. They refuse to send me the bill for damages, just stating " it cost xxxx to fix." They have only contacted... View More

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Oct 30, 2019

By "collections", I think you mean using a collection agency or collection law firm to demand payment from you. Sure, that's merely using a third party to act on behalf of the landlord instead of the landlord itself/himself/herself making the demands. If that occurs, send back a... View More

View More Answers

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.