Florida Statutes Part VI - Consumer Collection Practices (Ss. 559.55-559.785)

• 559.55 - Definitions.
  The following terms shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the following meanings for the purpose of this part:(1) “Commission” means the Financial Services Commission.(2) “Communication” means...
• 559.551 - Short Title.
  Sections 559.55-559.785 may be cited as the “Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.”History.—ss. 5, 13, ch. 93-275.
• 559.552 - Relationship Of State And Federal Law.
  Nothing in this part shall be construed to limit or restrict the continued applicability of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to consumer collection...
• 559.553 - Registration Of Consumer Collection Agencies Required; Exemptions.
  (1) A person may not engage in business in this state as a consumer collection agency or continue to do business in this state as a...
• 559.554 - Powers And Duties Of The Commission And Office.
  (1) The office is responsible for the administration and enforcement of this part.(2) The commission may adopt rules to administer this part, including rules:(a) Requiring electronic submission of...
• 559.5541 - Examinations And Investigations.
  (1) Notwithstanding s. 559.725(4), the office may, without advance notice, conduct examinations and investigations, within or outside this state, to determine whether a person has violated...
• 559.555 - Registration Of Consumer Collection Agencies; Procedure.
  (1) A person who acts as a consumer collection agency must be registered in accordance with this section.(2) In order to apply for a consumer collection agency...
• 559.5551 - Requirements Of Registrants.
  A registrant under this part shall report to the office in a manner prescribed by rule of the commission:(1) A conviction of, or plea of nolo...
• 559.5556 - Maintenance Of Records.
  (1) Each registered consumer collection agency shall maintain, at the principal place of business designated on the registration, all books, accounts, records, and documents necessary to...
• 559.5558 - Public Records Exemption; Investigations And Examinations.
  (1) As used in this section, the term “personal financial and health information” means:(a) Information relating to the existence, nature, source, or amount of a consumer’s personal...
• 559.563 - Void Registration.
  Any registration made under this part based upon false identification or false information, or identification not current with respect to name, address, and business location,...
• 559.565 - Enforcement Action Against Out-of-state Consumer Debt Collector.
  The remedies of this section are cumulative to other sanctions and enforcement provisions of this part for any violation by an out-of-state consumer debt collector,...
• 559.715 - Assignment Of Consumer Debts.
  This part does not prohibit the assignment, by a creditor, of the right to bill and collect a consumer debt. However, the assignee must give...
• 559.72 - Prohibited Practices Generally.
  In collecting consumer debts, no person shall:(1) Simulate in any manner a law enforcement officer or a representative of any governmental agency.(2) Use or threaten force or...
• 559.725 - Consumer Complaints; Administrative Duties.
  (1) The office shall receive and maintain records of correspondence and complaints from consumers concerning any and all persons who collect debts, including consumer collection agencies.(2) The...
• 559.726 - Subpoenas.
  (1) The office may:(a) Issue and serve subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of all books, accounts, records, and...
• 559.727 - Cease And Desist Orders.
  The office may issue and serve upon any person an order to cease and desist and to take corrective action if it has reason to...
• 559.730 - Grounds For Disciplinary Action; Administrative Remedies.
  (1) Each of the following acts constitutes a ground for which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may be taken against a person registered or...
• 559.77 - Civil Remedies.
  (1) A debtor may bring a civil action against a person violating the provisions of s. 559.72 in the county in which the alleged violator resides...
• 559.78 - Judicial Enforcement.
  In addition to other penalties provided in this part, state attorneys and their assistants are authorized to apply to the court of competent jurisdiction within...
• 559.785 - Criminal Penalty.
  It shall be a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for any person not exempt from registering...

Last modified: September 23, 2016