Against​ ​a​ ​wall?​ ​Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call  Fax​ ​&​ ​Main​ ​-​ ​888.WILCOX.LAW  [email protected] 

5​ ​Laws​ ​Creditors​ ​Don't​ ​Want​ ​You​ ​to​ ​Know  Creditors​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​all​ ​the​ ​cards,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​law​ ​says​ ​otherwise.​ ​Today,​ ​we’re​ ​going to​ ​put​ ​an​ ​ace​ ​(or​ ​five)​ ​in​ ​your​ ​sleeve​ ​and​ ​empower​ ​you​ ​to​ ​play​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​hand against​ ​abusive​ ​creditors.​ ​Read​ ​on​ ​to​ ​turn​ ​problems​ ​into​ ​settlements.

FDCPA​ ​-​ ​Fair​ ​Debt​ ​Collection​ ​Practices​ ​Act  Background: The​ ​FDCPA​ ​was​ ​passed​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​you​ ​from​ ​the​ ​abusive​ ​tactics​ ​used​ ​by​ ​so​ ​many companies​ ​when​ ​collecting​ ​debts. Case​ ​Criteria: Calls​ Calls​ Calls​ Calls​

​between​ ​9pm​ ​and​ ​8am​ ​in​ ​your​ ​time​ ​zone ​to​ ​any​ ​unauthorized​ ​third​ ​party,​ ​including​ ​your​ ​employer,​ ​family​ ​and​ ​friends ​after​ ​you​ ​have​ ​retained​ ​an​ ​attorney ​after​ ​you​ ​have​ ​told​ ​them​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​in​ ​writing

Getting​ ​Started: Keep​ ​EVERYTHING.​ ​Any​ ​letters,​ ​voicemails,​ ​emails​ ​or​ ​call​ ​logs​ ​will​ ​be​ ​very​ ​helpful​ ​in proving​ ​your​ ​case.​ ​Get​ ​a​ ​digital​ ​copy​ ​of​ ​your​ ​phone​ ​records​ ​and​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report to​ ​prove​ ​the​ ​illegal​ ​harassment​ ​you’ve​ ​received.​ ​Remember​ ​that​ ​the​ ​law​ ​is​ ​here​ ​to make​ ​people​ ​empowered​ ​against​ ​their​ ​harassing​ ​creditors.

FCRA​ ​-​ ​Fair​ ​Credit​ ​Reporting​ ​Act  Background: Some​ ​companies​ ​think​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can​ ​push​ ​you​ ​into​ ​paying​ ​by​ ​putting​ ​false information​ ​on​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report.​ ​Though​ ​it​ ​is​ ​your​ ​responsibility​ ​to​ ​monitor​ ​your credit,​ ​companies​ ​are​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​submitting​ ​complete,​ ​accurate​ ​information. When​ ​they​ ​don’t,​ ​Wilcox​ ​Law​ ​goes​ ​to​ ​work. Case​ ​Criteria: Inaccurate​ ​dates,​ ​amounts,​ ​entities​ ​or​ ​entries​ ​on​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report

Page​ ​1​ ​of​ ​4    721​ F ​ irst​ ​Avenue​ ​North​ | ​ ​ ​Suite​ ​100​ | ​ ​ ​Saint​ ​Petersburg,​ ​Florida​ 3 ​ 3701​ | ​ ​F ​ ax​ & ​ ​M ​ ain​ -​ ​ 8 ​ 88.945.2695

Against​ ​a​ ​wall?​ ​Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call  Fax​ ​&​ ​Main​ ​-​ ​888.WILCOX.LAW  [email protected] 

Getting​ ​Started: As​ ​we’ve​ ​said​ ​before,​ ​pull​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report.​ ​Keep​ ​in​ ​mind​ ​that​ ​your​ ​report​ ​is constantly​ ​evolving,​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​wise​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​eye​ ​on​ ​reports​ ​from​ ​Experian, TransUnion​ ​and​ ​Equifax.​ ​Consider​ ​using​ ​a​ ​service​ ​like​ c ​ reditkarma.com​​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can easily​ ​see​ ​how​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report​ ​has​ ​changed​ ​and​ ​immediately​ ​dispute​ ​any inaccuracies.

TCIDA​ ​-​ ​Truth​ ​in​ ​Caller​ ​ID​ ​Act  Background: Wait,​ ​there’s​ ​an​ ​act​ ​for​ ​caller​ ​id?​ ​Why?​ ​The​ ​TCIDA​ ​is​ ​useful​ ​as​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​discovery​ ​in your​ ​claim.​ ​Though​ ​it​ ​does​ ​not​ ​come​ ​with​ ​damages​ ​for​ ​you,​ ​the​ ​client,​ ​it​ ​empowers you​ ​by​ ​putting​ ​the​ ​full​ ​weight​ ​of​ ​the​ ​FTC​ ​behind​ ​your​ ​claim. Case​ ​Criteria: Calls​ ​from​ ​numbers​ ​you​ ​suspect​ ​to​ ​be​ ​“spoofed”,​ ​“masked”​ ​or​ ​blocked Getting​ ​Started: The​ ​TCIDA​ ​is​ ​pretty​ ​straightforward.​ ​It’s​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​harasser​ ​to​ ​prove​ ​each​ ​number they’ve​ ​used​ ​or​ ​face​ ​the​ ​consequences​ ​from​ ​the​ ​FTC.​ ​Truth​ ​in​ ​Caller​ ​ID​ ​Act demands​ ​are​ ​part​ ​of​ ​any​ ​powerful​ ​consumer-protection​ ​strategy;​ ​be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​ask your​ ​lawyer​ ​about​ ​it.

FDUTPA​ ​-​ ​Florida​ ​Deceptive​ ​and​ ​Unfair​ ​Trade​ ​Practices​ ​Act  Background: One​ ​of​ ​our​ ​favorite​ ​laws​ ​in​ ​spirit.​ ​FDUTPA​ ​was​ ​passed​ ​to​ ​help​ ​empower​ ​you​ ​to​ ​hold deceptive​ ​companies​ ​accountable​ ​for​ ​their​ ​shady​ ​deeds.​ ​We​ ​see​ ​FDUTPA​ ​violations left​ ​and​ ​right​ ​with​ ​residential​ ​mortgages.​ ​For​ ​instance,​ ​has​ ​your​ ​bank​ ​offered​ ​you​ ​a modification​ ​payment​ ​and​ ​then​ ​not​ ​accepted​ ​that​ ​payment,​ ​resulting​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tough financial​ ​situation​ ​for​ ​you?​ ​If​ ​so,​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​claim. Case​ ​Criteria: A​ ​company​ ​offered​ ​to​ ​do​ ​business​ ​with​ ​you​ ​on​ ​certain​ ​terms The​ ​company​ ​was​ ​then​ ​unwilling​ ​to​ ​honor​ ​or​ ​was​ ​deceptive​ ​with​ ​those​ ​terms You​ ​have​ ​suffered​ ​a​ ​loss​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​these​ ​unlawful​ ​practices Page​ ​2​ ​of​ ​4    721​ F ​ irst​ ​Avenue​ ​North​ | ​ ​ ​Suite​ ​100​ | ​ ​ ​Saint​ ​Petersburg,​ ​Florida​ 3 ​ 3701​ | ​ ​F ​ ax​ & ​ ​M ​ ain​ -​ ​ 8 ​ 88.945.2695

Against​ ​a​ ​wall?​ ​Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call  Fax​ ​&​ ​Main​ ​-​ ​888.WILCOX.LAW  [email protected] 

Getting​ ​Started: Though​ ​claims​ ​under​ ​FDUTPA​ ​can​ ​vary​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​bit,​ ​a​ ​good​ ​start​ ​is​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​copy​ ​of any​ ​agreement​ ​you​ ​have​ ​with​ ​the​ ​company.​ ​Did​ ​you​ ​sign​ ​any​ ​documents?​ ​Do​ ​you have​ ​any​ ​receipts?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​records​ ​of​ ​any​ ​conversations​ ​with​ ​this​ ​company, such​ ​as​ ​a​ ​voicemail​ ​or​ ​letter?​ ​Each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​will​ ​be​ ​powerful​ ​evidence​ ​in​ ​your​ ​claim and​ ​keeping​ ​accurate​ ​records​ ​can​ ​only​ ​increase​ ​your​ ​chances​ ​of​ ​success.

TCPA​ ​-​ ​Telephone​ ​Consumer​ ​Protection​ ​Act  Background: The​ ​TCPA​ ​is​ ​our​ ​Big​ ​Kahuna.​ ​All​ ​of​ ​the​ ​above​ ​Acts​ ​are​ ​helpful,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​Act​ ​is​ ​how Wilcox​ ​Law​ ​really​ ​plays​ ​to​ ​win. The​ ​TCPA​ ​is​ ​frequently​ ​violated​ ​by​ ​debt​ ​collectors​ ​who​ ​think​ ​that​ h ​ arassing​ ​you​ ​is going​ ​to​ ​get​ ​them​ ​paid.​ ​The​ ​trouble​ ​is,​ ​they’re​ ​often​ ​correct,​ ​and​ t​ hat’s​ ​why breaking​ ​the​ ​law​ ​is​ ​just​ ​a​ ​business​ ​decision​ ​for​ ​them. It’s​ ​also​ ​a​ ​business​ ​decision​ ​for​ ​you.​ ​If​ ​successful​ ​in​ ​your​ ​claim,​ e ​ ach​ ​call​ ​is​ ​worth up​ ​to​ ​$1500​ ​under​ ​TCPA.​ ​Some​ ​clients​ ​have​ ​20​ ​calls,​ ​and​ ​others​ ​have​ ​hundreds. How​ ​many​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have? Case​ ​Criteria: You​ w ​ ere​ c ​ alled​ o ​ n​ ​your​ ​cell​ ​phone You​ w ​ ere​ c ​ alled​ w ​ ithout​ ​your​ ​consent You​ w ​ ere​ c ​ alled​ u ​ sing​ ​an​ ​autodialer Getting​ ​Started: It’s​ ​fairly​ ​simple​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​TCPA​ ​claim​ ​by​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​your​ ​cell​ ​phone records​ ​and​ ​a​ ​recent​ ​copy​ ​of​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​report.​ ​An​ ​attorney​ ​skilled​ ​in​ ​consumer protection​ ​will​ ​then​ ​help​ ​you​ ​demand​ ​that​ ​the​ ​harassment​ ​cease​ ​and,​ ​if appropriate,​ ​begin​ ​moving​ ​to​ ​settle​ ​your​ ​case.

Page​ ​3​ ​of​ ​4    721​ F ​ irst​ ​Avenue​ ​North​ | ​ ​ ​Suite​ ​100​ | ​ ​ ​Saint​ ​Petersburg,​ ​Florida​ 3 ​ 3701​ | ​ ​F ​ ax​ & ​ ​M ​ ain​ -​ ​ 8 ​ 88.945.2695

Against​ ​a​ ​wall?​ ​Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call  Fax​ ​&​ ​Main​ ​-​ ​888.WILCOX.LAW  [email protected] 

Wrap​ ​Up  Now​ ​that​ ​you​ ​know​ ​the​ ​law​ ​is​ ​on​ ​your​ ​side,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​fight​ ​back​ ​against​ ​abusive​ ​debt collectors.​ ​Wilcox​ ​Law​ ​is​ ​dedicated​ ​to​ ​empowering​ ​clients​ ​and​ ​helping​ ​YOU​ ​settle alleged​ ​debts. Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call​ ​or​ w ​ rite​ ​us​ ​an​ ​email.​ ​We’d​ ​love​ ​to​ ​learn​ m ​ ore​ ​about​ ​you,​ ​your​ ​case and​ ​how​ ​we​ ​can​ e ​ mpower​ ​you​ ​to​ ​take​ ​control​ ​of​ ​your​ ​credit!

Against​ ​a​ ​wall? Give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​call. 888.WILCOX.LAW

Additional​ ​Resources  Here​ ​are​ ​links​ ​to​ ​each​ ​of​ ​the​ ​above​ ​Acts.​ ​Feel​ ​free​ ​to​ ​download​ ​them​ ​and​ ​use​ ​as you​ ​see​ ​fit.​ ​After​ ​all,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​your​ ​tax​ ​dollars​ ​at​ ​work! TCIDA​ ​-​ ​Truth​ ​in​ ​Caller​ ​ID​ ​Act TCPA​ ​-​ ​Telephone​ ​Consumer​ ​Protection​ ​Act FDCPA​ ​-​ ​Fair​ ​Debt​ ​Collection​ ​Practices​ ​Act FCRA​ ​-​ ​Fair​ ​Credit​ ​Reporting​ ​Act FDUTPA​ ​-​ ​Florida​ ​Deceptive​ ​and​ ​Unfair​ ​Trade​ ​Practices​ ​Act

Page​ ​4​ ​of​ ​4    721​ F ​ irst​ ​Avenue​ ​North​ | ​ ​ ​Suite​ ​100​ | ​ ​ ​Saint​ ​Petersburg,​ ​Florida​ 3 ​ 3701​ | ​ ​F ​ ax​ & ​ ​M ​ ain​ -​ ​ 8 ​ 88.945.2695