How companies should go about pursuing payment

Florida business owners may have a hard time convincing some customers to pay for services rendered. However, companies that attempt to collect payment from a customer must generally do so according to standards set by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA. When contacting customers about a debt, make sure to have documentation of that debt as not everyone will assume that a claim is accurate.

Companies should also be aware that they are limited in when they can make phone calls. Typically, they cannot be made before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the time zone where the customer is located. Customers may also not be contacted at any other time that they have stated is inconvenient for them. If a customer or client says that their lawyer is handling the matter, companies must contact that lawyer as opposed to the person who may owe the debt.

Those who are attempting to collect a debt must refrain from harassing behavior. This may mean refraining from using abusive language or threatening to call the police if a debt isn’t repaid. Furthermore, companies should not threaten to send the bill to a debt collector or pursue the debt in court unless there are plans to actually do so.

Filing for personal bankruptcy may be one option for debtors who are looking to stop creditor contacts. Generally, creditors may not file a lawsuit, foreclose on a property or repossess property while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is ongoing. a lawyer may be able to talk more about benefits of filing for bankruptcy such as the ability to pay off debts in three or five years. If a balance cannot be fully paid in that amount of time, any remaining balance may be discharged.