In the ever-changing landscape of consumer protection, courts around the country are constantly coming out with new case law regarding whether certain communications are attempts to collect a debt as defined by the Fair Debt Collect Practices Act. Recently, a Judge in the Southern District of Florida denied a defendant’s motion to dismiss and held that mortgage statements sent to a borrower after borrower’s attorney sent a cease and desist letter, were attempts to collect a debt and in violation of the FDCPA and FCCPA. Lear v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 17-62206-civ-Zloch (S.D. Fla. April 25, 2018). The Court looked at mortgage statements that Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (“SPS”) was sending to a borrower who was currently in foreclosure and had sent SPS a cease and desist letter informing SPS that the borrower was represented by counsel. The Court determined that the mortgage statements sent by SPS after the cease and desist letter, went beyond what was required by federal law and appeared to be debt collection communications that violate the FDCPA and FCCPA. The Court pointed out that each statement featured a notice stating, “This is an attempt to collect a debt. All information obtained will be used for that purpose,” and such language would seem to indicate that the mortgage statements were debt collection communications. In sum, the Court has concluded that statements sent pursuant to federal law can be turned into, with additional language, debt collection communications thereby potentially being in violation of the FDCPA and FCCPA if sent after being put on notice of counsel.
For more information about FDCPA, please visit our website here.
Loan Lawyers has helped over 5,000 South Florida homeowners and consumers with their debt problems. We have saved over 1,800 homes from foreclosure, eliminated $100,000,000 in mortgage principal and consumer debt, and have collected millions of dollars on behalf of our clients due to bank, loan servicer, and debt collector violations, negligence and fraud. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we may be able to help you.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Loan Lawyers is made up of experienced consumer rights attorneys who use every available resource to develop comprehensive debt solution strategies. Our goal is to take on those burdens, resolve those problems, and allow our clients to sleep soundly knowing they are on the path to a better future.
