If you’ve discovered that the creditor had your car repossessed because you missed payments on it, you may feel there is nothing you can do about it. There are laws that repossession companies must adhere to, though. If the company that repossessed your car broke any of them, you could seek compensation through a Florida wrongful repossession case.
The team at Sue the Collector can help you. Call us at 877-BAD-REPO to learn more about recovering fair compensation.
How Our Florida Wrongful Repossession Attorneys Can Help You
You have enough to deal with when coping without your vehicle. You have to arrange rides to work and school and ensure your family is safe. We can handle your Florida wrongful repossession case while you tend to other important matters.
We can:
- Handle all the necessary paperwork
- Review your loan agreement
- File a lawsuit against a repo company or lender
There are also ways that you can help us build your case. For example, gather all your loan payment documents. In some wrongful repossession cases, we find that people are not even in default on their loans but still get their cars repossessed. We can comb through the details of your agreement to determine if the lender violated your rights.
It would help if you should also write down what you remember about your interactions with the repo agent. There may be evidence of a breach of peace that we can use to support your case.
Affording a Florida Wrongful Repossession Lawyer on Our Team
We understand that you are already struggling financially, and we aren’t looking to add to your plate. We’re here to help you seek justice and sue a debt collector who illegally repossessed your car.
We offer free consultations and take wrongful repossession cases on a no-win, no-fee basis. We’ll even provide a free downloadable guide on fighting debt collectors. When you work with Sue the Collector, you don’t have to worry about the details or paperwork involved in the legal process. We can handle it all for you.
Why Choose Our Florida Wrongful Repossession Lawyers?
At Sue the Collector, our legal team aims to get you the justice you deserve and help you manage your finances. We offer personalized legal services because we understand that no two cases are identical.
Our case results include millions of dollars in awards from debt collectors. Now, we want to help your family cope during this difficult time.
Wrongful Repossession in Florida
In Florida, repossession agents cannot breach the peace when seizing a vehicle. For example, they can take the vehicle from a public area or an unsecured area of private property, but they cannot break into a locked area of your property, such as a garage, to retrieve the car.
They also cannot misrepresent themselves when conducting their business, and they cannot make verbal or physical threats to get the job done. They can’t be excessively noisy and disturb the neighborhood, either.
If a repo agent engaged in any of this behavior, which violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have a wrongful repossession case. Our Florida lawyers can help you pursue justice and compensation.
Florida Vehicle Repossession Laws
According to Florida Statutes § 679.609, a lender can repossess your car after your first missed payment. They have to ask you to meet at an agreed-upon time and place. They can seize the car if you fail to respond and voluntarily forfeit it. However, ensure you look into your policy since some lenders allow for a grace period.
There are benefits to voluntary repossession, which involves you bringing your car to the dealership instead of waiting for the repossession agent to take it. This action can help you avoid repossession fees, such as the tow. You also have the option to discuss a new payment arrangement with your lender.
Notices Required by Law
Aside from the request to meet to surrender your vehicle, a lender or repossession company must notify you that they have your personal items from the repossessed vehicle. They must give you 45 days to collect them.
Your Options to Avoid Repossession in Florida
If you do have your vehicle repossessed, you first want to see if you can pay the balance of your car loan. Most lenders will give you the option to do this before they try to put it in a private sale or public auction. However, this is not always a viable option for many families facing repossession.
If you cannot agree when negotiating with a lender and do not want to voluntarily surrender your vehicle, you have another option to avoid repossession. Though it may not be ideal, you can file for bankruptcy. Depending on the chapter you file for, you can keep some of your assets, such as your vehicle.
What can make matters even worse is that when your vehicle is repossessed, you may not be entirely off the hook with your car loan. A lender or creditor could try to sell the car at market value, which may leave a deficit that you will still be responsible for paying.
Call Sue the Collector to Get Started on Your Florida Wrongful Repossession Case
You don’t have to take wrongful repossession lying down. You have the right to hire an attorney to fight for your rights in court. Sue the Collector wants to help you, just like we’ve helped other families.
During a free consultation, we can tell you more about how our Florida wrongful repossession team can help. Call us at 877-BAD-REPO to get started.
