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Debt Collector’s Proof of Claim Raises FDCPA Liability

June 3rd, 2016 

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a debt collector who files a proof of claim in a bankruptcy proceeding violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) when the claim is for a time barred debt.  The case is  Johnson v. Midland Funding.

When filing bankruptcy, the bankruptcy code permits a creditor who wants to have a claim for repayment from the debtor to file what is called a proof of claim.  This is an assertion that the debtor owes the creditor money.  However, an issue arises when the creditor is a debt collector and files a claim for an amount that is beyond the applicable statute of limitations.  The reason is that Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from using any “false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.”

The Court found that there was no conflict between the FDCPA and the bankruptcy code.  The filing of a proof of claim is misleading and is attempting to collect a debt which the creditor wasn’t legally entitled to collect due to it being beyond the statute of limitations, which is an FDCPA violation.

If you are being harassed for a Miami debt by a debt collector or any other party, feel free to contact The Law Office of Shaya Markovic, P.A. for a free consultation.  There is no fee for my office to represent you in debt collector harassment cases.  My office fights and sues debt collectors for violating debt collection laws.  The Law Office of Shaya Markovic, P.A.  (786)529-2176.


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