JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is ranked third in the nation with the most debt collection calls, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Here are some ways to handle the calls and get help.
Debt collectors keep calling Priscilla Rishavy. They’re after the $30,000 in medical debt she owes after he daughter underwent cancer treatments.
“I think it just adds a level of stress, of like, how am I going to do this? How am I going to make it every day, you know, like every month, like, am I always going to be in debt? I think that’s the biggest thing, and especially, like, after going through cancer, which is with my daughter, which is stressful enough,” Rishavy said.
In Q1 2025, Americans reported over 112,000 debt collection calls to the FTC. That’s a surge of more than 150% year-over-year. Florida received the third largest amount of those calls, and it’s a sign that consumers are struggling financially.
“If we head into any sort of broader economic issues, because you’re going to see more of this pop up. You’re going to see those complaints to the FTC increase even further,” Thomas Nitzsche, a financial educator with Money Management International, said.
The FTC said consumers have rights if they are getting calls from a debt collector:
- Don’t confirm any personal information
- Ask for written verification of the debt
- Determine the age of the debt
Each state also has a statute of limitations. In Florida, if the debt is more than 4 to 5 years old, you may not be liable for it.
“They only have a certain amount of time to collect on it legally and if they’re calling you about a debt that’s years and years old, you may not even be financially responsible for it anymore,” Nitzsche said.
Debt collectors also aren’t allowed to engage with you in any way that makes you feel harassed, oppressed, or abused.
“They can’t threaten to send you to jail. They can’t threaten to tell people in your household or family members, or, you know, work colleagues or something about the debt. So if you’re feeling harassed, you really do need to take action and file the complaint,” Nitzsche said.
There are options if you need help paying a debt. Rishavy was able to get some of her previous debts settled and interest rates reduced working with Money Management International.
“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” Rishavy said.
Click here for more information about Money Management International.