Consumer Protection in Florida
This page covers consumer protection as it applies in Florida — the state and federal laws that govern it, filing deadlines, where to get help, and notable in-state decisions. For what consumer protection protects generally, see the national overview.
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Quick answer
Florida's main consumer protection law is the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Part II of Chapter 501, Florida Statutes), which makes it illegal for businesses to use unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable practices in trade or commerce — covering false advertising, hidden fees, and aggressive sales tactics. If a business harms you, start by documenting everything and filing a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Federal laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Truth in Lending Act also protect Florida consumers. Deadlines vary by claim type and can be as short as two years, so act as soon as you notice a problem.
Laws that govern consumer protection in Florida
Florida state law
- Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices ActFla. Stat. §§ 501.201–501.213
Florida's primary consumer protection law, prohibiting unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable business practices and allowing individual consumers to sue for actual damages and attorney fees.
- Florida Consumer Collection Practices ActFla. Stat. §§ 559.55–559.785
Prohibits abusive, deceptive, and harassing debt collection practices by creditors and collectors operating in Florida, with civil remedies up to $1,000 per violation plus actual damages and attorney fees.
- Florida Motor Vehicle Sales Warranty Act (Lemon Law)Fla. Stat. Ch. 681
Requires manufacturers to repair, replace, or refund new motor vehicles with substantial defects that cannot be fixed within a reasonable number of attempts during the first 24 months after delivery.
Federal law
- Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914
Federal law that established the Federal Trade Commission and prohibits "unfair methods of competition" and "unfair or deceptive acts or practices." Codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58.
- Truth in Lending Act
Federal law designed to protect consumers in their dealings with lenders and creditors by requiring meaningful disclosure of credit terms. Codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
Federal law that regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information. Codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
Florida-specific deadlines for consumer protection cases
Enter the date your problem happened to see which deadlines may already have passed. Not every deadline applies to every situation — this is a general estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter, paused, or extended.
- Deadline to file a private lawsuit under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act: 4 years
Actions founded on statutory liability must be commenced within four years under Florida's general statute of limitations; courts apply this period to private claims under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(e)
- Deadline to sue a debt collector under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act: 2 years
An action under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act must be commenced within two years after the date the alleged violation occurred.
Fla. Stat. § 559.77(4)
- Deadline to apply for Florida Lemon Law state arbitration: 60 days after the end of the 24-month Lemon Law rights period
The Lemon Law rights period is 24 months from the original delivery date of the vehicle (§ 681.102(9)); a consumer must apply to the state arbitration program within 60 days after that period ends.
Fla. Stat. § 681.1097(2); § 681.102(9)
- Deadline to file a civil lawsuit for identity theft: 5 years
A civil action against a person who committed identity theft may be commenced within five years after the cause of action accrues under Florida Statute § 817.568.
Fla. Stat. § 817.568
These deadlines are general estimates. They can be shorter than they appear, and can be paused (“tolled”) or extended in specific situations. This is not legal advice. If any deadline is near or has passed, talk to a lawyer right away.
Where to go & how to get help
Government agencies and non-profit legal-help organizations for consumer protection in Florida.
- Federal Trade Commissionagency
Federal agency that enforces consumer protection laws nationwide and accepts complaints about fraud, scams, identity theft, and deceptive business practices.
The primary state enforcement authority for the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act; accepts consumer complaints, investigates businesses, and can seek injunctions, civil penalties, and restitution on behalf of Florida consumers.
- Federal Trade Commissionagency
Federal agency that enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and accepts consumer fraud complaints through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Federal Trade Commissionagency
Federal enforcement agency for the Federal Trade Commission Act; accepts consumer complaints about deceptive advertising, identity theft, and scams through its online complaint portal.
Federal agency enforcing laws on credit reports, mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and debt collection; accepts free consumer complaints online.
- Florida Legal Serviceslegal aid
Statewide nonprofit providing free civil legal assistance to low-income Floridians on consumer protection and other civil matters.
Official U.S. government starting point for finding free or low-cost legal help and legal-aid programs near you.
Locate the LSC-funded legal-aid organization that serves your county for civil (non-criminal) legal problems.
Find your state or local bar association lawyer-referral service and free legal-answer programs.
Find your state attorney general to file consumer-protection, civil-rights, or other complaints.
How to take action in Florida
- 1
Document the problem
Save all contracts, receipts, advertisements, emails, texts, and any other evidence of what the business claimed and what you lost.
- 2
Contact the business in writing
Send a written complaint by email or certified mail and keep a copy; some consumer protection laws require you to give the business a chance to fix the problem before you can sue.
- 3
File a complaint with the Florida Attorney General
Submit a complaint at myfloridalegal.com; the Consumer Protection Division can investigate and, in many cases, seek restitution on behalf of consumers.
- 4
File a complaint with the relevant federal agency
The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each handle specific complaint types, including credit reporting errors and debt collection harassment.
- 5
Consult a consumer protection attorney before deadlines pass
Many consumer protection attorneys charge no upfront fee because they can recover attorney fees if they win; contact a legal aid organization if you cannot afford a private lawyer.
- 6
File a lawsuit if necessary
Under several Florida statutes, you can sue for actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs, but you must file within the deadline that applies to your specific claim type.
A general roadmap, not legal advice — the right steps depend on your situation and deadlines.
Common questions about consumer protection in Florida
What is the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act?
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Part II of Chapter 501, Florida Statutes) is Florida's primary consumer protection law. It makes unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable business practices in trade or commerce illegal. Examples include false advertising, pyramid schemes, and fraudulent telemarketing. Both the Florida Attorney General and individual consumers can take legal action under this law.
Can I sue a business that deceived me?
Yes. Florida Statute § 501.211 allows individuals who suffer a loss from a violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act to sue for actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. Actions founded on statutory liability must generally be filed within four years of the violation under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(e). One exception: a retailer that passes along a manufacturer's claim in good faith without knowing it was false may not be liable.
My debt collector is calling me late at night and using threatening language. Is that legal?
No. Florida's Consumer Collection Practices Act (Florida Statutes §§ 559.55–559.785) forbids collectors from contacting you between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., using abusive or threatening language, and engaging in other harassing conduct. You can sue a violating collector for actual damages plus up to $1,000 per violation, along with attorney fees. You have two years from the date of the violation to file a lawsuit under Florida Statute § 559.77(4).
What is Florida's Lemon Law?
Florida's Motor Vehicle Sales Warranty Act (Chapter 681, Florida Statutes) protects buyers and lessees of new motor vehicles that have substantial defects the manufacturer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts. If your vehicle qualifies, you may be entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle. The Lemon Law rights period lasts 24 months from the date the vehicle was originally delivered to you, as defined in Florida Statute § 681.102(9).
There is an error on my credit report. What should I do?
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information with the credit reporting company (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and the business that provided the wrong data. The credit bureau generally must investigate within 30 days. You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. If the error is not corrected, you may have a right to sue under federal law.
What can the Florida Attorney General actually do for me?
The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division can investigate a business, seek a court order stopping illegal conduct, and obtain restitution for affected consumers. Filing a complaint puts the division on notice of a pattern of misconduct, which can trigger broader investigations. The division represents the public interest, not individual complainants, so you may also need to pursue your own lawsuit to recover your personal losses.
What if someone stole my identity?
Florida Statute § 817.568 makes identity theft a crime and also gives victims a civil cause of action. You can seek compensation for out-of-pocket losses, attorney fees spent clearing your credit history, and other related costs caused by the theft. You have five years from when the cause of action accrues to file a civil lawsuit under that statute.
Not legal advice. State-specific statutes, deadlines and procedures are being sourced and will appear here.