How to Dispute a Bill in Florida: A Guide for Consumers

The first step is to contact the service provider or merchant directly. Send a written dispute letter via certified mail with return receipt requested, clearly identifying the bill, explaining why you're disputing it, and including copies (not originals) of any supporting documentation. Florida law requires that you make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute directly before pursuing other remedies.

Yes. For most consumer bills, you should dispute charges within 60 days of receiving the bill. For credit card disputes specifically, the Fair Credit Billing Act (which applies in Florida) requires that you send your dispute letter within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you. For medical bills, Florida law generally allows up to 2 years to dispute charges, but it's best to act promptly.

For credit card disputes, under federal law (which applies in Florida), you may withhold payment on the disputed amount while the investigation is pending. However, for other types of bills (utilities, medical, etc.), Florida law generally requires you to continue paying the undisputed portion of the bill. Withholding payment entirely could result in service interruptions, collections, or negative credit reporting.

Depending on the type of bill, different Florida agencies can help: The Florida Public Service Commission handles utility bill disputes; the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation assists with insurance billing issues; the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration can help with medical billing disputes; and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation handles disputes with financial institutions. For general consumer issues, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

To dispute a medical bill in Florida: 1) Request an itemized bill and review it carefully for errors; 2) Contact the healthcare provider's billing department in writing to explain the dispute; 3) If insured, contact your insurance company to verify coverage; 4) For billing code disputes, request an audit; 5) If unsuccessful, file a complaint with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; 6) Consider mediation services through the Florida Department of Financial Services. Florida law prohibits healthcare providers from sending disputed amounts to collections while a good faith dispute is pending.

Keep copies of: 1) The original bill and any subsequent bills; 2) All correspondence with the company (dated letters, emails, notes from phone calls including date, time, and representative's name); 3) Proof of delivery for any written communications (certified mail receipts); 4) Any supporting evidence related to your dispute (contracts, receipts, photos, etc.); 5) Records of any payments made; and 6) Any responses received from the company or regulatory agencies. Florida courts will require this documentation if legal action becomes necessary.

Yes, you can sue in Florida small claims court if your dispute involves $8,000 or less (as of 2023). Before filing, you must make a good faith attempt to resolve the issue directly with the company. The filing fee ranges from $55 to $300 depending on the amount claimed. You don't need an attorney, and cases are typically resolved within 6 months. File in the county where the company is located or where the transaction occurred.

The Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) provides stronger protections than federal law. It prohibits debt collectors from: harassing you; contacting you at inconvenient times; continuing collection efforts on disputed debts without verification; threatening legal action they don't intend to take; or communicating with you if you're represented by an attorney. If collectors violate these rules while pursuing a disputed bill, you can sue for actual damages plus up to $1,000 in statutory damages, plus attorney's fees.

If a disputed bill is sent to collections in Florida: 1) Send a written dispute letter to the collection agency within 30 days of their first contact, demanding debt verification; 2) Notify them if you already disputed the bill with the original creditor; 3) Request they cease contact if harassment occurs; 4) File complaints with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the Florida Attorney General, and the CFPB if they continue collection efforts without verifying the debt; 5) Consider consulting with a consumer rights attorney, as Florida law allows for recovery of damages and attorney fees for collection violations.