Sink, McCollum Now Both Want to Regulate Rogue Debt Collectors
Orlando Sentinel (FL)
January 25, 2010
Deslatte, Aaron
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum are vying for control over a task force to better govern unscrupulous debt collectors. Sink, a Democrat running for governor, is petitioning legislators to give the Department of Financial Services the authority to regulate and punish debt collectors. McCollum, a Republican candidate governor, is seeking to broaden his power over debt collectors and keep the regulatory control within the attorney general's office. Sink wants to make it possible for the state to go after collectors after a single complaint is issued, gain access to collectors' books and records, and make harassment of debtors a felony punishable by up to $5,000 per violation. McCollum plans to ask lawmakers to define abusive debt collecting practices as violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which would make it easier for the attorney general to pursue and prosecute cases. Despite recent calls to action from both, the Orlando Sentinel found that neither Sink's nor McCollum's office had taken action on potentially thousands of complaints. The two initially pointed fingers at each other but now have pledged to push for change after a week of strong competition. Ultimately, Sink said she does not care who takes over the enforcement as long as it gets done.
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