Florida has experienced a sharp increase in debt collection call complaints, with Tampa ranking among the most affected cities nationwide, according to new Federal Trade Commission data.

Florida Sees 179% Spike in Complaints

Florida ranks third nationally for debt collection complaints, recording 12,705 reports in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This represents a 179% increase compared to the same period last year, making Florida one of the 10 fastest-growing states for such complaints. Only Texas and Arkansas saw steeper increases.

The analysis, conducted by telecom provider NumberBarn using FTC data, shows that four Florida cities placed in the national top 10 for per capita debt collection complaints: Miami (3rd), Jacksonville (6th), Tampa (8th), and Orlando (9th).

Tampa Records High Complaint Rate

Tampa reported 1,938 debt collection complaints, translating to 59.8 complaints per 100,000 residents. This placed the city 8th nationally for per capita complaints.

Nationwide, nearly 47% of all debt collection complaints filed in 2025 have been categorized as abusive, threatening, or harassing—representing a nearly fourfold increase from the previous year. Florida’s complaint patterns mirror this national trend.

Consumer Protections Available

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors are prohibited from:

• Harassing or threatening consumers
• Sharing debt information with family members or coworkers
• Making false claims about legal consequences, such as jail time

The FTC advises consumers not to provide personal information over the phone unless they can verify the caller’s legitimacy. Consumers can request written debt verification and should be aware that in Florida, the statute of limitations on debt collection is four to five years.

Debt collection calls typically target Americans aged 30-39, who are more likely to be managing mortgages, credit cards, and student loan payments.

This report is based on Federal Trade Commission complaint data analyzed by NumberBarn for the first quarter of 2025.

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