Practice Area
Consumer Fraud & Deceptive Practices
Consumers are frequently subjected to deceptive and unfair business practices that result in real financial harm. Walter J. Mathews, P.A. investigates and pursues claims under federal and Florida consumer protection statutes.
Consumer fraud matters often involve violations of federal and Florida consumer protection statutes and require a disciplined, statute-driven approach to evaluate and prosecute effectively. The firm investigates and pursues claims involving a wide range of consumer fraud and misconduct.
Many consumer protection statutes provide for monetary damages, attorney's fees, and corrective relief — and in cases involving a pattern or practice of misconduct, institutions can be held accountable on a class-wide basis.
Representative Matters
Areas of investigation & representation
Mortgage & Lending Misconduct
- · Predatory loan terms
- · Undisclosed or excessive fees
- · Loan servicing errors
- · Improper foreclosure activity
Background Report Issues
- · Wrongful denial of employment
- · Housing application denials
- · Insurance denials (life, credit, or health)
Debt Collection Abuse
- · Harassing or excessive calls
- · False threats of litigation
- · Inflated or fabricated balances
- · Collection of debts not owed
Credit Reporting Violations
- · Inaccurate credit reporting
- · Failure to investigate or correct disputes
- · Mixed files or identity confusion
- · Identity theft-related reporting damage
Banking & Account Misconduct
- · Unauthorized accounts or transactions
- · Hidden or recurring fees
- · Improper overdraft practices
- · Misleading financial disclosures
- · Unauthorized electronic fund transfers
False Advertising & Subscription Practices
- · "Free trial" billing schemes
- · Undisclosed auto-renewals
- · Product or service misrepresentations
- · Warranty-related deception
Identity Theft & Data Misuse
- · Fraudulent accounts or credit activity
- · Institutional failure to safeguard personal data
- · Delayed or inadequate fraud investigations
Our Approach
How we evaluate and pursue these claims
Focused issue identification
Document review and statutory analysis
Pattern and practice assessment
Case development for individual or group claims
What You Should Know
Common questions
Can this be fixed?
In many cases, yes — through litigation, statutory remedies, or negotiated resolution.
Is recovery available?
Many consumer protection statutes provide for monetary damages, attorney's fees, and corrective relief.
Can institutions be held accountable?
Yes. Particularly where there is a pattern or practice of misconduct.
Bottom Line
You may have a viable claim if:
- → You were misled in a transaction
- → You were overcharged or assessed improper fees
- → Your credit has been damaged
- → A lender, bank, or debt collector crossed the line