Updated April 2026
Florida Credit and Debit Card Consumer Protection Laws in 2026
Federal Regulation Z (12 CFR 1026) and Regulation E (12 CFR 1005) set the floor for card-dispute rights everywhere in the US. Florida's Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213) provides state-level remedies that can go further, including additional private causes of action, mandatory damages, and the right to file with the Florida AG Consumer Protection Complaint Portal.
UDAP Statute
Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213
Small Claims Limit
$8,000
Fla. Stat. § 34.01
File a Complaint
Florida AG Consumer Protection Complaint Portal ↗Florida's UDAP Statute: Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act is Florida's primary consumer-protection statute covering unfair and deceptive acts and practices (UDAP) in trade or commerce. It provides consumers with remedies in addition to (not instead of) federal protections under Regulation Z and Regulation E.
Key points
FDUTPA modelled on the FTC Act; strong private right of action.
How Federal Law and Florida Law Interact
Federal preemption does not eliminate state UDAP claims for credit and debit card disputes. The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) expressly preserve state consumer-protection laws that are not inconsistent with the federal statutes.
For credit card disputes: If your issuer violates your rights under Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213, you may have a claim under both Regulation Z 12 CFR 1026.13 (federal billing-error claim) and the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (state UDAP claim). State claims often provide attorney fees and minimum statutory damages that federal law does not.
For debit card disputes: Regulation E 12 CFR 1005.11 sets the federal dispute process and timeline. If your bank fails to investigate within the required period (10 business days for EFT errors) or wrongly denies your claim, that failure may independently constitute an unfair or deceptive act under Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213, giving you a state-law remedy.
Practical tip
File your dispute with your card issuer first (required by Reg Z and Reg E). If denied, file with the Florida AG Consumer Protection Complaint Portal and the CFPB simultaneously. Small claims court in Florida (up to $8,000) is available without an attorney and costs $30-$100 to file.
Florida Small Claims Court
$8,000
Claim limit
Authority: Fla. Stat. § 34.01
If a card dispute is below $8,000, you can file in Florida's small claims court without an attorney. Most disputes involving unauthorised charges, held funds, or denied chargebacks are within small claims limits.
Verify current small claims limits with the Florida courts website before filing; limits are adjusted periodically by legislation. Source: Fla. Stat. § 34.01.
Filing a Card Dispute in Florida: Step-by-Step
Dispute directly with your issuer
Required first step under both Reg Z (credit) and Reg E (debit). Send written notice to the address on your billing statement. For credit, the dispute letter must reach the issuer within 60 days of the statement date showing the charge.
Get the result in writing
Your issuer must acknowledge a credit billing-error claim within 30 days (12 CFR 1026.13(b)(2)) and resolve it within two billing cycles. For a debit EFT error, the bank must complete investigation within 10 business days (12 CFR 1005.11(c)(1)).
File with the CFPB
Submit at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB forwards complaints to the issuer, who must respond. CFPB complaint data is public; issuers take them seriously.
File with the Florida AG Consumer Protection Complaint Portal
Florida's Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201-501.213) gives the AG additional enforcement authority. File at: https://myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection
Consider small claims court (up to $8,000)
If the dispute amount is within Florida's small claims limit, file in your local small claims court. No attorney required; filing fees are typically $30-$100. Bring your written dispute, the issuer's written denial, and any documentation of your loss.