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Action 9: Department store sued for robocalling Florida consumers

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ORLANDO,Fla. — A Brevard County woman sued a popular department store that was calling to collect a credit card debt. She is one of five Florida customers who sued KOHL'S, claiming the robocalls were illegal.

“It was five, six times a day, sometimes eight,” said Patricia Douglas. She claims she received more than 600 calls from the department store.

Douglas claims the store was trying to collect a $174 credit card bill she had trouble paying after an illness.

She told KOHL'S to stop calling. “It was just total insanity," she said.

Douglas filed a federal lawsuit accusing KOHL'S of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

“They are the new robo-bully on the block,” said Attorney Billy Howard from the Consumer Protection Firm. He filed Douglas’ and other lawsuits against KOHL'S claiming it targeted five different customers with robocalls.

“It is against federal law to use a robo-dialer to call a cellphone unless that person specifically gave you that number,” said Howard.

Douglas said she never gave them the number and told them to stop.

It's not just Central Florida customers. Action 9 found other lawsuits against KOHL'S and customers claiming they were bombarded with robocalls. One woman said they pursued her relentlessly over a $25 debt.

Two weeks ago, federal records show KOHL'S settled five Florida lawsuits. Douglas and her lawyer cannot comment on the lawsuit's terms.

Robocall violations can carry penalties up to $1,500 a call.

“I just felt it was very excessive and frustrating,” said Douglas.

Action 9 contacted KOHL'S management several times, but the company has not responded.

Since 2014, the revised telephone protection act has made unwanted robocalls to your cellphone illegal.

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