Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
What happens if a roommate secretly installed a camera in our shared bathroom?
If a roommate secretly installed a camera in a shared bathroom, that can raise serious legal and safety concerns in Texas. In general, a bathroom is one of the most private places in a home, and secretly recording people...
Can a Hospital Bill Me Years After the Visit?
Yes, a hospital may sometimes send a bill long after the visit, but whether it can still collect depends on several legal and practical factors. A late bill does not automatically mean the charge is invalid. It may happe...
What are my rights if a contractor leaves hazardous materials on my property?
If a contractor leaves hazardous materials on your property, you may have several possible rights under Alabama law and general contract, property, and tort principles. In general, you may be able to demand that the cont...
Is it legal for a towing company to keep my car until I pay cash only?
In Nevada, a towing company may sometimes keep a vehicle until lawful towing and storage charges are paid, but the details matter. Whether a company can insist on cash only depends on the agreement, the type of tow, the...
How do I handle a landlord who is charging me for water bills from before I moved in?
If a landlord is trying to make you pay water bills from before you moved in, the first question is whether your lease clearly says you are responsible for those charges. In general, a landlord usually cannot shift earli...
What Happens If a Utility Company Bills Me for the Wrong Meter?
If a utility company bills you for the wrong meter, the problem is usually a billing error that may be corrected once it is identified. In general, utilities rely on meter readings, account records, service addresses, an...
Is it legal for a company to auto-renew my subscription without clear notice?
In general, a company may be allowed to auto-renew a subscription if the terms clearly explain that the subscription will continue unless canceled. But if the renewal terms were not presented clearly, or if the company u...
Can my bank send my checking account to the state as unclaimed property if I have not used it in three years?
In California, a bank account may be treated as unclaimed property if there has been no customer activity for a long period and the bank cannot reach the owner. In general, that means the account has become dormant or in...
What happens if my name is misspelled on the state unclaimed property website?
If your name is misspelled on a state unclaimed property website, it usually does not mean the money or property is not yours. Unclaimed property databases often contain old, incomplete, or inconsistent records, so a spe...
Can a Gym Charge Me After I Tried to Cancel My Membership?
In general, a gym in California may still charge you after you tried to cancel if the cancellation was not completed in the way the membership contract requires, if the gym had a lawful right to bill for a notice period...
Can child support be taken from disability benefits?
In general, child support may sometimes be taken from disability benefits, but the answer depends on the type of disability benefit and the facts of the case. In Utah, as in many states, the key issue is often whether th...
Is it legal for a business to keep uncashed refund checks instead of reporting them to the state?
In Kentucky, a business generally cannot treat uncashed refund checks as if they are simply its own money forever. In many situations, money represented by an uncashed check may be considered unclaimed property, which ca...
Do I have to report unclaimed property from a small business I closed five years ago?
In general, you may still have reporting duties after closing a small business, including in Oregon, if the business held money or other property that became unclaimed before it shut down or while records were still acti...
How do I get credit toward forgiveness for payments I made before consolidating?
In general, whether payments made before consolidation count toward forgiveness depends on the type of loan forgiveness program, the type of loans you had before consolidation, and the specific consolidation rules that a...
What happens if a contractor damaged my roof and refuses to give insurance information?
If a contractor damaged your roof and refuses to give insurance information, you may still have options to document the damage, request payment, and try to identify the contractor’s coverage through other means. In gener...