Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Is it legal for a dealership to charge a document fee of $899?
In Colorado, a dealership may be able to charge a document fee, but whether an $899 fee is legally allowed depends on several factors, including how the fee is disclosed, what it is for, and whether the dealer is followi...
Is it legal for a tow yard to charge $95 per day after my car was towed from the crash scene?
In Indiana, a tow yard may be able to charge daily storage fees after a crash tow, but whether a $95 per day charge is legal usually depends on several facts. Those facts can include how the vehicle was towed, what the t...
Neighbor’s dog keeps getting loose and scratched my car. Can animal control help with property damage?
In Georgia, animal control may be able to help if a neighbor’s dog is repeatedly running loose, creating a nuisance, or violating local animal control rules. Whether animal control can do anything about the car damage it...
Is it legal for a car dealer to charge document fees that were not disclosed upfront?
In Texas, the answer usually depends on what the dealer disclosed, what the sales paperwork says, and whether the charge was accurately presented as part of the transaction. In general, a car dealer should not surprise a...
What are my rights if my student loan payment was auto drafted twice in one month?
If your student loan payment was auto drafted twice in one month, you may have rights to review the payment records, ask for an explanation, and request a correction if the extra draft was a mistake. In general, the firs...
Do I have to accept arbitration when a home warranty company refuses to cover my broken air conditioner?
In South Carolina, you usually have to start with the terms of the home warranty contract. Many home warranty agreements include an arbitration clause, which may require disputes to go through arbitration instead of cour...
What happens if a debt collector tries to collect a debt that was discharged in bankruptcy?
If a debt was discharged in bankruptcy, a debt collector generally should not keep trying to collect it from you personally. A bankruptcy discharge usually means the legal obligation to pay that particular debt has been...
What happens if my security camera records audio of guests talking inside my living room?
In California, a security camera that records audio inside your living room can raise significant privacy issues, even if the camera was installed for home security. Whether the recording is lawful usually depends on the...
Do I have to call the police if I discover a hidden camera in an Airbnb rental?
If you discover a hidden camera in an Airbnb rental in New York, you generally are not legally required in every situation to call the police just because you found it. But in many cases, contacting law enforcement may b...
I bought a mattress online and the return window ended before it fully expanded. Any rights?
In California, you may have some options, but the answer usually depends on the seller’s return policy, the product listing, and whether the mattress was defective or not as described. A mattress that arrives compressed...
Can a Bank Reverse a Fraud Credit Months After Giving It to Me?
In general, yes, a bank may sometimes reverse a fraud-related provisional credit months after it was issued, depending on why the credit was given, how the bank investigated the claim, and what the account agreement or a...
How do I get compensation for undisclosed defects in a rental property?
In California, a tenant who discovers undisclosed defects in a rental property may have several possible ways to seek compensation, but the available options usually depend on the facts, the lease terms, and whether the...
The florist delivered the wrong flowers for a funeral. Can we ask for more than a refund?
In Pennsylvania, a wrong flower delivery for a funeral may be more than a simple customer-service problem, but the available remedies usually depend on the facts. In general, if a florist delivered the wrong arrangement,...
What happens if my credit card dispute is rejected without investigation?
If a credit card dispute is rejected without investigation, it usually means the card issuer decided not to change the charge or issue a provisional credit based on the information it had at that time. In general, that d...
Do I have to pay student loans if I was the victim of identity theft?
In general, if a student loan was taken out in your name because of identity theft, you may not be responsible for repaying that debt. But the answer often depends on who actually signed the loan documents, whether the l...