Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Do I have to pay an early termination fee if my internet service was down for 18 days?
In general, maybe not automatically. If your internet service was down for 18 days, that outage may matter when a provider tries to charge an early termination fee, but the answer usually depends on the contract language...
What are my rights if a contractor recorded our payment dispute and threatened to use it against me?
In California, a situation like this may raise privacy, harassment, contract, and evidence issues, but the exact rights depend on what was recorded, how it was recorded, where it happened, and what was said or threatened...
Can I Sue for Wrongful Detention After Being Held Without Arrest?
In Utah, a person who is held without being formally arrested may sometimes have a civil claim depending on what happened, who did it, and whether the detention was legally justified. In general, the key issue is not onl...
Is It Legal for a Subscription App to Make Cancellation Hard to Find?
In general, a subscription app should not use confusing, hidden, or unusually difficult cancellation steps if those practices are misleading or unfair. Whether the conduct is legally problematic often depends on what the...
Can a business rely on a beep tone instead of verbal consent before recording a call?
In California, a business generally should not assume that a beep tone alone is enough to replace consent before recording a call. The answer often depends on the type of call, who is on the call, what notices were given...
What are my rights if a student loan settlement company charged $900 and did nothing?
If a student loan settlement company in Oklahoma charged you $900 and then did little or nothing, you may have several possible consumer-law concerns, depending on exactly what was promised, what was delivered, and how t...
Is it legal for a repair shop to hold my laptop until I pay a diagnostic fee I was never told about?
In Alaska, a repair shop may be able to keep possession of a laptop for unpaid charges in some situations, but the answer usually depends on the facts, the paperwork, and any agreement you made with the shop. If you were...
Do I have to accept a replacement item instead of a refund from an online seller?
In general, whether you have to accept a replacement item instead of a refund depends on the seller’s return policy, the payment method, the contract terms, and the facts of the sale. In Arizona, as in many states, the a...
Can my insurance rates go up after an accident that was not my fault?
In Missouri, your insurance rates may go up after an accident even if you were not at fault, but it depends on the insurer, the policy, and the facts of the claim. A not-at-fault accident does not automatically mean your...
Is it legal for a towing company to tow my car from my assigned apartment space?
In Tennessee, a towing company may be allowed to tow a car from an apartment space that is assigned to a tenant, but the answer usually depends on the lease, the parking rules, the signage, the apartment community’s towi...
What happens if a subscription streaming service charged my expired card through a card updater program?
If a subscription streaming service charged an expired card through a card updater program, the charge may still go through even though the card you originally gave the company was no longer active. In general, card upda...
Can an internet company send me to collections for equipment I returned with a tracking number?
In general, an internet company may still try to send an account balance to collections even if you returned the equipment, if the company’s records do not show the return, if the return was processed incorrectly, or if...
How do I dispute a phone company charging me for services I never activated?
If a phone company charged you for a service you believe you never activated, the first step is usually to gather your bills, account records, and any messages or screenshots that show what was charged and when. In gener...
Can a Phone Company Keep Billing Me After I Canceled Service?
In general, a phone company should not keep charging you for service that was properly canceled, but billing problems can still happen. Sometimes the company continues billing because the cancellation was not processed c...
Can a Security Guard Legally Detain Me After I Showed Proof of Purchase?
In Utah, a security guard may sometimes stop or hold someone briefly, but only within the limits of the law and the guard’s authority. Showing proof of purchase may resolve the immediate concern, but it does not automati...