Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Do I Have to Pay HOA Fines If I Never Got the Violation Notice?
In general, whether you have to pay an HOA fine after not receiving the violation notice depends on the HOA’s governing documents, how notice was supposed to be delivered, and whether the association can show it followed...
Do I have to use my adjusted gross income for student loan repayment calculations?
In general, student loan repayment calculations may use adjusted gross income, but not always. Whether AGI is used often depends on the specific repayment plan, the loan program, and the rules in effect when the calculat...
What are my rights if my student loan was sent to collections even though I was in school?
If a student loan was sent to collections while you were still in school, you may have rights to ask for an explanation, dispute the debt, and request that the collector stop collection activity while the issue is review...
Is it legal for a towing company to charge $620 after my car was parked at a shopping center for 45 minutes?
In Nevada, a towing charge that high may be legal in some situations, but it depends heavily on the facts. A parking lot tow is usually governed by a mix of property rules, contract or posted-sign issues, towing company...
Is it legal for a former tenant to post false claims that I illegally kept deposits?
In Hawaii, a former tenant generally may have some freedom to talk about a dispute, including saying they believe a landlord kept a deposit unfairly. But if the tenant posts statements that are false and presented as fac...
Is it legal for a dealership to refuse to return my deposit after I decided not to buy the car?
In Kentucky, a dealership may sometimes be allowed to keep a deposit after a buyer changes their mind, but not always. The answer usually depends on what the deposit was for, what the paperwork said, whether the deal was...
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...
Is it legal for a company to automatically enroll me in a paid plan after a free trial ends?
In general, a company may be allowed to convert a free trial into a paid subscription if the terms were clearly disclosed and you agreed to them. The legal issue is usually not the automatic billing by itself, but whethe...
Do I have to keep paying a personal loan if the lender closed my online account and will not send statements?
In general, yes: closing your online account or stopping paper statements usually does not cancel a personal loan or end your duty to make payments. The loan contract still may remain in effect, and the balance may conti...
Can a towing company refuse card payment and keep adding storage fees?
In general, a towing company may be able to set the payment methods it accepts, but that does not automatically mean it can add unlimited storage fees or ignore other legal limits. The answer often depends on the tow con...
Dog sitter lost my dog during a weekend trip. What can I realistically recover?
If a dog sitter lost your dog during a weekend trip, you may be able to recover some of your financial losses, but the amount and type of recovery usually depend on the facts, the contract, and California law. In general...
What are my rights if my bank refuses to reimburse unauthorized ATM withdrawals?
If you are in Kentucky and your bank refuses to reimburse unauthorized ATM withdrawals, your rights usually depend on the facts, your account agreement, and the consumer-protection rules that apply to electronic fund tra...
What are my rights if a hotel overcharges me for minibar items I did not use?
If a hotel in Hawaii charges you for minibar items you did not use, you may have the right to dispute the charge and ask the hotel to correct the bill. In general, hotels should bill guests accurately for items actually...
What happens if my boss secretly recorded our closed-door meeting without telling me?
In California, secretly recording a private or “confidential” conversation can raise serious legal issues. Whether your boss broke the law usually depends on the setting, who was present, whether everyone knew the conver...
Can I qualify for teacher loan forgiveness and PSLF for the same teaching years?
In general, you may be able to have the same teaching years considered for both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), but the rules are not always simple and the programs do not work in exa...