Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Can I record a private phone call with my landlord in California if I am part of the conversation?
In California, the answer is often no unless the other person agrees. California is generally considered a two-party consent state, which means that recording a private phone call usually requires the consent of everyone...
What are my rights if a fake account is impersonating me and posting racist comments?
If a fake account is impersonating you and posting racist comments, you may have several possible legal and practical options, depending on the facts. In general, impersonation and hateful posts can affect your reputatio...
What are my rights if a company recorded my sales call after I said I did not consent?
If a company recorded your sales call after you clearly said you did not consent, that may raise legal issues in California. In general, California is a two-party consent state for many confidential communications, which...
Is it legal for a towing company to tow my car from a private lot without clear signage?
In North Carolina, the legality of a tow from a private parking lot can depend on several facts, including who owned or controlled the lot, whether the driver had permission to park there, and whether the lot gave notice...
What are my rights if my wages are being garnished but I never received notice about the student loan debt?
If your wages are being garnished for a student loan debt and you never received notice, that may raise important due process and debt-collection questions. In general, a creditor or collection agency usually must follow...
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee if the service provider rescheduled multiple times?
In general, maybe not—but it depends on the contract, the provider’s policies, and what happened before the cancellation. If a service provider repeatedly changed the appointment date or time, that may affect whether a c...
How do I know if a voicemail message counts as consent to record the rest of a call?
In general, a voicemail message does not automatically count as consent to record the rest of a live phone call. Whether it counts usually depends on what the speaker actually said, whether the statement clearly allowed...
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...
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...
Do I have to pay a parking garage ticket if the exit gate was broken and no attendant was there?
In general, you may still owe money for parking if you used a garage, but a broken exit gate and no attendant can raise questions about whether the garage can fairly enforce the charge. In Utah, the answer usually depend...
Do I have to pay a medical bill that went to collections before I received an invoice?
In general, you may still owe a valid medical debt even if the bill was sent to collections before you personally received an invoice. A collection notice does not, by itself, mean the debt is inaccurate or unenforceable...
What happens if I was in an Uber accident and both drivers blame each other?
If you were in an Uber accident and both drivers blame each other, the situation usually turns into an insurance and evidence dispute rather than a simple one-driver claim. In general, fault has to be sorted out before i...
My roommate changed the WiFi password even though I pay half. Is that a legal issue?
In general, a roommate changing the WiFi password can be more of a housing or relationship dispute than a clear legal problem, but it may become a legal issue depending on how the internet service is set up, who is the a...
Can a Contractor Work Without a Permit and Still Charge Me?
In general, a contractor may not be allowed to do certain work without the permits that the law or local code requires, but whether they can still charge you depends on the facts, the contract, and Utah law. A permit iss...
What happens if a contractor misses deadlines repeatedly without updates?
If a contractor repeatedly misses deadlines and does not give updates, that often creates serious practical and legal problems for the project owner. In general, the first issue is that the work may be in breach of the c...