Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
What are my rights if a debt collector uses abusive language during phone calls?
If a debt collector uses abusive language during phone calls, you generally have the right to be treated fairly and without harassment. In Missouri, as in many states, debt collection practices may be limited by federal...
Can an HOA tow my car from my driveway because the registration sticker is expired?
In Florida, an HOA may sometimes be able to have a car towed from a driveway if the vehicle is violating the community’s recorded rules, parking restrictions, or property-use requirements. An expired registration sticker...
How do I handle finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental?
Finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental can be alarming, and in Georgia it may raise both privacy and criminal-law concerns depending on the facts. In general, the safest first steps are to avo...
Can I sue my landlord if I found a hidden camera inside my bedroom smoke detector?
If you found a hidden camera inside a smoke detector in your bedroom, that can raise very serious privacy and safety concerns. In California, a landlord generally is not allowed to secretly record a tenant in a private a...
Can I Sue a Photographer Who Never Delivered Wedding Photos?
If a wedding photographer never delivered your photos, you may have a possible civil claim, but the answer depends on the contract, the communications between the parties, and what actually happened. In Illinois, dispute...
What happens if I bought a mattress online and the company refuses to honor its 100-night trial?
If you bought a mattress online and the company refuses to honor a promised 100-night trial, the issue is usually about the seller’s contract terms and any consumer-protection rules that may apply in Delaware. In general...
Can a casino or gaming account balance be turned over as unclaimed property in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, a casino or gaming account balance may sometimes be treated as unclaimed property if the owner has not used, contacted, or otherwise indicated interest in the funds for a long enough period of time under a...
My Ex Won’t Remove My Name From a Joint Phone Plan — What Can I Do?
If your name is still on a joint phone plan after a breakup, the main issue is usually that the account holder and the phone carrier still see you as financially responsible for the account. In general, a joint plan can...
How do I stop my bank account from being considered dormant while I am living overseas?
If you live overseas, the main way to reduce the risk that a Massachusetts bank account is treated as dormant is usually to keep the account active in the ways your bank allows and to monitor all account notices closely....
What happens if I co-signed a car loan and the primary borrower stops making payments?
If you co-signed a car loan, you usually became equally responsible for the debt, even if you did not drive the car or receive the loan proceeds. If the primary borrower stops making payments, the lender will often look...
Do I have to pay private student loans if the borrower died and I was only a cosigner?
In general, if you cosigned a private student loan, the lender may still look to you for repayment even after the borrower dies. A cosigner is usually a separate borrower from the lender’s perspective, so the death of th...
Can a Hotel Charge a Smoking Fee If I Never Smoked?
In general, a hotel may charge a smoking fee if it believes a room, balcony, or other hotel area was smoked in or smelled like smoke, even if the guest says they never smoked. The key issue is usually not only whether th...
Can I Sue My Roommate for Leaving Unpaid Rent?
In general, a roommate dispute over unpaid rent is a contract and shared-housing issue, not a criminal matter. In Massachusetts, whether you may be able to bring a civil claim usually depends on how the housing arrangeme...
My Brand-New Motorcycle Keeps Stalling—Can I Demand Refund?
If a brand-new motorcycle keeps stalling, you may be wondering whether you can get your money back. In general, that depends on what the problem is, how serious it is, how many repair attempts the dealer or manufacturer...
Can a collection agency report the same debt twice under different company names?
In general, a collection agency should not be able to make a debt look like two separate debts just by using different company names. If the same account is being reported more than once, that may be a sign of duplicate...