Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
How do I stop a debt collector from contacting me at my workplace?
In general, a debt collector may not keep contacting you at work if they know your employer does not allow it or if you clearly tell the collector to stop contacting you there. If you are in New York, the same general co...
Is it legal for an apartment complex to charge me $85 every month for valet trash I never agreed to?
In Arizona, whether an apartment complex may charge a monthly valet trash fee usually depends on the lease, any addenda, and whether the fee was clearly disclosed before you signed. In general, landlords and property man...
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...
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee to a wedding venue after they changed the date availability?
In Kansas, the answer usually depends on the written contract, the venue’s policies, and the reason the date changed. If the venue changed its own availability and could no longer host your wedding on the agreed date, th...
Can a Gym Charge Me After I Tried to Cancel My Membership?
In general, a gym in California may still charge you after you tried to cancel if the cancellation was not completed in the way the membership contract requires, if the gym had a lawful right to bill for a notice period...
Do I Have to Pay a Contractor Who Never Pulled the Required Permit?
In general, a contractor’s failure to pull a required permit can create serious problems, but it does not automatically mean you do not owe any money. In Rhode Island, the answer often depends on the contract language, t...
How do I remove a defaulted student loan from my credit report after rehabilitation?
In general, rehabilitation does not usually erase a student loan from your credit report. Instead, it often changes the way the loan is reported. A defaulted loan that has been rehabilitated may be updated to show the de...
What are my rights if my loan servicer gave me wrong advice and I lost years of PSLF credit?
If a loan servicer gave you wrong advice about Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and that advice caused you to lose years of qualifying payment credit, you may have several possible avenues to explore, but the exact...
Can a landlord send an old security deposit to the state if they cannot find my forwarding address?
In Ohio, a landlord usually does not simply “send” an old security deposit to the state just because they cannot find a tenant’s forwarding address. In general, the question turns on Ohio landlord-tenant law, what notice...
Is it legal for my servicer to capitalize interest after I submitted my recertification on time?
In general, a servicer may only capitalize interest if the loan terms and the applicable program rules allow it. Whether that is legal after you submitted a recertification on time often depends on how the servicer proce...
A package locker malfunctioned and my package disappeared. Is the apartment complex responsible?
In Virginia, an apartment complex may be responsible for a missing package only in some situations, and the answer usually depends on the lease, the property’s rules, who controlled the locker system, and what caused the...
How do I dispute a $980 charge from a hotel that claimed I smoked in a non-smoking room?
If a hotel charged you $980 for allegedly smoking in a non-smoking room, the dispute usually turns on the hotel’s terms, the evidence it has, and whether the charge was authorized. In general, hotels may impose smoking f...
Can a landlord deny me housing because of my credit score alone?
In general, a landlord may consider your credit score when screening rental applicants, but the answer depends on the facts and on whether any fair housing or consumer credit rules apply. A credit score by itself is not...
Can a Store Ban Me After I Disputed a Chargeback?
Yes, a store can often ban a customer after a chargeback, but the answer depends on the facts and the type of business involved. In general, private stores have broad discretion to decide who they will serve, unless a ba...
What happens if a repair shop charges storage fees without notifying me?
In Massachusetts, a repair shop that charges storage fees without telling you first may face a dispute over whether those charges are valid or collectible. In general, a business that keeps your vehicle or other property...