Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Do I have to make payments during an administrative forbearance for them to count toward forgiveness?
In general, whether payments made during an administrative forbearance count toward forgiveness depends on the type of loan, the forgiveness program, and the specific rules that apply to your repayment status. An adminis...
How do I calculate damages for online defamation against my small business?
For a small business, damages in an online defamation claim are usually about showing the money loss and other harm that may have flowed from the false statement. In general, the starting point is to identify what was sa...
The florist delivered the wrong flowers for a funeral. Can we ask for more than a refund?
In Pennsylvania, a wrong flower delivery for a funeral may be more than a simple customer-service problem, but the available remedies usually depend on the facts. In general, if a florist delivered the wrong arrangement,...
What are my rights if my insurance company undervalues my totaled car by $3,000?
If your insurance company says your car was totaled but offers less than you believe it was worth, you generally have the right to question the valuation and ask for a review. In New Jersey, the amount an insurer pays of...
My bank reopened a closed account and charged overdraft fees. Is that allowed?
In general, a bank should not simply reopen a truly closed account and start charging new overdraft fees without some legal or contractual basis. But whether the bank’s actions are allowed often depends on the account ag...
What happens if I found unclaimed property under my old address from 12 years ago?
If you found unclaimed property tied to an old address from 12 years ago, the main question is usually whether the property is actually yours, whether you still have a legal right to claim it, and whether the holder or s...
What are my rights if my student loan balance grew by $6,000 during a pause I did not request?
If your student loan balance increased during a pause you did not request, there may be several possible explanations, and your rights can depend on the type of loan, who services it, and whether the pause was required,...
What are my rights if my spouse is spending marital money on gambling?
In Kansas, if a spouse is spending marital money on gambling, you may have legal and financial concerns that matter in a divorce, separation, or other family law matter. In general, money earned during the marriage is of...
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 bank to freeze my account before escheating it?
In general, a bank may have legal and contractual reasons to place a hold or freeze on an account before any unclaimed property process, including escheatment, takes place. But a freeze is not the same thing as escheatme...
Is it legal for my spouse to hide cryptocurrency during property division in Arizona?
In general, a spouse is not supposed to hide assets during property division in an Arizona divorce. That usually includes cryptocurrency if it is part of the marital estate or otherwise must be disclosed in the divorce p...
Bought a car from a small dealer in Georgia and now the temp tag is expired with no title in sight. What are my options?
If you bought a car from a small dealer in Georgia and the temporary tag has expired while the title still has not arrived, that can be frustrating and stressful. In general, the situation may involve both vehicle title...
Can I break my lease if there has been mold in the bedroom for three months and my child keeps getting sick?
In New Jersey, mold problems may sometimes support a tenant’s right to end a lease, but it depends on the facts. A lease is not usually broken just because mold exists. The key question is whether the mold and any relate...
What happens if my student loans were transferred and my payment history disappeared?
If your student loans were transferred to a new servicer and your payment history disappeared, that can be confusing, but it does not necessarily mean the payments were lost or that the transfer was improper. In general,...
What happens if I received a recording that someone else made illegally under Penal Code 632?
In California, receiving a recording that someone else may have made illegally can create legal risk, but the exact consequences usually depend on what you knew, how you got the recording, and how you used it. Penal Code...