Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
My neighbor keeps dumping leaves and branches over the fence into my yard. Is that illegal?
In North Carolina, a neighbor repeatedly throwing leaves, branches, or other yard debris into your yard may be more than just a nuisance. Depending on the facts, it can sometimes raise property, nuisance, trespass, or lo...
What are my rights if my ex roommate is sending threatening emails to my landlord about me?
In general, if a former roommate is sending threatening or harassing emails to your landlord about you, you may have several possible concerns at once: harassment, interference with your housing, and possible defamation...
Can a company escheat a refund check if I never cashed it?
In general, yes. If a refund check is issued to you and you never cash it, the company may eventually treat the money as unclaimed property and turn it over to the state under Virginia’s unclaimed-property rules. That pr...
Is it defamation if someone falsely says my nonprofit misused donations?
In general, a false statement that a nonprofit misused donations can be defamatory if it is communicated to someone else and harms the nonprofit’s reputation. A statement like this may be especially serious because it su...
What happens if my car is repossessed and sold for less than I owed on the loan?
If your car is repossessed and then sold for less than the remaining loan balance, the lender in West Virginia may claim a deficiency balance. A deficiency is the difference between what you owed on the loan and what the...
Do I have to pay a fee if a service provider cancels on me last minute?
In general, if a service provider cancels on you at the last minute, you may not be the one who owes a cancellation fee. Usually, fees are tied to the customer canceling, missing an appointment, or changing plans at the...
Can a Utah employer withhold my final paycheck because I did not sign a separation agreement?
In general, a Utah employer should not be able to hold back earned wages simply because you refused to sign a separation agreement. Final wages are usually treated as wages that must be paid under the employer’s normal p...
What happens if someone records a confidential conversation and posts a clip online?
In California, recording a confidential conversation and then posting a clip online can raise serious legal issues, but what happens depends heavily on the facts. The main questions usually are whether the conversation w...
What are my rights if a contractor recorded our payment dispute and threatened to use it against me?
In California, a situation like this may raise privacy, harassment, contract, and evidence issues, but the exact rights depend on what was recorded, how it was recorded, where it happened, and what was said or threatened...
What are my rights if a retailer refuses a refund for a defective $600 appliance?
If you bought a defective $600 appliance in Alabama and the retailer refuses a refund, you may still have consumer rights, but the exact options depend on the warranty, return policy, and the facts of the sale. In genera...
Do I have to pay rent if my apartment was burglarized due to a broken lock the landlord ignored?
In Mississippi, the fact that your apartment was burglarized does not automatically end your duty to pay rent. In general, a tenant’s rent obligation usually continues unless the lease, the facts, or the law give the ten...
What are my rights if my private student loan interest rate increased without clear notice?
If your private student loan interest rate increased without clear notice, you may have rights under your loan contract, general consumer-protection principles, and any notice rules that apply to your lender or servicer....
Is it legal for Arkansas to intercept my stimulus or tax refund for old support debt?
In general, yes. In Arkansas, the state may be able to intercept a tax refund, and in some situations a stimulus payment, to help collect past-due support debt. That usually means overdue child support, and in some cases...
What are my rights if a used car dealer sold me a truck with undisclosed flood damage?
If you bought a used truck in Alabama and later learned it had flood damage that was not disclosed, you may have several possible legal and practical options depending on the facts. In general, buyers may have claims if...
What Rights Does a Software Engineer Have After Building a Startup MVP Alone?
In general, a software engineer who builds a startup MVP alone may have rights related to compensation, ownership of the code, equity, credit, and contract enforcement, but the exact rights depend heavily on the facts. I...