Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Can prepaid debit card balances be subject to escheatment laws in West Virginia?
In general, yes. Prepaid debit card balances may be subject to escheatment laws if the funds are considered abandoned property under West Virginia law and no valid activity occurs for the applicable period. Whether a par...
What are my rights if my school misrepresented its accreditation and I borrowed $25,000?
If a school misrepresented its accreditation, you may have several possible rights or remedies, but the available options usually depend on the exact facts, the type of loan, what the school said, and whether you relied...
Can I record a private call with a dealership after telling them I want the call recorded?
In Massachusetts, the answer usually depends on whether the other person consents to the recording. Massachusetts is generally treated as a two-party consent state for private conversations, which means recording a call...
Do I have to use an income-driven repayment plan to get PSLF credit?
In general, no. For federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness, an income-driven repayment plan is often one of the most common ways borrowers make qualifying payments, but it is not necessarily the only way to receive PSLF...
Do I have to pay for damage in a rental car if I bought the company’s collision waiver?
In general, buying a rental car company’s collision waiver may reduce or eliminate your responsibility for certain damage to the rental vehicle, but it does not always mean you owe nothing in every situation. The exact a...
Can I sue if a competitor bought ads linking my name to fraud accusations?
In general, possibly yes, but it depends heavily on what the ads said, how they were presented, who bought them, and what harm you can show. A competitor’s paid ads that connect your name to fraud accusations may raise l...
Can I keep the house in an equitable distribution divorce if the mortgage is only in my spouse’s name?
In California, the fact that the mortgage is only in your spouse’s name does not by itself decide who gets the house in a divorce. California is a community property state, so the court usually looks at when the home was...
Can a Contractor Put a Lien on My House Over a Disputed Invoice?
In Michigan, a contractor may be able to place a lien on a house if the contractor claims unpaid money for labor, materials, or improvements to the property. A disputed invoice does not automatically prevent a lien. In g...
My Car Was Repossessed With My Personal Belongings Inside — How Do I Get Them Back?
If your car was repossessed in Georgia and your personal belongings were still inside, the lender or repossession company usually must allow you a reasonable opportunity to recover non-car items. In general, a repossessi...
What Are My Rights if Firestone’s $2,000 Repair Failed After a Few Months?
If a Firestone repair cost about $2,000 and then failed after only a few months, you may have several possible consumer-protection and warranty-related concerns under Florida law, depending on the facts. In general, a re...
Is it legal for a rental car company to charge me for damage found days after return?
In general, a rental car company may try to charge a customer for damage that it says was caused during the rental, even if the damage is discovered after the car was returned. But whether that charge is legally enforcea...
Is it legal for a used car dealer to sell me a car with a bad transmission and say it was sold as-is?
In New York, a used car dealer may often sell a vehicle “as-is,” but that label does not automatically excuse every problem with the car. In general, an as-is sale means the dealer is trying to limit warranty obligations...
Can a Storage Unit Company Auction My Stuff Without Proper Notice?
In general, a storage unit company cannot simply auction a tenant’s belongings without following the notice steps required by law and by the rental agreement. In Ohio, the details usually depend on the contract terms, ho...
What happens if my spouse files bankruptcy during our divorce case?
If your spouse files bankruptcy during a divorce, the bankruptcy case and the divorce case can affect each other. In general, the bankruptcy court handles debt and property issues under federal bankruptcy law, while the...
Can I sue in Alabama if someone used AI to make fake images of me online?
In Alabama, you may have possible civil claims if someone used AI to create and post fake images of you online, but the answer depends heavily on the facts. The legal issue is usually not just that the images were made w...