A consumer protection attorney can help you fight for your rights in various issues. These include misrepresentations in warranties, faulty credit reporting and debt collection practices.
Identity Theft
A consumer protection attorney will help people whose identities have been stolen by identity thieves. These thieves can use stolen information to steal money, make major purchases with bank or credit card accounts, establish utility and rental agreements, file for bankruptcy and obtain employment. Medical identity theft is also common when a thief gets a victim’s insurance information to seek medical treatment under their name. Navigate this https://www.yourfaircreditlawyer.com/ to learn more about how a consumer protection attorney can help you in your battle. When companies violate consumers’ rights, a consumer protection lawsuit can change their practices and provide monetary compensation to victims. It can also lead to better practices in the future. For example, the firm was co-lead counsel in a class action that recovered millions for victims of data breaches involving their personal information and credit reports.
Contract Violations
Contract violations occur when a party fails to fulfill its duties agreed upon by the other party. These breaches can be actual or anticipatory. In either case, the party whose contract was violated can send the violating party a letter detailing how they failed to honor their agreement and request compensation for the damages caused by the breach. Consumer protection lawyers can file class action lawsuits for multiple similarly harmed consumers. They also can help individuals file Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases that eliminate unsecured debt. They may also file lemon laws suits on behalf of a vehicle buyer that was sold a defective car.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Consumers often need help in the marketplace, particularly when dealing with large corporations. A skilled consumer protection attorney can help bring justice by pursuing lawsuits against shady dealers and reimbursing consumers who were ripped off or deceived. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from calling consumers at unusual or inconvenient times and contacting a consumer at work when they know that the employer’s policy disallows personal calls. It also requires collectors to verify disputed debts and apply payments appropriately. Consumer attorneys use class action litigation to confront corporate wrongdoing, including false or misleading advertising, defective products and data privacy breaches.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures accuracy, fairness, and privacy in the information gathered by consumer reporting agencies. In addition to providing a baseline federal set of protections, FCRA gives individuals the right to sue CRAs and their users for violations. Typical violations include failure to update reports after bankruptcy discharge, incorrect financial data (such as the New York Times story of a Mississippi woman whose second mortgage debt appeared four years after her bankruptcy), and mistakes related to similar names or Social Security numbers. Consumer attorneys are familiar with FCRA laws and can help you navigate your rights when a company violates this federal law.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act
A consumer protection attorney advocates for a group of people who have suffered harm by corporate wrongdoing, such as false or misleading advertising, defective products, data privacy breaches and other unfair business practices. Attorneys often file class action lawsuits that help bring companies to justice and compensate harmed consumers. The TCPA restricts telemarketing calls, SMS texts and faxes to residential and cell phone lines without prior express consent or an established business relationship. Consumers can receive significant statutory damages when brands violate these regulations. The TCPA also regulates how businesses obtain and maintain records of this consent. A consumer protection lawyer can advise clients on complying with TCPA rules.
Fair Credit Billing Act
Credit card chargebacks are a frequent source of frustration for eCommerce merchants. While many people might think they don’t have rights in the face of fraudulent charges, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) enshrines those rights.
The FCBA requires lenders to provide consumers with a window of time to dispute certain charges, including billing errors and unauthorized transactions. It also limits liability for unauthorized charges. Many major credit card payment networks and issuers have voluntary zero-liability policies that go above and beyond the FCBA. In addition to recovering monetary damages, consumer protection lawsuits can change the behavior of malfeasant companies.
