Author Archives: Jay Butchko
The Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act
There are a number of federal laws in place that aim to protect homeowners from unscrupulous contractors. Many homeowners don’t know, however, that contractors are also prohibited from using deceptive or unfair practices in their dealings with homeowners by state law. To learn more about the legal remedies available to you under the Pennsylvania… Read More »
Foreclosure Defense
Over the last decade, millions of people in the U.S. have lost their homes due to foreclosure, which is a process in which a homeowner is required to return his or her residence to a lender after defaulting on a loan. Fortunately, it is possible for homeowners to defend themselves against foreclosure by proving… Read More »
Legal Remedies for Bad Faith Insurance Practices in Pennsylvania
While many of us are insured by companies that use great care in reviewing claims, responding to policyholder concerns, and providing proper coverage after an accident, theft, or a natural disaster, an alarming number of insurers are not so conscientious. Fortunately, consumers in Pennsylvania are protected from the bad faith insurance practices of unscrupulous… Read More »
What is Repair Shop Fraud?
We’ve all had to take our vehicles to a mechanic at one point or another, whether for a safety inspection, repair estimate, or a repair itself. In taking vehicles to repair shops, we place an enormous amount of trust in the mechanics employed there. Many mechanics fully repay this trust by making careful repairs,… Read More »
Why Was My Property Loss Claim Denied?
No matter how many precautions we take, our homes are always vulnerable to damage from natural disasters, such as wildfires, storms, and flooding, as well as damage resulting from criminal activity like burglary and vandalism. While homeowners insurance covers many of the costs associated with making repairs after these types of events, a surprisingly… Read More »
How Pennsylvania Law Protects Consumers from Unscrupulous Car Dealers
Although many used car dealers are careful to conduct thorough inspections of their vehicles, offer vehicles at fair prices, and only use proper advertising practices, it is also not uncommon for a used car dealer to engage in deceptive practices or fraudulent activity, which can have serious consequences for those who end up buying… Read More »
Used Car Dealers Who Sell Recalled Vehicles
Dealerships that sell new vehicles are prohibited from selling cars that are subject to an open recall. While no similar federal law exists that protects used car buyers in this way, Pennsylvania recently enacted a law that does require used car dealerships to formally disclose when a vehicle has been recalled. Unfortunately, dealerships find… Read More »
How Much Time Does My Pennsylvania Insurer Have to Review My Claim?
In Pennsylvania, insurers are required to comply with strict regulations and standards. These rules apply to a number of insurance-related matters, including how long an insurer has to investigate, review, and issue decisions on open claims. While most insurers are careful to abide by these rules, it is also not uncommon for insurers to… Read More »
Pennsylvania’s Fair Debt Collection Laws
In Pennsylvania, creditors and debt collectors are forbidden to engage in deceptive and unfair debt collection practices by the Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act. While many creditors and debt collectors are careful to abide by these rules and respect consumers’ rights to be free of harassment, an alarming number fail to do so. Unfortunately,… Read More »
What is Predatory Lending?
Buying or refinancing a home is one of the most important financial decisions that a person can make. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous lenders take advantage of individuals who find themselves in this situation and who are unfamiliar with the complex process of buying or refinancing a home. Many of the practices used by these predatory… Read More »
