Category Archives: Consumer Law
Can I Be Forced to Continue Paying for Home Security Services Even After Selling My House?
Federal and state debt collection laws prohibit a creditor from making false or misleading statements in connection with a consumer debt. This includes making any statements that suggest a consumer owes a debt that is not permitted by state law. However, if the customer previously signed a contract agreeing to pay a particular debt,… Read More »
COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act Introduced
Two new privacy bills were introduced in Congress in an effort to help protect personal data collected by businesses during the COVID-19 emergency. Although the bills, one of which was introduced by Senate Democrats and the other submitted by Senate Republicans, have a number of key differences, they both share one major similarity, namely… Read More »
Pennsylvania’s Unfair Insurance Practices Act
All states have laws in place that prohibit insurers from using unfair, discriminatory, or deceptive practices in their dealings with consumers. In Pennsylvania, these protections are primarily contained in a law known as the Unfair Insurance Practices Act. This law gives wronged consumers the right to file complaints against an insurer who is engaged… Read More »
Consumer Fraud Watch: Uber Users Complain About False “Mess” Reports
Have you used Uber, Lyft, or any other ridesharing service in Philadelphia? If so, then you have almost certainly agreed to their ‘Terms of Service’—those being the pages of thick legal language that most people click through without reading. Both Uber and Lyft require passengers to consent to being charged for messes that they… 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 »
Signs that Your Transmission May be Defective
The transmission plays a critical role in the proper functioning of any vehicle, as it transfers the rotational power generated by the engine to the car’s wheels. This in turn, makes it possible for the gear ratio between the engine and the wheels to change as a vehicle speeds up and slows down. Although… Read More »
Undisclosed/Concealed Frame Damage
Under Pennsylvania law, used car dealers are required to disclose when their vehicles have certain types of damage, including bent and cracked frames. Unfortunately, this type of damage is difficult to see with a visual inspection, so when unscrupulous dealers fail to disclose problems with a frame, an unknowing purchaser could end up with… Read More »
Pennsylvania Dealership to Pay More than $2 Million in Fines for Fraud Scheme
Early last month, a Pennsylvania used car dealership agreed to pay more than $2 million in restitution and fines for selling vehicles at falsely inflated prices to subprime consumers. Unfortunately, this type of conduct is not uncommon in the used car sales industry, so if you were recently taken advantage of by a dealership… Read More »
The FTC and the Used Car Rule
In 1985, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) instituted the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule. More commonly referred to as the Used Car Rule, these regulations require used car dealers to display window stickers, known as Buyers Guides, on all used cars. These stickers contain important information about the vehicle being sold, including information… Read More »
The Puppy Dog Close
Used car dealers are notorious for using certain sales tricks to convince consumers to buy a vehicle. For instance, most people have heard of the bait and switch technique, which involves advertising cars at an apparent bargain and then substituting more expensive or inferior vehicles when consumers actually show up at the lot. While… Read More »
