When Is It Time to Hire a Consumer Protection Lawyer?
Do you need a consumer protection lawyer? Here’s all the information you need to know.
Read on.
Introduction
There are many different types of lawyers out there. For instance, when you have a family matter, you hire a family law attorney. When you are dealing with injuries from a car accident, you hire a personal injury attorney. And, when you want to file bankruptcy, you hire a bankruptcy attorney.
But, what is a consumer protection lawyer? Who do they represent? And when is it time to hire one? As a consumer, you have rights. Understanding these rights and feeling confident that you are protected is the job of a consumer law attorney.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Are Consumer Rights?
A consumer protection lawyer is someone who protects consumers against “unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices” as set forth by the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. This means protecting consumers from faulty products, deceitful practices, and even debt collection.
Consumers have rights, including:
- The right to safety. When using a product as intended, the consumer should be safe. When they aren’t, the company should be held liable.
- The right to be informed. Consumers should have access to make decisions and protect themselves from false advertising or misleading information.
- The right to choose. Being able to freely choose the right selection as they see fit.
- The right to be heard. When something is wrong or something is wanted, consumers can speak up. Whether this is for protection against certain practices or for new innovation.
There are many laws, both at the state level and the federal levels, that are designed to ensure the safety of consumers when engaging with businesses. When something shady is going on, however, or any of the above rights are violated, it is time for a consumer protection lawyer to step in.
Scams, RoboCalls, and Fraud
There are a lot of scams and other fraudulent activities going on these days – so much so that it is not uncommon for someone to be a victim, know someone who was a victim, or be aware of a particular scam to look out for. There are people trying to cheat others out of their hard-earned money by offering what sounds like a great deal – only to realize the money’s gone and what was promised never arrives.
It may seem like a hopeless situation, but there are laws that protect consumers. Therefore, if you find that you have been the victim of one of these situations, then it is time to hire a consumer protection lawyer.
Debt Collection
Many debt collectors are just doing their job, though there will always be a few collectors – and companies – that take advantage of consumers. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal statute that gives rules and guidelines for collectors to follow when trying to collect a debt. They are put in place to protect consumers from abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices. For instance, the FDCPA prohibits:
- Harassment of the debtor, such as through repeated phone calls.
- Threatening to harm you or your property.
- Threats of legal action they don’t intend to take.
- Calling before and after certain hours.
Collecting a debt needs to abide by these rules as well as some rules at the state level. Whether you owe the money or not, you have rights. If you find yourself being bullied by collectors or dealing with a similar situation, it is time to hire a consumer protection lawyer.
California False Advertising Law (UCL)
The state of California protects consumers against false advertising. This is in addition to the Lanham Act at the federal level. Businesses want to sell their products and services – and sometimes they will take extreme measures to do so. For some, this may include tactics such as:
- Fake online reviews or testimonials.
- Hidden fees.
- Failing to fully disclose.
- Bait and switch.
- Using improper research in advertisements.
- Bad-mouthing others with similar products.
Making false claims about a product, leading consumers to believe that it is better than it is, performing a task it wasn’t designed to do, and so on can come with some repercussions. Again, if you have fallen for any of these tactics, it is time to hire a consumer protection lawyer.
The California Lemon Law
Sometimes referred to as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, this law protects consumers with an automobile that doesn’t perform up to standards. When you buy a new car, you expect it to work with little to no issues. When your new or slightly-used car continues to have issues after repairs, it can be considered a lemon. Though proving that to the car company to get a replacement is often quite difficult. With a consumer protection lawyer, you can make it happen.
Data Breaches
When you purchase items from a company or provide your information to a company, any and all secure information should remain just that – secure. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. And when you combine relaxed security practices with highly-skilled hackers, data breaches can occur. That’s right – with a click of a button all of your personal information can be leaked out all over the internet.
Data breaches can result in stolen identity – and that can have a huge impact on someone’s life. Protect yourself right with a consumer protection lawyer.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act protects consumers from unwanted phone calls. Remember that Do Not Call registry list? This is the law that enforces it, among other things. It doesn’t allow you to receive text messages without consent or receive calls between the hours of 9pm and 8am local time. It also says that autodialers are violations as are robocalls and pre-recorded messages.
If you feel that you have been receiving too many of these unwanted phone calls – even after asking to be removed from the calling list – it is time to hire a consumer protection lawyer.
Hire a Consumer Protection Lawyer
As a consumer, you will have a lot of interaction with companies as you handle your business. Be sure that they are doing things right – and protect yourself. Hire a Consumer Protection Lawyer without delay.
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