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North Carolina Consumer Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: I have a vehicle, loan and contract through US AUTO sales. They closed. Filed bankruptcy. A debt collector.

Has taken over the contracts. warranties are now and never was valid. No Gap Insurance because US AUTO sales didn't pay for the warranties or Gap. What can I do? US AUTO sales Is In breach of contract In many ways. I was paying debt collector but not sure what to do. Can't get copies of... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jul 13, 2023

US Auto Sales has gone out of business, you cannot contact them any more. You need to keep making your car payment to preserve your credit. Send a letter in writing to the company who claims they took over the loan and request copies of all relevant documents as well as a copy of the loan payment... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Small Claims and Contracts for North Carolina on
Q: I was wondering if we sign a contract for 5 years of services after 3 months ask to cancel do still pay the rest??

Had it canceled the first year and now they want the rest of it.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jun 1, 2023

An attorney would have to actually review the contract you signed to accurately answer this question. In general, many service contracts for a number of years have conditions that say you cannot cancel early, or if you do cancel early there is a penalty of some sort. Most likely you do owe them... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Construction Law for North Carolina on
Q: My elderly mother had a walk-in shower installed. Work was non- ADA compliant, not code, and horrible quality.

Had to be torn out and replaced by another company.

First company is an LLC. No written contract. Estimate only. Checks were payable to the owner's name.

Can she sue the LLC in small claims court?

Should she sue the individual who is the LLC owner and to whom the checks were payable?

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Apr 4, 2023

Is your mother willing to go to court personally and argue her case? Is the owner/representative of company number 2 willing to attend small claims court with her and testify against company no 1? Are your mother and the representative of company no. 2 willing to travel to the county where bad LLC... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Business Law for North Carolina on
Q: Do I have any legal grounds for a shipping company losing my brand new truck?

I custom ordered a vehicle was I was working in Massachusetts. The vehicle build took five months but it arrived at the dealership and I financed it. Friday I paid Safemile Auto transport to deliver the vehicle from the dealership to my driveway. The receipt says pick up on Friday, delivery by end... View More

N'kia (NLN)
N'kia (NLN)
answered on Apr 2, 2023

If you haven't already, you should file a claim with any and all insurance/warranty companies involved.

The shipping company will probably argue that their subcontractor is liable, instead of them. But that's not necessarily so.

The contract might say that you'd have...
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1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: I have a large Federal Judgment that was placed against me in July of 2011. I have been making payments on this

judgment. I have a smaller judgment that was placed against me by an individual creditor in September of 2011. This judgment was renewed in 2021 on its 10 year anniversary. This creditor has not attempted any collections until now. I received a Notice of Right to Have Exemptions Designated.... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Feb 13, 2023

The Federal judgment does not "supersede". You need to resond to the Notice of Right and claim your exemptions on time. The State court judgment creditor can have the Sheriff take any non exempt assets with a writ of execution. The two judgments are independent of the other. There are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Civil Litigation and Gov & Administrative Law for North Carolina on
Q: We bought a car, the dealer registered it to wrong person, temp tag now expired. Dealer now won’t reply.

We bought the car on the first of the year. Financing is fine, insurance is fine. Dealership issued a 30 day tag, which expired on the 30th. We now cannot drive the car, because the dealership never sent us a permanent plate when we realized they’d registered it to me and a complete stranger, as... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Feb 7, 2023

The North Carolina DMV DOES have an office that handles these kind of claims called the "License and Theft Bureau".

Go to this link (copy and paste into your browser)

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/Pages/dmv-offices.aspx

Turn OFF the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: my ssn and credit and also trading my vehicle. They are still asking for a cash down payment. How should I cite TILA?

By law am I required to still put a cash down payment?

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Dec 14, 2022

A car dealer can still require a cash down payment even when you trade in the car. The TILA disclosures should credit the trade in allowance and the cash down payment against the purchase price and tax, title and license.

TILA does not mean they cannot require a cash down payment. TILA...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Trade It, a local pawn shop, sold me a gaming laptop that overheats in TJUNCTION. I returned it next day but now…

But now it has been 31 days since i was supposedly be out for repair. It was able to used it for 1 day before my daughter noticed how hot it got. I purchased it Nov 9, 2022 and returned it Nov 11, 2022. And they told me it would take at least two weeks. If it only needed thermal paste, it... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Dec 13, 2022

This is impossible to say on an online message board, because we are not reading the terms and conditions of the sale. In general, if their policy is "no refunds on computers", and they disclosed this to you before you made the purchase, with no efforts to conceal it or promise you... View More

Q: I purchased a vehicle from an Auction Company in OK that did not disclose Salvage Title. Do I have a case to sue?

I live in NC.

I purchased the car from an Auction in OK.

They did not disclose prior salvage history or its current salvage title prior to sale either on the description or during dialogue on sale day.

The only document I received regarding the purchase was an invoice that... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 29, 2022

Did the auction company advertise this sale to you personally, or otherwise reach into North Carolina to attract North Carolina bidders? if not, you should look for an Oklahoma licensed attorney with automobile fraud experience to have a consultation with. Your lawsuit would most likely have to be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: Name of the Motion to substitute one exempt vehicle for a used vehicle purchased due to change in circumstances?

Owe about $80K in card debt, 6/2020 judgment-11/18/2022 writ execu against husband only-Amer Exp Ntl Bank; (cards mostly charged by me--bipolar/manic). We rec'd Not 2 Claim Exemp which was completed & filed w/ atty help. About $10K in bank which inc bill $. Live in NC, own home-both names... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 6, 2022

The recent car you purchased is NOT exempt. Property purchased within last 90 days is NEVER exempt, whether bankruptcy or non bankruptcy. You cannot substitute this vehicle for the one that died. Consider having antother consultation with an attorney for a second opinion ASAP. You can keep... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law, Consumer Law and Contracts for North Carolina on
Q: I put down money to lease a car a year ago. Do I have the right to reseind and keep that car? Cash & consumer credit mix

They told me I have to make a down payment to get a car and have car insurance beforehand. I was reading up thats possible to get your money back if you write a letter outlying the codes they violated.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 6, 2022

I'm not sure where you read this, but requiring a down payment on a lease and proof of full coverage insurance is not illegal. Any right of recission would exist immediately after you signed the contract, and only for a limited time. You are asking if you can sign a long term contract, pay on... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Hi. Do we have a case against a car company who's giving us alot of red tape to get our car back after we have paid what

We owed last last Friday? 1st they said the car was already on auction to be sold. After we paid everything they said 5-10 bus days, today they said maybe tomorrow. Another person is now saying the car is in Charlotte. NC. and it will take another 10 days to do paperwork before we can come get the... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Oct 27, 2022

Unfortunately, this is too complicated to answer online. If all you have been getting is verbal reassurance from the lender, you may be in trouble and the car may already have been sold. You need to get something in writing from the lender. Contact a local attorney for assistance with the specific... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Construction Law and Civil Litigation for North Carolina on
Q: A national company made damages to my ceiling and floor . Who do I list as the defendant? The local or main office?

The main office is out of my state. The local office did the work. I found out the plumber that did the work is not personally licensed but working under the license of the company.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Oct 25, 2022

If the local office is a franchise and separately incorporated, you sue them. If they are part of the main company, you sue the main company. To be cautious, you sue both. Please note that you cannot sue the out of state company in Small Claims court. You have to file in District Court if the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Should I send my bank records to a business regarding a refund or should they have to prove the transaction?

The business agrees that I should receive the refund but it has been 10 months and I haven't. Now they are demanding that I turn over my bank records to them. I feel like I shouldn't have to turn over all my banking activity to complete strangers.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Mar 8, 2024

It depends upon the nature of your dispute. More details are needed. If they want your bank records to prove that you paid for their goods or services, send the, that one month statement and redact (black out) the account number and all other transactions except for that one purchase.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: I received the following voicemail. Then my wife received the same message from a different number. Then my ex-wife.

Hello this message is intended for (my name). My name is Adriana Martinez I'm calling out of the civil dispatch office to notify you legal documents are scheduled to be dispatched out to your location (my street address but no city or state. House is for sale and vacant) if you will be... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Mar 3, 2024

This is a scam. A scammer bought your information from the dark web. The Sheriff does not call before serving a summons and complaint, and it is not called the "civil dispatch office". Call the non emergency number of your Sheriff's department tomorrow to confirm this.

1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Business Law, Consumer Law and Contracts for North Carolina on
Q: What are the interest and late fee laws in NC on invoices specifically?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Nov 10, 2023

A late fee can only be charged on an invoice if the payment is more than 30 days past due. However, the parties to a contract may agree to a different grace period.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Can a company charge an inspection fee on a propane tank that I am renting. It’s their tank.
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Sep 24, 2023

It depends upon what your rental contract says. It's not possible for any attorney to answer this question without reviewing your contract. I'm sorry to be so vague. They may be entitled to inspect it periodically and charge a fee to make sure that nothing has been tampered with.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Real Estate Law for North Carolina on
Q: What type of lawyer is needed to fight Living in unhealthy unhabitable living conditions with disabled son

I don't live in public housing and it's continued for 3yrs and 2 violations

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 19, 2023

A North Carolina attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. It would be a landlord-tenant attorney. There is a section here for that area of practice. Although not every question here is ultimately picked up, you could repost and add L-T as a category. Good luck

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Civil Litigation for North Carolina on
Q: Does the statue of limitations restart just because the credit company has filed a lawsuit?

Their initial civil lawsuit was submitted in 2021 but their request for default judgment against me was denied by the judge. They have requested an appeal to the denial of the judgment request and that is still pending even though the time barred started in 2023. Can the lawsuit get dismissed after... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jul 12, 2023

The filing date of the lawsuit controls the statute of limitation and it has been preserved while on appeal even though so many years has passed. Therefore, if the lawsuit was filed prior to the day the statute of limitation passed, it was filed on time, and it remains filed on time now. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: There's a longer story, but my basic question is how long can a trash service leave their trash can in my yard?

I did not have an account with this company. The previous resident did, it was canceled over a year ago. I have tried putting the container at the road to get it picked up twice before. They have tried to start billing for service that isn't used. They said in an email that they would be... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jan 30, 2023

I'm sorry, but more facts are needed. Did you contract with this company, you terminated servicees and they have not picked the container back up? There is no "law" or "rule" addressing this as requiring any specific number of days or weeks. You would need to look at the... View More

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