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Questions Answered by Leon Bayer
2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: Since 2016, my storage facility, has been increasing my storage fees every eight months, 9%-10%+. Is this legal?

I have all bank statements since 2016 showing these increases. Some increases occur twice per year, most recently each increase exceeding a 10% increase in storage fees.

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Jan 2, 2024

It's legal if they give you whatever notice is required under the terms of your rental agreement. You have been renting the space for a long time. You can avoid these annoying increases if you take out a long-term lease.

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: Can a month to month California storage facility increase my rent by 34% after only 3 months renting there?

I have been renting at a month to month facility in California (Riverside county) for 3 months now. I just received a 30 day notice my monthly rent will increase by 34%. There is nothing in my contract that goes over how often or by how much they can increase my rent.

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 30, 2023

Aw, gee wiz. Bummer?

No. It isn't. I'll explain why, and then I'll tell you what to do about it.

Basically, the rule is that whatever the contract says you can do them, they can also do to you. You chose to go with a month-to-month rental agreement. That means you...
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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy for California on
Q: Can credit card banks go after my ex wife if I've been divorced for 5 years but still have that cards debt in bankruptcy
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 21, 2023

If your ex's name is still on the cards they can go after her. See if you can get her name removed right now.

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation and Collections for California on
Q: My ex and I signed a car lease together. He was responsible for car payments and has his name on the title.

When my credit health was decreasing, he lied to me about making car payments. It got to the point where I offered and had sent him money to help pay for the monthly. Since he was responsible for the car, he hadn’t told me he put the car through collections either. He’s also lied about the car... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 13, 2023

Oh yes, you can sue him, and you have a very good case! But do you know what the problem is going to be? He is a deadbeat. People like him are irresponsible and they go through life wrecking the lives of the people around him. I predict that if you sue him, you're never going to be able to get... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law for California on
Q: Can a California water company charge a late fee when I was only 2 days past the due date?

Our water company where we live in a very small town bills once a month for water it's due on the 10th I paid on the 12th they said anytime after the 10th they'll charge me a late fee I don't believe that's legal they said the grace period is the month you received the water and... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 11, 2023

You knew what the rule was. Late is late. However, you might also see what their web site says about it.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law for California on
Q: A solar company cost me $68.000 out of the sale of my house. Can I get my money back?

I did not receive the contract until my 3 days to change my mind had passed. The panels were never completely installed and they never worked. And the contract stated that the new owners would assume the loan when I sold my house. This was not the case. The $68,000 that it cost was basically what I... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 8, 2023

I have some trouble with this, because major parts of your story don't make sense to me.

It sounds like you just sat on your hands for a long time with an incomplete system that never worked, and you just let the solar company get away with it? I have trouble believing this....
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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Business Law for California on
Q: Dispute of $195. final payment for web optimization services from California. Use service for seven months.

At the end of the 7 months, our company tested ten different keywords in google searches, specifically with a "In Rochester" keyword, our town of business. None of those keywords returned a browser listing of our company in the first two pages of the search results or more. They are... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 8, 2023

Here is what you should do: Chalk it up to experience. It makes no sense to hire a lawyer, or go to court over a $195 issue. I'm sorry you got ripped off. On the bood side of thing, most rip offs go into the many thousands of dollars. I'm glad you did not fall prey to one of those.... View More

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5 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Car Accidents for California on
Q: I have a bill for an accident my daughter had in my car for $7000 if i file bankruptcy can they still charge my daughter

Both of our names are in the bill they had sent She drove my car and my insurance is full coverage but didn’t want to cover damages because she is not in the policy the other insurance called me asking for the whole amount of $4300 in damages of the truck i ask them to send me a bill because... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 8, 2023

You and your daughter are both equally liable. Your bankruptcy can discharge only the claim against you. It does nothing to protect your daughter; they can still go after her.

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts, Car Accidents and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: If a flatbed tow truck driver asks you to drive your own car onto the bed, and it gets scratched, who's at fault?

A flatbed tow truck driver came to get my car due to a flat tire. I'm down a long driveway. I said I'd drive it to the front with a front driver flat. I live on a busy 4-lane with median street. He was parked in the median, but with the ramp to the right of my driveway, so to get on the... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 6, 2023

This could go either way. You could have declined to drive the vehicle. Or, you could have asked him to guide you. Once you got behind the wheel, you were responsible is how I see it.

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2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: The heir of my decease landlord are selling the house which I'm renting a room, Do I have a rights for moving expense?
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 6, 2023

You can check with the city or county housing department where you live. There are probably rules in place to give you some assistance.

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law, Banking and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: What legal action can I take against cashapp?

In August I was given authorization to add a friends card to my cash app to add funds to my acct. which I withdrew and gave to her as I had multiple times before. In late September, that friend started a huge fight with me as she thought I had been seeing her ex bf. She assaulted me and stole my... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 6, 2023

You are not going to like what I have to say. If you can't handle criticism, stop reading right HERE.

Your beef is with your ex-friend, not with Cashapp.

Cashapp does not care who is right or wrong. They simply don't want to be mixed up in it.

Cashapp did not...
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4 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Personal Injury and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: I refuse to leave a store when told to by their security. I'm I trespassing?

I entered a store during regular business hours and was ordered to get out of the store by one of their security guards. I refused to leave because I had not violated any of the stores rules. I told the guard that i was going to get a item to purchase ,and then I simply just walked away from the... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 4, 2023

Get over it. You were trespassing, and you were completely in the wrong.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law for California on
Q: I just bought a 4K movie that includes a digital copy digital copy is expired That's false advertisement could lawsuit?

I bought a 4K movie and it said that it came with a digital code The code was expired It was a brand new movie from Best buy Warner Brothers said tough luck pretty much in the email That's false advertisement Am I not correct on that could that be a lawsuit because I bought it for the digital... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Dec 1, 2023

Do you want to sue because you can't watch a movie? I suggest you return it to Best Buy. Just like you would do if you bought something at the supermarket after the "sell by" has expired.

If you did sue, the most you can win is the price that you paid for it.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Criminal Law for California on
Q: Hello so I bought a car from a dealership and they didn’t provide me plates the next day i was pulled over and arrested

I’m being ripped off and arrested by a dealership and i don’t know what to do

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 25, 2023

I suggest you get a criminal defense lawyer. It sounds to me like you were in possession of a stolen car. Frankly, your story about buying it from a dealer is not credible.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: approved for rent relief in CA on 7/31/2023, 10/4/2023 approval letter mailed . Never received my chk due to a systm err

I’m elderly and have been waiting for assistance since Nov 2021 when I applied . Finally got approved after showing proof of an ADU I lease at the same address someone else got rent relief and they approved me and received a approval letter and how much I was approved for and that the payment... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 22, 2023

You have no grounds to sue, yet, because you do not have any damages, yet. If you are wrongfully and finally denied payments under a government program that you were qualified to receive, then you can sue.

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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Landlord - Tenant for California on
Q: Is it illegal to raise someone's rent price after they accept a quote, pay application fees, and a holding deposit?

Oftentimes these people find out a week before moving in or less and are forced to sign under duress. It particularly affects people moving from out of state and military members who have prescheduled moves.

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 17, 2023

It sounds highly illegal!

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Identity Theft and Employment Law for California on
Q: What happens if a company I'm not related to is running a background check without my consent?

6 months ago I was going to start working for a company but I turn down the offer. They have my ssn, full name and address. And 6 months later they are running me a background check.

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 16, 2023

I suggest you call them and ask about it. it sounds like it's nothing to be worried about, just an everyday slip-up.

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Small Claims for California on
Q: Is it possible to sue Green dot bank in small claims.
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 16, 2023

Yes it is.

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2 Answers | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law for California on
Q: Walking on beach .Ranger gave me a citation for ccr4326a violation of posted order or special use special event .
Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 16, 2023

That sucks. But why did you ignore the posters to keep away? It's a different matter if the signs were missing.

I suggest you submit a new question, and you will probably get better answers.

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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Collections and White Collar Crime for California on
Q: A lawyer for a debt collector put a full social security # on the writ of execution EJ-150. It's a violation of Ca code

A lawyer for a debt collector put a full social security # on the writ of execution EJ-150 in section 1. for a levy. It was not opposed and that's what was to be entered in the civil case files at the sheriff's website in the Challenges tab, but that staff entered the full name and... View More

Leon Bayer
Leon Bayer
answered on Nov 8, 2023

I think you should have opposed it. By failing to oppose it, and failure to timely seek redaction and sanctions when the document was first filed, I think it will now be a strong defense that "no harm, no foul" and you acquiesced.

What you did was sort of like being a pedestrian...
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