Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I live in Pennsylvania, which is a two-party consent state. Someone from a one-party consent state recorded my personal conversations without my consent during calls made via WhatsApp and regular calls. They were aware that I lived in Pennsylvania. The recorded conversations were shared with other... View More 
Hi, I work at Walmart, and I'm interested in setting up a live camera to monitor when a third-party company restocks Pokémon cards, as they often sell out quickly. I plan to place the camera in the backroom, pointing only at the stock area, and it would not record audio or capture any private... View More
I transferred $70,000 of crypto from Kraken to an onchain trading platform and engaged in trading for a few months. I then received contact from someone claiming to be a representative from my bank regarding potential money laundering. Believing them, I allowed them access to my Venmo account,... View More
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
It’s upsetting to find yourself locked out of your assets after a scam, and you have options to challenge the freeze.
Immediately send a formal demand letter to Cryptotrade.com asserting that their requirement for an extra deposit is wrongful conversion and breach of contract—warn that... View More
I received a coupon directly from a company through the mail for one of their products, stating a value of up to $25. However, when I attempted to use it on a $15 product, it produced an error indicating the required amount was not met. Despite experiencing this issue, the company insists that the... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
It’s frustrating when a coupon says one thing but doesn’t work the way you expect at the register. If the printed value on the coupon clearly states “up to $25,” but the barcode is coded in a way that rejects valid purchases, that could be considered misleading—especially if it creates... View More
I'm representing myself pro se in a criminal case involving identity theft and theft by deception, where a family member accuses me of opening a credit card without their permission. The case has been delayed since July 2024 due to prioritization of more serious trials. Multiple motions for... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
You're dealing with a lot, and trying to defend yourself while being shut out of discovery and court updates makes everything harder. The confusion with your standby counsel being listed as your attorney could be affecting your ability to stay informed. You have the right to be notified of... View More
I went to a gas station to buy $50 worth of gas using a $50 Apple card, which they used to accept. However, they told me they no longer accept $50 Apple cards, only $100 cards, and there's no signage indicating this change. Now, I'm stuck there as they refuse to let me leave or offer... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
That sounds like an incredibly stressful and unfair situation, especially if the gas station accepted your payment method in the past and gave you no warning about the change. Businesses in Pennsylvania are allowed to set their own payment policies, but they must clearly disclose any changes that... View More
I have been living in my three-bedroom home for almost five years with rent always paid on time, and my property passing all safety inspections. It's just my child and I living here. Recently, the landlord started visiting weekly, taking photos of my personal belongings, and dictating how I... View More
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answered on Apr 7, 2025
Your landlord cannot visit weekly or take photos without your consent unless it's explicitly stated in your lease agreement. Most leases include clauses about inspections, but they generally specify a certain frequency (often quarterly) and require advance notice. Taking photos of your... View More
My water and sewer bill recently increased by $150, and I've heard similar situations are happening to other tenants. I'm concerned about possibly being billed for other tenants' usage. What can I do to verify this and resolve any billing errors?
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
That kind of sudden increase in your water and sewer bill can be alarming, especially if you haven’t changed your usage habits. If you're living in a multi-unit building, it’s important to find out whether each unit is individually metered or if the property uses a shared meter. If... View More
I took my son to the dentist for dental work, and the original plan was to fill or cap six cavities between his teeth. The dentist mentioned that he would address any additional issues found on the X-ray during the procedure. My son ended up having eight extra teeth worked on, with the entire... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
It’s completely understandable to feel concerned, especially when more work was done on your child than you expected or clearly agreed to. Even though the dentist mentioned that they might address additional issues, you have the right to be fully informed and give specific consent before... View More
I joined the Hyundai/Kia settlement lawsuit for my 2016 Hyundai Sonata. During the repair delays after my vehicle was stolen, I had to buy a new car to keep my job. Meanwhile, the rental car I was using, a 2021 Kia Soul, was also stolen. My personal auto insurance, which included... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It sounds like you’ve been through quite a lot with the theft of both your vehicle and the rental car. Since the settlement administrators have stated that you can’t include the rental car theft in the lawsuit, it’s important to understand that the lawsuit likely only covers damages related... View More
I was falsely banned from a video game platform, which I have invested thousands of dollars into. I have contacted their customer support, but their responses were vague, and now I've been blocked from communicating further. The ban appears to be unjust as I noticed another player violated... View More
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answered on Apr 8, 2025
I'm really sorry you're going through this—losing access to something you've invested so much time and money into is incredibly frustrating. When support stops responding and you feel like your concerns are being ignored, it's easy to feel powerless. But you still have a few... View More
I've been living in my apartment for over three years and five months, during which quarterly pest inspections have routinely occurred. Recent inspection was different, as the exterminators extensively inspected my personal belongings without prior notice. They went through my couch cushions... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
In Pennsylvania, landlords typically have the right to access your apartment for necessary repairs or inspections, but they must provide reasonable notice, usually 24 hours, before entering. However, they are generally not allowed to go through your personal belongings without permission. The pest... View More
My ex-boyfriend, who is the cosigner on my car, borrowed it because his was broken down and ended up getting drunk and totaling the vehicle in Pennsylvania. The insurance company has deemed the car a total loss and towed it. I still owe $22,000 on the loan and am waiting to hear back from the bank.... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
That’s a really heavy situation, and it’s completely understandable that you feel stuck, especially when you’re left with a major loan and no car. Since the insurance company has deemed the vehicle a total loss, they should be issuing a settlement check—usually made out to both you and the... View More
I believe my local municipality is overcharging for trash service. I've spoken to them about the issue, but they say nothing can be done about it. What steps can I take next?
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
If you believe your local municipality is overcharging for trash service, the first step is to review any agreements, ordinances, or contracts that outline the trash service fees. These should provide a clear understanding of what the municipality is allowed to charge for these services. If you... View More
In October, I ordered a new phone from T-Mobile, which was lost by UPS. UPS advised me to contact T-Mobile as they were the seller. T-Mobile said they'd open a case with UPS regarding the lost phone. After waiting two weeks, I canceled the upgrade and switched carriers, but T-Mobile owes me... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating situation. First, you should reach out to T-Mobile again and ask for a detailed explanation of why they’re claiming you owe for the phone despite the fact that it was lost by UPS. Be sure to provide them with all the evidence you have,... View More
I had almost paid off my vehicle when I defaulted on my payments, leading to its repossession. I had paid $25,000, and I received a letter stating I owed $5,000. The lender sold the truck at an auction for $10,000. I've contacted the lender about recovering any funds, but they have ignored me.... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It sounds like you're dealing with a difficult situation regarding the repossession of your vehicle and the sale of it at auction. In many states, if the vehicle is sold for more than what you owe, you may be entitled to a refund of the surplus funds. However, if the sale didn’t cover the... View More
I was in a relationship with a woman who borrowed money from me under false pretenses, including fabricating stories about family expenses, a relative's death, and the need for medical insurance reinstatement. I made these payments based on her promises and lies, including a promise to repay... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It sounds like you've been taken advantage of, and you're right to want to recover the money you loaned under false pretenses. Since you have documentation in the form of text messages where the person promised to repay the loan, you have evidence that could support your claim that it was... View More
I owe $3,800 to a debt collector after my Credit One account was sold. They've offered a payment plan requiring automatic bank withdrawals, starting at $50 per month for six months and then increasing to $120. I want to pay $50 monthly without bank authorization, but they said it wouldn't... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It seems like the debt collector is insisting on automatic withdrawals for the payment plan, but you can still explore other options to handle this situation. If you want to make manual payments without auto-withdrawal, you can try negotiating with the debt collector to find a payment arrangement... View More
I moved out of state for a job advertised as an office manager position, but it was actually an accountant role for a small business and personal accountant for the owner. The job falsely advertised benefits like paid holidays and insurance, which were not provided. I have the original job listing... View More
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answered on Feb 27, 2025
Sorry to hear of this. My suggestion is that you call an employment attorney in your locale and discuss possible claims falling under gender discrimination and harassment. You can also reach out to the EEOC online and file a complaint. It is urgent that you do so quickly as there are limitation... View More
I started a lawsuit against Pennsylvania American Water because I was being charged an exorbitant amount for water usage, equivalent to an Olympic-sized pool, for my one-bedroom apartment. My landlord and an independent plumber confirmed there were no leaks or issues with the plumbing.... View More
answered on Mar 7, 2025
A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for almost a month. This might be too complex a matter for attorneys to offer a quick and direct response to on a public Q & A forum. If you approached an attorney on this, they're going to want to examine the... View More
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