Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am seeking advice on dealing with being denied Social Security Disability benefits. I was a recipient for several years but lost eligibility due to income from marriage. After divorcing, I have been denied and forced to reapply and appeal for over five years. I recently found out my file was... View More
I purchased a car from a dealership in Washington State in 2022. Before purchasing, I requested a Car Fax report, which showed that only the windshield and wheel bearings were replaced. The dealership verbally confirmed there was no damage to the car. A month ago, an Experian report revealed there... View More
I purchased a used vehicle from a dealership in 2022 and specifically requested a Car Fax report, which showed no reported damages or accidents. However, 2 1/2 years later, an Experian report indicated the vehicle was damaged 8 months before my purchase. The dealership replaced parts such as the... View More
I opted for a career coach and paid $2,000, but now I don't want to continue with the services. No contracts were signed, and the payment was made today. The coach is offering a 75% refund despite no services being used, citing the introductory call (advertised as free) as the reason for... View More
I discovered that my ex allowed his new girlfriend to see my private photos without my consent. She admitted to this in a text, and I have numerous text messages as evidence. Can I file a report based on this evidence, and what legal actions can I take?

answered on Mar 27, 2025
Washington is a "two-party consent" state regarding private communications. Under Washington law, it's illegal to record private communications without the consent of all parties involved. Your situation involves private photos rather than recordings, which falls under different... View More
I was supposed to receive a parcel from Aramex containing my R3000 Nike shoes by March 4th, but it still hasn't arrived as of March 6th. I've contacted Aramex, but I haven't received any response from them. The parcel wasn't insured. What legal steps can I take to address this issue?

answered on Mar 5, 2025
Hello - you stated you were supposed to receive a package by March 4th and haven't received the pacage by March 6th, but today is March 5th, not 6th.
There is nothing "legally" that you can do if a package is one day late but ask for a refund if you paid extra for delivery by... View More
I'm wondering if Grocery Outlet can legally refuse to let me shop unless I leave my backpack at the counter, which to me appears to violate my 4th Amendment rights. They claim it is store policy, but they only enforce this on individuals with backpacks, not women with shoulder bags or purses.... View More

answered on Mar 4, 2025
This is not a violation of your rights. The 4th Amendment applies to government entities, not to private companies.
There are laws against discrimination (state and federal) that apply in some situations - for example, if the store rule only applied to men with daypacks, but not to women... View More
I subscribed to a meal/food delivery service in January 2025 and paid for the first week's meals using my debit card. After canceling the subscription service on January 25, 2025, I was unexpectedly charged by the same company on February 8, 2025. Upon contacting the merchant, I was not... View More

answered on Mar 24, 2025
You have several important rights when dealing with unauthorized charges after canceling a subscription service. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), you can dispute unauthorized debit card charges within 60 days of the statement containing the error, and the bank must investigate within... View More
I invested my capital with Swissquote Bank and made a profit. However, my funds are now trapped, and the bank has imposed multiple fees beyond the initial 5% withdrawal fee stated in the terms and conditions. After paying $24,000 in withdrawal fees, I was asked to pay a $38,000 'Wallet... View More

answered on Mar 1, 2025
The situation you're describing has multiple warning signs of fraud rather than legitimate banking practices from Swissquote, which is a regulated Swiss financial institution that wouldn't typically impose escalating "fees" after initial withdrawals. These endless payment... View More
I am 84 years old and live alone in my home on Orcas Island, Washington. Recently, my accounts with US Bank, totaling approximately $350,000, were frozen until March 11 after I attempted to send two wire transfers to friends. The bank labeled these transfers as fraudulent without any explanation or... View More
I would like to know if an opinion from Division Three of the Washington State Court of Appeals in a significant commercial case affecting Washington consumers and businesses has precedential value.
I'm a senior at Cascade High School in Everett WA, and my teacher is making a major change to the year-long syllabus, requiring students to put phones by her desk for the students to be marked present. I never take my phone out in class unless I get specific permission, so does she have the... View More

answered on Jan 28, 2025
Your teacher does not have the right to confiscate your phone without cause, especially if you are not using it or causing a disruption. School policies generally allow for the restriction of phone use during class, but forcing students to hand over their phones as a requirement for attendance is... View More
I know a huge pet cremation business that has cremated pets and not getting the paw print. Then using another dogs paw print instead. Would i get into trouble for knowing that? I feel like i should say something but I don't know what the cause and effect could come from it

answered on Jan 27, 2025
It’s natural to feel conflicted when you know something wrong is happening, especially if it involves people’s trust in a business. If you’re worried about potential consequences, take a moment to reflect on why this is bothering you so deeply—it sounds like you value honesty and fairness,... View More
Hi! I live in Washington state. I bought and shipped a car from Illinois, and they correctly charged me the Washington state taxes and fees for the car. I financed the car, which out the door cost $37.7k before any down payment. Now, about 2 weeks after buying the car, the dealership called me to... View More

answered on Dec 23, 2024
This situation raises important questions about contract law and your rights as a consumer in Washington State. Here’s an analysis:
Key Legal Considerations
Binding Contract:
The purchase agreement you signed with the dealership is a legally binding contract. It should... View More
I had to have surgery because of a hernia, due to a failed mesh. At the time it was performed by labor and industry Dr. They did not remove the failed mesh, they reattached it and put another over it. Was that done knowing the bad mesh had recalls and not care because it was under labor and... View More

answered on Jan 1, 2025
A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. The short answer is that they could be liable. But law firms would probably want to know more details about the mesh, the recall, the hernia, the surgery, and other elements of the matter. In terms of what you... View More
A process server came to our door trying to serve a summons to my wife and her name is the only one on it not mine. It’s not my credit account either. Do I by WA State law have to accept her summons if I’m approached by the server?
I'm interested in creating an online platform similar to LinkedIn but specifically for individuals under the age of 16 who are looking for internship, mentorship, and volunteer opportunities. Given that LinkedIn currently restricts its users to those over 16, I want to understand the legal... View More

answered on Aug 6, 2024
Creating a LinkedIn-style platform for minors under 16 involves navigating several important legal considerations. Firstly, you must comply with child labor laws, which vary by state and regulate the types of work minors can do, the hours they can work, and the conditions under which they can work.... View More

answered on Jul 31, 2024
A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week.
The short answer is that it could depend on the judge and how material to the issue at hand the missing evidence is. As a general rule nationwide in small claims, the court is not likely to grant the same... View More
I ordered from Ubereats for delivery and didn't receive it. I asked for a refund and they ask for a picture of the delivery. They got a picture of the ground because they didn't deliver. Then told me that it does not qualify for a refund because the order was not in the sent picture.

answered on Jun 8, 2024
Based on the situation you've described, it seems that Uber Eats may not be handling your refund request appropriately. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Uber Eats' refund policy: According to their terms and conditions, Uber Eats typically offers refunds for orders that were... View More
If I wanted to get a test result in an illegal way, but I was deceived, I transferred money but never received a result, you can send this to ic3. In fact, I have not yet broken the law.

answered on May 12, 2024
I'm sorry to hear that you were deceived and lost money in this situation. Being scammed is awful and I empathize with how frustrating that must be. Even though you did not end up breaking the law, attempting to obtain test results illegally is still ill-advised.
If you believe you... View More
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.