Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I experienced a total loss of my vehicle, but my gap insurance is refusing to pay the claim because I filed it a year later. I initially thought the dealership would handle it automatically with the credit union that financed my car, as they didn't instruct me about the process. Now, the... View More

answered on Jun 19, 2025
The gap insurance carrier is a completely separate company from the dealership, and the dealership is not your agent. The way to address the situation is to bite the bullet and contact the law firm that filed the lawsuit (or the credit union directly if the credit union filed the lawsuit on its... View More
My rental agreement is up for renewal in July, but my landlord usually starts posting renewal reminders on the door in early June. I've lived here for 9 years and typically sign the lease within the first two weeks of June. This year, after setting an appointment for June 10th to sign my... View More

answered on Jun 11, 2025
Legal. This is a business decision that is very smart on the landlord's part. Once your daughter turns 18, she is a legal adult. That changes the nature of your lease from "mom and dad and child" to "3 adults" living in the apartment. You may not see it that way at all, but... View More
In February, I had a contract agreement with a company related to a vehicle, which was paid off and removed from my credit report as closed. In April, the company re-added it to my credit report, claiming a reversal of payment, without providing documentation for the reversal or details of the loan... View More

answered on May 30, 2025
You’re describing a troubling situation. If a company is re-reporting a paid-off vehicle loan without providing proper documentation and is threatening you for payment you don’t owe, it may be violating several federal and state laws.
First, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA),... View More
I purchased a timeshare from Hilton Vacations, paying over $60,000 upfront. After my husband passed away in 2017, I struggled to pay the annual maintenance fees, and Hilton Vacations seized the property due to non-payment. The agreement was prepaid in full, and Hilton did not seem interested in... View More

answered on May 15, 2025
Timeshares are just like any other community association in the State of Florida. They all have maintenance fees (also known as dues or assessments). These must be paid in order to keep the property. The timeshares and all other types of associations foreclose on these properties just like a... View More
I received a cease and desist letter from my HOA attorney, stating that my tenants have been smoking marijuana, affecting other homeowners. Other homeowners have mostly made verbal complaints, with one formal written complaint. My lease does not specify terms regarding smoking or drug use. I have... View More

answered on May 8, 2025
yes, you should share the notice to your tenants. There's no privacy concerns. As the owner of the unit, you are the one whose life the HOA can make most miserable, and financially difficult. It makes no sense to not cooperate with the HOA.
I was contacted by a collection agency about a medical bill I didn't know existed until recently. After verifying my insurance was billed correctly, I'm aware I owe this debt. I reached out to the collection agency to clarify whether they had been assigned the debt or if it had been sold... View More

answered on May 6, 2025
To prevent medical debt from appearing on your report, you have to obtain written assurance from medical office and the collection agency. Start by asking the collection agency in writing they will not submit the debt to the credit agencies when paying the debt. Second, pay the original creditor in... View More
I was involved in a vehicle accident on January 14, 2025, in which I am not at fault. The other driver's insurance, State Farm, has accepted fault. I am representing myself and need assistance in composing a professional email asking State Farm to disclose the bodily injury policy's... View More

answered on Apr 27, 2025
A written request for policy disclosure should specify a deadline for when the policy must be provided. This can be done via email or certified letter. Typically, insurance companies respond promptly without issues.
If you’re representing yourself, be aware that any medical treatment from... View More
I was involved in a vehicle accident on January 14, 2025, in which I am not at fault. The other driver's insurance, State Farm, has accepted fault. I am representing myself and need assistance in composing a professional email asking State Farm to disclose the bodily injury policy's... View More

answered on Apr 25, 2025
Hi there,
For your State Farm policy email, keep it short and direct. Start with your claim number and accident date (January 14, 2025), then clearly request the bodily injury policy limits disclosure, noting they've accepted fault. Mention your documented injuries (herniated discs,... View More
My sister was involved in a car accident where she T-boned a vehicle that was stationed sideways, blocking both lanes on a long road. Despite having the right of way, the police mentioned that she had enough time to stop but miscalculated the distance because the other vehicle was turned sideways.... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
So the police do not determine who is at fault for an accident. The police report is not admissible as evidence of who was negligent. Your sister should retain an attorney here in Florida on contingency fee, which means she pays nothing unless she wins.
I would like to know if I can sue a bank and a car dealership for fraud. My wife and I purchased a used car at a dealership in Miami, FL on February 15, 2025, and encountered several issues: my last name was spelled incorrectly on the documents; the down payment was recorded as $4,200, despite us... View More

answered on Apr 3, 2025
You should take your documents to a lawyer right away. We do not have any way of reviewing your purchase agreement and contracts in this forum.
Most used car sales are "as is" and it's up to the buyer to have the car inspected prior to purchase irrespective of what the... View More
Hi, I’m planning to interview a person who uses steroids and an illegal steroid dealer for a YouTube video. I’ll be blocking the dealer’s face and voice for anonymity. I just want to confirm if it’s completely legal to feature these interviews, or if there are any potential legal issues I... View More

answered on Mar 28, 2025
From a civil law perspective: Best to get each interviewee's signed consent, specifying in detail exactly what you will do with the video(s), how long the video(s) will be public, and releasing you from any liability in connection with the video(s); otherwise, you are potentially opening... View More
I financed my first car and signed the contract on March 4th. The dealer lied and left out important information. Initially, I was told the car was $4,000, but then the dealer said it was $6,000, leading me to finance the car since I only had $5,000. I paid a $3,000 down payment, but the contract... View More

answered on Mar 26, 2025
The court is going to look to the terms of the contract first. Whatever you signed on the contract is what the court will start with first in determining what is to be paid and to whom. Anything that you agreed to prior to the signing of the contract, that is not written in the contract, is not... View More
I purchased a 1999 Porsche 986 a couple of months ago from a seller who recently moved to Florida from Kansas. He advertised the vehicle as having a clean title and a perfectly running engine. However, I later discovered the title is salvage and the engine started misfiring the night I brought the... View More

answered on Mar 25, 2025
Was there a contract signed related to the transaction or at the very least an email reflecting those terms? If not, you may still have a viable claim against the seller, but it will ultimately be a he said/ she said situation and likely no ability to recover attorneys fees. It may not be a lawsuit... View More
I was driving a rental car and rear-ended another driver who was also in a rental—specifically, a loaner from a dealership. The damage appeared minimal at the time, and we exchanged information. Recently, I received an invoice for $1800 from a body shop regarding the other driver's vehicle.... View More

answered on Mar 21, 2025
A Florida attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. I'm sorry about your accident. I hope all involved are okay. A starting point could be to review the terms of your rental and what it covers in terms of property damage. Based on the facts the post, it isn't... View More
I have a Home Equity Installment (HEI) that was in the first lien position on my property. Recently, I discovered through emails that my mortgage lender instructed my homeowner's insurance agent to change their position to first lien without notifying me or the HEI company. No Subordination... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
Whichever lender filed their security instrument first has priority unless there is an executed subordination agreement recorded. Hire a FL to search the title and determine your title's exact status. Such a so called "HEI" mortgage is almost always second or third in priority, as... View More
In October 2024, I notified the company of a defective section of flooring in my house under warranty. The warranty covers repairs and replacements for one year. Despite numerous telephone conversations—eight in total, with the last on March 4, 2025, when the manager assured me that repair work... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
You may pursue a claim for construction defects and other causes of action that may apply. However, you must first comply with the pre-suit process under the statute which requires that a notice and opportunity to repair be provided to the contractor. Chapter 558 specifies "the notice of claim... View More
I have charge-offs related to a credit card and a personal loan. Creditors have contacted me, but I have not received any settlement offers. I believe these charge-offs are affecting my credit score, and I previously consulted with a financial advisor, but I was not satisfied with their advice.... View More

answered on Mar 11, 2025
Probably not, those are probably uncollectable debts based on how old they are and whether the statute of limitations has expired on them and whether a lawsuit was or will be filed if they are not past the statute of limitations will matter. If you decide to settle them, you need to negotiate how... View More
I live in Lakeland, Florida, and I was helping my friend clean their house to prepare it for sale. Unfortunately, I tripped over a cord that wasn't visible and broke my arm severely. I underwent a 6-hour surgery to insert rods, screws, and a metal plate in my elbow. My friend's house is... View More

answered on Mar 10, 2025
You do have a claim for negligence. Medicaid will have a lien on the recovery, and generally in any personal injury case, the insurance carrier, medicaid or medicare have liens on the recovery. I think time is of the essence. Generally the homeowners insurance should provide some level of... View More
I live in Lakeland, Florida, and I was helping my friend clean their house to prepare it for sale. Unfortunately, I tripped over a cord that wasn't visible and broke my arm severely. I underwent a 6-hour surgery to insert rods, screws, and a metal plate in my elbow. My friend's house is... View More

answered on Mar 10, 2025
Yes, you have a case. If the cord was in a location where you couldn't reasonably expect it, or it wasn't clearly visible, this could be considered a hazardous condition that your friend was responsible for addressing. You definitely want to work with a premises liability attorney.... View More
I live in Lakeland, Florida, and I was helping my friend clean their house to prepare it for sale. Unfortunately, I tripped over a cord that wasn't visible and broke my arm severely. I underwent a 6-hour surgery to insert rods, screws, and a metal plate in my elbow. My friend's house is... View More

answered on Mar 10, 2025
Yes, I think you have a claim. Your claim would be stronger if you took a picture to show that the cord was concealed or hidden from obvious view. However, that would not be indispensable for you to pursue a claim. You should retain an attorney on contingency fee here in central Florida, which... View More
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