Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
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
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
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 have a deeded carport at my condominium, and the condo board is forcing me to pay for insuring it as per a new rule under the condo act. I would like to know if this is permissible, and what my rights are regarding this new requirement.

answered on Feb 27, 2025
Unit owners have always been required to insure their units, which would include a carport if it's deeded to you. The State of Florida has not been great at enforcing that statute but there has been a renewed push for enforcement. This is for your protection as well as the protection of... View More
I leased a house that was advertised as having a fenced backyard and allowing pets. When I visited, the fence was there, but it was gone when I moved in. I've been using a temporary fence for two years, but now the leasing company removed it, saying it's a violation. They only acted when... View More

answered on Feb 26, 2025
In a word, no, not without penalty. Your lease doesn't require a fence. The fact the fence was there doesn't mean the owner is required to keep it up. It was either illegal or in such disrepair that the owner decided to remove it. Read your lease for a termination clause, or leave when... View More
I am a co-owner of a house in Florida that is part of an HOA, which requires homeowner's insurance. The house was inherited and mid-renovation when the previous owner died, leading to policy cancellation. It's uninsurable due to its interior condition, failing a 4-point inspection.... View More

answered on Feb 24, 2025
That depends on the language in your association documents and if you are truly a HOA under Chapter 720 or a COA (condo association) under Chapter 718. Sometimes homes with lots are still organized as COAs and vice versa. Some HOA documents provide for unlimited fines. If you communicate with... View More
I am the victim of a fraudulent ACH chargeback dispute filed by my mother, who had agreed to assist me with my bills for 6-8 months. She gave me access to her bank account with verbal permission to use funds to pay my bills. Due to a separate issue, she threatened to reverse all funds by filing... View More

answered on Feb 14, 2025
Under federal law, potential liability for your mother and the bank in this ACH chargeback dispute involves multiple legal considerations:
1. Your Mother’s Potential Liability
Your mother may be liable for fraud or unjust enrichment based on the following factors:... View More
Online scams claim that following their "system" would earn one approximately $10,000 per month. As part of their presentation, they pulled up all my credit cards online and listed how much was available, dollar-wise, on each one as part of their qualification procedure.... View More

answered on Feb 11, 2025
If you were the victim of an online scam, then the federal bureau of investigation would have jurisdiction over that. You need to contact your local FBI field office and tell them that you want to file a police report. They will intake the report and then go to work to see if they can try to get... View More
Hello I got served February 1st and am currently waiting for my first SSDI check I just got approved yesterday and need to know how to go about this and what my defense would be since I know more than likely I owe the money but I don't have the funds to pay them, thank you God bless, Richard

answered on Feb 5, 2025
The Middle District of Florida has a pro se clinic that helps people file bankruptcy pro se (by yourself). The clinic is open from 2pm - 4pm every Wednesday without an appointment needed. You can also schedule a consultation in person or by telephone using this link:... View More

answered on Jan 23, 2025
It's at least civil, and usually this kind of issue is civil only, including potential issues of breach of contract and/or unfair and deceptive trade practices. However, in some cases, a fraudulent act could be a criminal act, and that would be an issue for a law enforcement agency.
My mother is 79 only received SS. She is scared they will take her monthly check. How can we settle before going to court. We don’t have lot of money but she is scared

answered on Dec 18, 2024
Many assets are protected in Florida, Homestead and Social Security amongst other things, while you can try to settle and get on a payment plan with them on a monthly basis, it is also just as likely that they will not be able to do anything to her as she will be exempt from garnishment or... View More

answered on Dec 11, 2024
Are you talking about a cancellation fee that the parties agreed to in a legally valid and legally executed contract or lease, with no factors rendering the making of the agreement itself a problem (such as a party being the victim of fraudulent inducement, or being subject to duress, or being... View More
We have repeatedly asked to send us a bill/invoice for work done but have not received one. Now we can't seem to get a hold of anyone. Any recourse or advice?

answered on Nov 26, 2024
Send a certified letter to the company asking for a bill. Retain the amount of money you believe is owed in a savings account or other account that you are not tempted to use for a minimum of 5 years from the completion of the project. (If you think you might owe $5k, retain $6k, etc., to be on... View More
gave plenty of time for delivery. sent email giving them a deadline (even gave more time on that) after waiting almost two months.

answered on Oct 9, 2024
You can send them a demand letter notifying them they have a certain time frame to deliver the goods or you will be filing suit on that date. Realistically, it is not worth filing a lawsuit for an amount under $200, so the demand letter should be used as a tool to begin negotiations. Additionally,... View More
I plan to visit the dealership again to secretly record conversations regarding the $3,000 down payment, terms of financing, and other details for my case.
As Florida is a two-party consent state, I am concerned about whether it is legal to record these conversations inside the... View More

answered on Oct 8, 2024
You first posed a question about the affect of not affording therapy on an emotional distress claim, and you then stated a concern about recording a conversation, which I take to mean a question asking if you can record in the setting you described without asking permission. You did not connect... View More
The Complaint has a typed name but no signature. The exhibits all have my name added to the top of the page but are not related to me in any other way.

answered on Sep 20, 2024
If you received a SUMMONS with the court complaint, you must comply with the instructions in the summons, which notifies the named defendant that failure to file a response may result in the defendant's money, wages, or property being taken without further notification. Any defenses or... View More
I applied for an apartment and was asked to pay an application fee of $290. Later the management team had a server change and I was asked to pay the application fee again. It was $60 this time. I paid another $60 because the front desk said they could refund the money back through bank or credit on... View More

answered on Sep 17, 2024
Yes, you appear to have a viable claim against the management company. There are several causes of action that seem applicable. I think you need to apply some pressure, as I'm not sure what their intention was, but the optics aren't great for them and this could be seen as stealing. I... View More

answered on Jul 26, 2024
To request a dismissal with prejudice from the FL case 1:23-cv-21976 Zuru lawsuit, you need to file a motion with the court. Begin by drafting a motion to dismiss, clearly stating your reasons for seeking dismissal with prejudice. Make sure to reference any relevant legal grounds and case law that... View More

answered on Jul 25, 2024
Based on your query about requesting dismissal with prejudice from a Florida case, here are the key steps and considerations:
Understand "Dismissal with Prejudice":
This means the case is dismissed permanently and cannot be refiled.
It's a final judgment on... View More
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