Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
North Carolina Consumer Law Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Civil Litigation for North Carolina on
Q: I brought a burger from a restaurant and the wrapper smell like urine. What lawyer's will be best to handle my case
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Feb 26, 2021

A personal injury attorney. If you did not become physically ill, require medical attention or psychological counseling, your recovery won't be a whole lot. A personal injury attorney can explain the details.

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Collections for North Carolina on
Q: How can someone properly respond to a summons that is out of state?

My SO lives with me in North Carolina for almost two and a half years now. Her mother was served a summons & complaint at her home in New York regarding a debt collector attempting to get a judgement against her. A couple of questions:

1. Was she properly served?

2. The summons... View More

Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
Mr. Albert Loch Saslow
answered on Feb 12, 2021

1. Depends on more facts, but for a snap judgment I'll say probably not. However, burden is on you to establish that proper service hasn't been made. If you don't raise the issue properly with the court, the creditor will likely just proceed on and get what they want. This will... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Small Claims for North Carolina on
Q: Walmart is refusing to uphold their “Satisfaction Guarantee” on a box of coffee. How can I go about this?
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Feb 2, 2021

Complaint to corporate. Give negative ratings on the product and on the store. You can't sue them in small claims because they are not an NC corporation. Court costs alone for District Court are over $150.00. The money you lost is not worth filing a lawsuit over. Stop giving them your... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: I brought a tanning bed from online.i only gave 2000 for it.my payments was 80 a month.i got the bed in 2018.i made the

Covid hit.i lost my job and ended up having surgery too and couldnt work.the last couple of months i been paying 25 a month on it but they have hit me with late fees and i only gave 2000 or so for bed.now i owe 6000 thousand for a tanning bed.if i cant pay on it anymore due to being layed off from... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jan 25, 2021

Ms. cameron is correct. I would just add that they can't garnish your wages with a North Carolina judgment. If you bought the bed in NC its likely if you were sued, they would sue you in NC. If you bought the bed in TN or VA, wage garnishment is allowed if they sue you there and get a judgment... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Our HOA received money from FEMA after a hurricane 3 years ago. HOA won't release how they allocated that money.

They mishandled the money, and many units are still unfinished. How can we get them to release those documents showing how they spent the money, which was supposed to go to the condo owners.

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jan 13, 2021

You read your condo declarations and follow the procedures outlined therein to request inspection of the books and records. Follow them to the letter. Make written demand to the correct address and get proof of delivery, for example. If they do not comply, follow the procedures to put questions or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Hi I received a check on the mail pertaining to this case and I wanted to know if I could take further action ?
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jan 13, 2021

Please repost your question with more specifics. What kind of check and what "case"?

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Real Estate Law and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Can i just be kicked out because im not on the lease?

I have been staying with my mother and her boyfriend for years now being they're older and dont drive. while not on the lease but the landlord has known have been recieving mail for years there also. So can the landlord just all of a sudden for no reason say im not allowed over there or is... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Dec 20, 2020

If the persons who are legally obligated on the lease have a written lease agreement, that agreement controls. Typically that written agreement says how many people can occupy the premises and who is authorized to reside there. That written agreement states how changes can be made. So, your first... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: If a vehicle was bought and was supposed to have a lein on it but the title came in clear and with no lein recorded

Then the vehicle was sold and the loan company found out. What are the actions they can take civil, criminal? Can the owner be charged with a crime?

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 23, 2020

The vehicle owner signed a contract with the loan company, so the owner still has to pay off the loan. If the loan is not paid, the loan company can bring a civil lawsuit to get a judgment for money owed. Criminal charges are a possibility but without more facts, this is difficult to assess. If the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: My contractor is saying there is a law in NC for a 50% percent deposit for remodeling. Is this true?
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Nov 5, 2020

There is no such law requiring a minimum 50% deposit. You will find the following information about hiring a contractor: https://www.nclicensing.org/consumerAwareness.asp (copy and paste the link into your browser).

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Copyright and Civil Rights for North Carolina on
Q: How can I find opinions of Amy Coney Barrett
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 26, 2020

The Supreme Court's blog has a new page that summarizes her career highlights, and it mentions several cases. Here is the link:

https://www.scotusblog.com/2018/07/potential-nominee-profile-amy-coney-barrett/

Good luck

Tim Akpinar

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Can paypal legally keep my deposit that was put in my wife’s account

My wife and I had our federal Tax return deposited into her paypal account. Since then they have put limitations on the account, while trying to life those limitations we discovered that in order to do direct the deposit The first name on the deposit is supposed to match that of the account holder... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Sep 6, 2020

They can hold it, but once it is proven that she was authorized to accept it, they should release the funds.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: In the state of NC when trading a vehicle to a dealer, do I disclose engine or transmission replacement on damage dis?
Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Sep 6, 2020

If your vehicle is 5 years old or newer and the damage was over 35% of the value you must disclose.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: I own a restaurant and grocery delivery service in North Carolina. Can a restaurant force me to take their menu off

Can they force me to take their menu off of my site and not accept orders from them?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 3, 2020

A North Carolina attorney could answer best, but your question remains open for three weeks. As a general matter, elements of North Carolina law aside, they could sue. Whether they prevailed would be up to a court, but they could argue that they want association only with a given delivery service,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Lemon Law and Small Claims for North Carolina on
Q: If I pay the car note will I be able to get it back or do they sell it and I still have to pay anyway

This is just a nightmare am going to lose my job because of this I don’t understand if they couldn’t do the verbal agreement why so I could have try to figure something out rather then lose my job am a signal mom I really need my job I only complained because I was waiting with no response just... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 23, 2020

You might possibly be able to get them to give you the car back if you make all past due payments plus pay late charges - but they can legally refuse to agree to do that, and they can demand you pay off the loan in full - just because of missing one payment. You loan agreement most likely says any... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Lemon Law and Small Claims for North Carolina on
Q: My truck got repossessed after a verbal agreement about the payment because I made a complaint how can I get my truck

My complaint was about two safety recalls and having a dead registration and tags been waiting since April also they lied about the vehicle ever being in a accident before I purchase it I’ve been getting ignored but if I call from a different from they pick up but say I’ll call back but don’t... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 23, 2020

This is something that you need specific advice about including a review of all of the paperwork you signed. Verbal agreements are generally not enforceable, but you may have claims against the dealer. Contact an experienced auto fraud attorney for advice. Do not delay, you will not be able to get... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Do I have recourse against Bank of America for not modifying and then selling my second mortgage to a private investor?

After bankruptcy we applied to modify our 1st and 2nd mortgage with Bank of America (originally with Countrywide). We completed packages over and over again. Finally Fannie Mae took our first mortgage away from Bank of America, placed it with Seterus and modified. They also informed us that... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 13, 2020

This is impossible to answer on an online forum because a review of documents is necessary. Go see an attorney ASAP. Your best bet is to consult a consumer bankruptcy attorney because an experienced one will know about second mortgages that have questionable enforceability. In addition, loans held... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Consumer Law for North Carolina on
Q: Sales agent denied me a viewing of a house in a new subdivision but allow another woman a viewing, is this legal?

I visited a new subdivision & fell in love with a floor plan. The sales rep. was unengaged during my visit & any feedback I got concerning the community I had to ask for it. I went back a week later to view the home again and the same rep, told me I could not view it because it had sold. I... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Aug 13, 2020

It sounds like you have grounds for a complaint against the sales agency under the Federal and North Carolina's Fair Housing Act. You can do one of two things. File a complaint against the sales agency, or sue. I do not recommend suing on this kind of case without an attorney. A good place to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Small Claims, Criminal Law and Personal Injury for North Carolina on
Q: A hotel I am living at is false advertising I have filed a complaint with the doj is there anything I can else I can do?

The person working the desk also the owner said he wasn't offering the posted weekly rates that are taped in the office window due to covid-19 which should have been $225. Instead he said I would have to pay the nightly rate and charged me $45 per night for 7 nights which totaled $315. He is... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 10, 2020

A North Carolina attorney could advise best, but your post remains open for two weeks. It might not necessarily be false advertising - it's possible it could be an oversight resulting from changes in day-to-day operations that the pandemic has forced upon small business owners. There could be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Collections, Energy, Oil and Gas and Public Benefits for North Carolina on
Q: I am having a problem with the City of Shelby, I've been paying my power bill late but never have I not paid it..

I just want some one to help me go through my power bills to explain to me I am 67 and I think they are taking advantage because I don't read well.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 29, 2020

This does not sound like a legal matter that you need to involve an attorney for. Considering the amount of ordinary household utility bills, attorney fees might not be justified. You could see if their customer service department could help explain your bill. If you aren't satisfied, you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Construction Law for North Carolina on
Q: Do I have a case against the builder of my house for the work they subcontracted out?

We built our house approximately 6 years ago and we have had several issues with the AC system since we moved in. The builder of our house used a subcontractor for our AC system. We have repeatedly reported issues about our system over the years and they kept sending out the subcontractor to fix... View More

Lynn Ellen Coleman
Lynn Ellen Coleman
answered on Jul 29, 2020

You have a "statute of repose" issue. If it has been six years or longer, even if you did have a claim against your general contractor, it is too late to sue.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get 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 you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, 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.