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Pennsylvania Consumer Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Banking for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can I sue Wells Fargo for an unauthorized charge which has since caused me financial hardship?

I had a car loan through Wells Fargo. I traded in that car to Carvana who agreed to pay off the loan. I have documentation from Wells Fargo that the loan was payed off in full 4/19/21. However, I was still charged my monthly payment of 408 on 4/25/21 through auto pay. This caused my wife’s and my... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jun 11, 2021

1. Go to a wells fargo bank and find out why you can't sign on.

2. Get the records printed out at the bank.

3. Once you have those, keep them and only send copies.

4. Ask Wells fargo for a return of the autopay, and the related charges. The AMC stock is too far a...
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Q: Neighbor filed a municipal complaint stating that I'm harassing her because I called police regarding noise& loud party
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on May 25, 2021

You have to look at the complaint. Chances are it says more. You need to respond to the complaint.

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for Pennsylvania on
Q: Which statute of limitations applies to my debt?

I live in Pennsylvania. I believe PA follows whichever statute of limitations is shortest, is this true?

The personal loan was obtained from Best Egg, which is based in Delaware. But, the Original Creditor is listed as Cross River Bank (Marlette Funding, LLC). Cross River Bank is based in... View More

W. J. Winterstein Jr.
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W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Feb 28, 2021

it is often said by the courts that "the debt follows the debtor". in other words, to sue on the debt, a creditor must sue in the jurisdiction where the debtor can be found and served with process.

The PA statute of limitations is located in PA Statutes, ch. 55, Sec. 5525. I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Family Law and Foreclosure for Pennsylvania on
Q: I have a trailer with 2 names on loan. X-wife wants it and If i let other take it, can i protect myself legally?

My X-Wife and I have a Travel Trailer together. We failed to make payments and the bank foreclosed on it and charged off the debt. They never Repossessed it. If my X-wife Takes it or I just let her take it off the property, is there a way I could get something signed saying I want nothing to do... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 25, 2021

Make sure it's titled in her name. She should give you a document that she accepts all responsibility. You say "x"--did you have a divorce (if she got posession that may cover it) or just separated?

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Civil Litigation, Constitutional Law and Education Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Is there any legal recourse for my child's School failing to educate him during the pandemic, inadequate communication

They didn't properly instruct him on how to use the online learning

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 2, 2021

A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. It does not seem like something that an attorney would handle as anything other than an hourly basis, and you probably don't want that. This issue is occurring nationwide and children are having... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: If I receive the wrong product in during a shipment am I required to send it back to get a different one?

It's been a real hassle trying to get everything sorted out. I've called about ten different lines and multiple websites. I just don't feel like I've been treated fairly throughout. I paid extra for next day shipping and it's been 4 days. I want to keep both but not if it will fall on me legally

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 14, 2020

A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for four weeks. As a general matter, yes, the customer does not usually get to keep two products while paying for one. No one could predict what a retailer would do, but if the product is something of value, there is a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Products Liability and Small Claims for Pennsylvania on
Q: If I have a defective product resulting into a damage to my car by fire. Can I sue?

It was a product I got from harbor freight to stop welding spark and it failed by a hole being burnt through the blanket and catching the car on fire

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jun 29, 2020

A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your post remains open for two weeks. It sounds like you're talking about a welding blanket. You could contact a Pennsylvania attorney to discuss - it would take investigation and possibly trial to make the determination of defectiveness. It could... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Real Estate Law, Construction Law and Energy, Oil and Gas for Pennsylvania on
Q: How do I find an electrician's insurance information? He is registered in Pennsylvania.

(He will not provide the details himself).

Elizabeth Tarasi
Elizabeth Tarasi pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 23, 2020

You can also make a claim under your homeowners policy. They will investigate the electrician if it’s covered under your policy.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: My job cancelled us from calling out.. They are telling people if they call out they will use disciplinary actions

When the employe began to call and She stated she had upset stomach and diarrhea they told the employee come to work. They wrote her as a know call no show on a sign in sheet for a rule they decide to make up today even though she gave more then 4 hour notice, They're saying this due to the... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 17, 2020

Several things going on--possible health code violations, things the Joint Committee on the Acreditation of Hospitals would want to know about, as well as the State Health Department or other agencies that regulate that establishment. A person who is sanctioned for calling out sick because they... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Consumer Law, Contracts and Collections for Pennsylvania on
Q: I have a small automotive repair shop in Pennsylvania. Sometimes, customers refuse to pay. What can I do?

Occasionally, there are customers who agree to have the work performed and the price, even with the understanding that payment is due upon pickup of the vehicle, who then do not pay. I am not aware of any law in Pennsylvania that allows a mechanic lien to hold the vehicle until payment is... View More

Cary B. Hall
Cary B. Hall
answered on Feb 24, 2020

You absolutely can keep the car until you receive full payment for the repair services performed -- so long as the owner actually requested that the services be performed. Pennsylvania common law grants you an "artisan's lien" on property that you've made more valuable as a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: How should I go about retrieving money from a contractor who is ignoring calls and not finishing a job?

I went with a contractor who started work but moved slow. Kept giving us days and times that he would he back to finish but wouldn't show up. Missed the times. This went on for about a week. Now hes not returning any calls or messages and the job still is less than half finished.

Nancy L Lanard
Nancy L Lanard
answered on Feb 23, 2020

PA has a Consumer Home Improvement Contractor's Act that helps to protect you. You can file a complaint with the Attorney General's office regarding this particular contractor. I would suggest starting with a letter to the contractor indicating that you were prepared to file a complaint... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Contracts for Pennsylvania on
Q: If a company purchases an existing contract with a consumer, obligated to honor the contract?

Mom was living in Lancaster county, Pa when she purchased a Cremation Services package for 1300.00 in 1993. Mom now lives with me in Blair County, PA. I called the number on her card and apparently the old company sold the contract and the new company states that there was only $241.00 in the... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 12, 2020

I think it would be read as being limited to the county though you can make the argument they should take care of it. Otherwise people who moved could say "pick up my decedent in Florida."

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Pennsylvania on
Q: We recently purchased a new home. We asked our neighbors about installing a fence on the property line and ....

They all gave us the go ahead. We checked the Lebanon County, PA rules and there were none. We had a company come out and start to install our fence (vinyl 6ft high) to be served with a cease and desist from developers who sold the land to the builder. The builder didn’t disclose the deed... View More

Mark Scoblionko
Mark Scoblionko
answered on Jan 18, 2020

This, among other reasons, is why people should have lawyers when they buy houses. A competent lawyer would have asked the title company for copies of the restrictions, and you would have then known what they were. However, you may have a legitimate beef with your title company for not providing... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Bad Faith and Insurance Defense for Pennsylvania on
Q: Is there anything I can do to at least reduce the bill?

My insurance dropped me because I “make too much money” but I never received the notice they said the mailed me. So I had gone to the ER and now I have a $4000 hospital bill. The insurance company said I can’t file a complaint because I am no longer insured under them and the insurance... View More

Elizabeth Tarasi
Elizabeth Tarasi pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 1, 2020

The hospital should have a process where you can apply to have the bill reduced. Call the hospitals billing department

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: I accidentally ran across a video on YouTube that may have caused me mental distress. Can I take action against Google?

.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Oct 22, 2019

Unlikely from the facts that you give. You let your fingers do the walking. Google didn't make them. I don't see it but ask some attorneys--note that emotional distress claims are highly technical, and not favored.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: What can I do if I took a possession of a car in PA and didn't realize until morning that the interior color was wrong?

Full story, I went to the Toyota dealer with my sights set on a Toyota C-HR limited model. The dealer did not have one available so I test drove the XLE, which is one grade below the limited but the same engine. The salesman tried to sell me on the XLE but I told him no way. I wanted the navigation... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Sep 11, 2019

Try to unwind it. If they won't contact Toyota USA --you want a Toyota, just not that one. However, as you had a chance to sit in it etc. you may be stuck as you could have walked but didn't, had a chance to look at it but didn't get in a good light.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts, Business Law and Collections for Pennsylvania on
Q: Help!

My electric bill has been unusually high, so I called them. They informed me I had a 3rd party supplier on my bill I was unaware of. I called said 3rd party and they informed me that I had added them to my account last summer. Going through the details it came across that my sister had given them... View More

Adam Savett
Adam Savett
answered on Aug 30, 2019

I would suggest you file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Here is a link to resources on the process and directions on how to file a complaint:

http://www.puc.state.pa.us/filing_resources/filing_complaints.aspx

Note that the PUC specifically...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Purchased a car five years, brand new. Multiple problems. Dealership fixed all. But enough is enough. Can I do anything?

I contacted the manufacturer and received the typical apology from customer service.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jul 29, 2019

Contact one of the attorneys who handles "lemon law " cases. This long into it, likely nothing,but they give free consults so why not ask?

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Products Liability for Pennsylvania on
Q: Credit application sign jointly, company refiled it seperately without our consent. Are they liable for anything?

We signed a contract with a window company. We filled out the credit application jointly (my husband and I). It was denied and the window company reapplied seperately to different companies to get us the financing. They did not check with us regarding this and it has now hit out credit report as... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Jun 19, 2019

Sorry to inform you but "hitting your credit rating twice" is not actionable at law because you cannot prove any damages. At best you can complain about the creditor to the credit reporting agency--who probably has a file on this same window company.

P.S. The credit application...
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1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: Took my laptop to a local repair shop. Did not hear from them for several weeks. Shop closed. What are my rights to get

my laptop back? Tried to contact them via social media with no success. How do I proceed?

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 19, 2019

File a complaint with the police; if they won't take it check with the township to see who owned the business license, sue those people in small claims. Ask the landlord who takes the property for your machine.

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