Photo: Tingey Injury Law Firm / UnsplashComplaints and getting refunds
- Courts and claims
How to File a Consumer Complaint: FTC, CFPB, State Attorney General and Other Options
Where to report scams, unfair business practices and financial problems, which agency handles what, what to include and what to expect after you file.
3 min read - Courts and claims
How to Write a Customer Complaint Letter That Gets Results
What to put in a complaint letter, where to send it, deadlines and how to escalate to regulators or small claims court.
3 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Credit Card Chargebacks and Billing Disputes: How to Dispute a Charge
How to dispute an unauthorized or incorrect credit card charge, the deadlines and what happens during an investigation.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Online Shopping Problems: Fake Stores, Missing Orders and Refunds
Your rights when an online order never arrives, you are charged without receiving goods or you suspect a fake site, and how to get your money back.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Warranty and Refund Rights: What Stores and Manufacturers Owe You
How written and implied warranties work, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and when a store must give a refund.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Airline and Travel Refund Rights: Cancellations, Delays and Chargebacks
Your rights to refunds for canceled or significantly changed flights, delays, baggage problems, hotels and tours, plus how to dispute charges and file complaints.
3 min read
Advertising, subscriptions and unwanted calls
- Courts and claims
Deceptive Advertising and False Claims: Your Consumer Rights and Remedies
What counts as deceptive advertising, bait-and-switch, hidden fees and fake reviews, laws that protect consumers, evidence to keep and how to seek refunds or file complaints.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Automatic Renewal and "Negative Option" Rules: Stopping Unwanted Charges
How automatic renewal laws protect consumers, what companies must disclose and how to stop unwanted subscription charges.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Cancelling Gym Memberships and Subscriptions: Your Rights
How to cancel recurring charges, state rules on health club contracts and how to dispute unauthorized renewals.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Robocalls, Spam Texts and Do Not Call Rules: Your Rights and How to Fight Back
How the Do Not Call Registry and TCPA protect you from unwanted calls and texts, what is allowed, how to report violations, and when you can sue.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Timeshare Cancellation Rights: Rescission Periods and Exit Scams
How to cancel a timeshare purchase, state rescission periods and how to avoid timeshare exit scams.
2 min read
Cars and big purchases
- Courts and claims
Buying a Used Car: Red Flags, Dealer Fraud and What Protections You Have
Common used car scams, odometer and title problems, as-is rules, dealer obligations, inspection tips and remedies if you were misled.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Buying a Used Car "As Is": What Rights Do You Have?
What an "as is" sale means, the FTC Buyers Guide, warranties and what to do if you find a hidden problem or fraud.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Lemon Laws: What to Do When a New Car Keeps Breaking Down
How state lemon laws protect buyers of defective vehicles, what counts as a lemon and the steps to seek a refund or replacement.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Lemon Laws for Used Cars: What Protection Do You Have?
How state lemon laws treat used cars, implied warranties, dealer warranties and where to turn if you bought a defective car.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Car Repossession: What Lenders Can Do and Your Rights
When a lender can repossess a car, the limits on how it is done, what you can get back and how a deficiency balance works.
5 min read - Courts and claims
Contractor Disputes: Unfinished Work, Bad Work and Liens
What to do if a contractor takes a deposit and disappears, does poor work or threatens a lien, and how to protect yourself before hiring.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Moving Company Disputes: Damage, Delays and Hostage Load Scams
Your rights when movers damage goods, raise prices or hold your belongings, how to file claims and who regulates movers.
3 min read
Scams and identity theft
- Debt and bankruptcy
What to Do If You Were Scammed: Report, Recover and Protect Yourself
Steps to take after falling for a scam, who to contact, whether you can get money back and how to protect your accounts.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Identity Theft: What to Do Right Away
Step-by-step actions if your identity is stolen, including fraud alerts, credit freezes and reporting to the FTC.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Data Breach Notice: What to Do If Your Information Was Exposed
Steps to take after receiving a data breach notice, including credit freezes, monitoring, passwords and when you may have legal claims.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, how to find mistakes and the steps to dispute them with the bureaus and lenders.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Foreclosure Rescue Scams: Warning Signs and Safer Options
How foreclosure rescue and deed theft scams work, red flags to watch for and where to find legitimate housing counseling.
2 min read
Going to court
- Courts and claims
Consumer Protection Lawsuits: Small Claims Court vs Hiring an Attorney
How to decide between small claims court and hiring a consumer protection lawyer, what claims are common, fee-shifting laws, costs, evidence and realistic outcomes.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Consumer Protection Attorneys: When You Need One and What They Do
The kinds of consumer disputes lawyers handle, fee-shifting laws and when to try agency complaints first.
2 min read - Courts and claims
How Small Claims Court Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to file a small claims case, what to bring to the hearing and how to collect once you win.
5 min read - Courts and claims
Class Action Lawsuits: How They Work and Whether to Join
What a class action is, how settlements and payouts work and what happens if you opt out or ignore the notice.
2 min read - Legal documents
How to Write a Demand Letter That Gets Results
A demand letter formally asks someone to pay or act before you sue. Learn what to include and how to send it.
3 min read
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report a scam?
The Federal Trade Commission, your state attorney general and, for financial products, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
How do I dispute a credit card charge?
Contact your card issuer in writing within the deadline, usually 60 days from the statement, and explain why the charge is wrong.
Does as-is mean I have no rights when buying a used car?
As-is limits warranties but does not excuse fraud, and dealers must post a Buyers Guide.
Can I stop robocalls?
Register on the Do Not Call Registry, use carrier blocking and report violators. Scammers ignore the registry, so also avoid engaging.
Do I need a lawyer to sue a company?
Not for small claims, but for larger cases a consumer lawyer may work on contingency or fee-shifting laws.