Consumer protection laws cover deceptive sales practices, defective products, debt collection and credit reporting. Some give you the right to recover attorney fees from the other side, which makes legal help more accessible.
Common cases
- Lemon law and warranty disputes.
- Debt collector harassment.
- Credit report errors.
- Auto fraud and repossession problems.
- Deceptive advertising and scams.
- Identity theft.
Try these first
- Contact the company in writing.
- File complaints with your state attorney general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.
- Use credit card disputes where possible.
- Consider small claims for smaller amounts.
When to hire a lawyer
Consider one when the amount is significant, the company ignores you, a law like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or Fair Credit Reporting Act appears to be violated or a deadline is near. Many consumer lawyers work on contingency or fee-shifting.
Related guides
See our guides to debt collector rights, credit report disputes, lemon law and chargebacks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay if I lose?
It depends on the fee agreement.
Can class actions help?
Sometimes, for widespread problems.