Photo: Kelly Sikkema / UnsplashPrivacy and harassment
- Debt and bankruptcy
Removing Personal Information Online, Doxxing and Online Harassment: Your Options
How to remove personal information from the internet, respond to doxxing and online harassment, report to platforms, use data broker opt-outs, seek protective orders, preserve evidence and when to contact police or a lawyer.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Harassment and Stalking Laws: Your Options as a Victim
What counts as criminal harassment or stalking, how to document it and the options including police reports and protective orders.
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 - Work, business and lawyers
Terms of Service and Privacy Policies for Websites: What You Need
Why websites and apps need a terms of service and privacy policy, key contents and legal requirements like state privacy laws.
3 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert: Which Should You Use?
How credit freezes and fraud alerts work, the differences, how to place them for free and how to lift or renew them.
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
Reviews and reputation
- Debt and bankruptcy
Online Reviews and Social Media Posts: Defamation Risks, Takedowns and Your Rights
When online reviews or social media posts can be defamatory, opinion versus fact, how to respond to a negative review, how to handle a legal threat, platform takedowns, Section 230 and the Consumer Review Fairness Act.
3 min read - Courts and claims
Defamation, Libel and Slander: What Counts and What Does Not
The legal definition of defamation, defenses such as truth and opinion, and what to do if you are defamed or accused of it.
2 min read - Work, business and lawyers
Job References: What Former Employers Can Say About You
How job references work, what employers can legally say and what to do if a former employer is giving a bad or false reference.
2 min read - Work, business and lawyers
Received a Cease and Desist Letter? What It Means and How to Respond
What a cease and desist letter is, whether it is legally binding, common reasons for receiving one, how to respond, when to hire a lawyer and how to avoid escalation.
3 min read - Work, business and lawyers
Copyright Infringement Claims: Fair Use, DMCA Takedowns and What to Do If You Are Accused
How copyright infringement claims work, fair use factors, DMCA takedown and counter-notice basics, damages, licensing and steps to take if you are accused or if your work is copied.
3 min read
Subscriptions and online purchases
- Debt and bankruptcy
Subscription Traps and Unauthorized Recurring Charges: How to Cancel and Dispute
How to stop recurring subscription charges, cancel hard-to-cancel services, dispute unauthorized charges with your bank or card, free trial traps, federal and state auto-renewal rules and how to complain.
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
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 - 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
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
Frequently asked questions
Can I be sued for a negative review?
Yes, if it contains false statements of fact; honest opinions are generally protected.
How do I stop a recurring charge?
Cancel with the merchant and ask your card issuer to block it.
Can I remove my address from the internet?
You can request removal from websites, search engines and data brokers, though it takes repeated effort.
Is doxxing illegal?
Many states have laws against it or related harassment and stalking.
What should I do after a data breach?
Freeze your credit, change passwords and monitor accounts.