Consumer rights lawyers, also known as consumer protection lawyers, protect and defend the legal rights of consumers. Depending on the facts of your case, the consumer lawyer will discuss what remedies may be available to you under your state and federal consumer protection laws.
Consumer Rights And Protection Lawyers – What They Do
Consumer Protection Lawyers represent consumers under our nation’s Consumer Protection Laws. Whether it’s an overly aggressive debt collector, trouble with your credit report, or a purchase of a defective product such as a vehicle that turned out to be a lemon or a seller that refuses to honor their warranty, a consumer protection lawyer will explain your legal rights, discuss your options, and help you solve your problem.
Consumer Protection Laws
Most people are unaware of the broad range of federal and state laws that enforce and protect consumer legal rights. And for a good reason, most of these laws can be challenging to understand. For this reason, it makes good sense to consult with a consumer rights lawyer should you suspect your consumer rights may have been violated.
Federal Consumer laws include the Consumer Product Safety Act, Credit Card Accountability Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, Fair Debt Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Housing Act, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and the Truth in Lending Act.
The GotTrouble.org Glossary defines most of the above laws and provides related articles and terms.
All consumer protection laws protect the rights and provide remedies should you need legal help.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Collection agencies have a well-deserved reputation for harassment and deceit regarding Illegal Collection Practices. In response, there is a long list of prohibited collection practices, the violations of which provide consumers with legal and financial remedies. Consult with a consumer protection lawyer to see if you qualify for monetary relief.
For example, the Fair Debt Collection Practices (FDCPA) strictly prohibits collectors from harassing you or your family, calling you at your place of employment, calling you before or after certain hours, or threatening to file a lawsuit against you for the sole purpose of intimidating you to make a payment or they will ruin your credit.
Small Claims Court
Consumer lawyers will advise you that not all cases qualify for small claims. First, you should know that an attorney cannot represent you at the small claims court hearing. Second, the amount of money you can be awarded is limited to a jurisdictional amount.
Nationally, the award limit can range between $2,000 to $25,000 depending on your state and whether you are a business or an individual.
While you cannot have a lawyer present with you in court for a very reasonable fee, a consumer lawyer can assist you in helping prepare your case for the hearing and advise you on what laws to stress at the hearing.
Consumer Fraud
Consumer Rights Lawyers also work with people who have been defrauded, especially the elderly. For example, consumer fraud can be found in purchasing funeral products and services or when you need cash quickly from a lender.
However, the most popular consumer fraud schemes involve identity theft and the illegal use of credit cards.
To learn how a consumer lawyer can protect and enforce your rights, for specific advice, consider connecting and consulting with a consumer lawyer today.
