Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
My husband and I have been married for 18 years and live in the same house but on different floors. He resides in the basement, which is an in-law apartment. His girlfriend has been living there without any rental agreement for over two years, even though she has her own apartment through Section... View More 
answered on Mar 9, 2025
My answer is only directed towards her taking out a cable bill and other debt in your name. I will let someone else address the other issues raised. You can file a police report and a FTC Fraud Affidavit detailing that these accounts were not taken out by you. From there, you'll want to... View More
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 21a part I title II sec 28 states a manufacturer or retailer shall not sell, offer or manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce or import into the commonwealth a covered product. I sell into households outside of MA as well and can direct ship to the customer.... View More
answered on Dec 27, 2024
I think the manufacturer makes a good point. G.L.c. 21A s, 28(b) states: "(b) A manufacturer or retailer shall not sell, offer or manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the commonwealth . . ." The words distribute in commerce can be read to mean sale to citizens of... View More
I ALSO HAVE A SERIOUS ISS UE WITH ABUSE FROM ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. I WENT IN THERE .A NUMBER OF TIMES HE TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS OVERLOADED WITH MY ACCOUNT. I HAD TO WAIT UP TO FORTY MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO MYTHOLOGICALLY FIX ITSELF. HE WAS LYING. THIS EMPLOYEE IS SO FEROCIOUS I AVOIDE GOING... View More
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answered on Mar 29, 2024
I'm sorry to hear about the troubles you've had with your pawn shop, including the loss of your classic guitars and the difficult interactions with an employee. It's important to address both the financial and the interpersonal issues you've experienced. Given the overdue... View More
My new truck had an online sticker price of $67070, when I picked it up the window sticker in the glove box said $65380. FCA RAM LLC allows customers to lookup stickers online, when I did this it said $67070. The VIN is the same on both stickers, they decided at some point to change the price... View More
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answered on Nov 30, 2023
In Massachusetts, the situation you described regarding the changing of a vehicle's window sticker price is not typical and raises several legal questions. Vehicle pricing, especially for new vehicles, is generally expected to be transparent and consistent.
The window sticker, often... View More
I reported a fraud case involving a financial loss of $500 to the police, but have not received any response or seen any action taken. What steps can I take to submit a legal claim or pursue further action to address this issue?
answered on May 16, 2025
If you have not received any response from law enforcement, you should consult with an attorney. Often, an attorney will have a better contact within the police department to whom you can direct your inquiry and get a better result.
I recently consumed expired beer that was served by a bar without any notice to customers. Although I did not experience any adverse effects, I am certain the beer was expired. I have not yet contacted the bar about this issue. Is there any legal recourse available for this situation?
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answered on May 15, 2025
Drinking expired beer served without warning can feel like a violation of trust, especially when you're paying for a safe product. Even if you didn’t suffer any physical harm, the bar may still have acted irresponsibly by offering a product past its date. Many state regulations require that... View More
I purchased a Junichy humidifier through Amazon on January 15, 2025. The device has stopped working, and I'm having difficulty finding a way to get it serviced. The manual provided an email address ([email protected]) but I haven’t been able to connect with the manufacturer through this... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
If your Junichy humidifier stopped working and the manufacturer isn't responding, you're still within your rights under Amazon’s policies. Since you bought it on January 15, 2025, and it's covered by a one-year warranty, you should be eligible for service or replacement. When the... View More
I purchased a car from a dealership, but they mishandled cashing my check, which took six months to resolve starting from December 2024. As a result, I was unable to build credit during that time and am concerned about my ability to secure a proper home loan. I have multiple documents from both the... View More
answered on May 16, 2025
I would contact a consumer protection attorney to review the facts. Keep a detailed record of everything that you referenced. If they are reporting your account as delinquent, you'll also want to dispute the account with the credit reporting agencies.
Since my landlord assumed control of my property in December 2023, I have experienced a pattern of neglect, disregard for my safety, and ultimately, illegal actions that have severely impacted my physical and mental well-being. This is not merely a landlord-tenant dispute; it’s a matter of health... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
What you’ve described goes far beyond a basic rental disagreement. If you’ve endured prolonged neglect, serious safety violations, and unjust treatment since your landlord took over, you may be facing a wrongful eviction rooted in discrimination or retaliation. A lack of heat during winter,... View More
I am considering hiring a moving company in Massachusetts to relocate heavy equipment weighing between 100-300 pounds, which involves navigating two staircases. The movers' contract states they are "not liable for any damages to discontinued units or units over 10 years old." My... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
A liability clause in a moving company’s contract can limit their responsibility for damages to specific items, such as older equipment. However, these clauses generally do not protect the company from liability if the damage is caused by gross negligence or recklessness. If the movers are... View More
I received a check for $100 from a company I have never done business with. The check came with no explanation or additional information, except it has "Deposit - my address" written on it. I have not contacted the company yet. What could be the reason for receiving such a check, and what... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
Receiving an unexpected check can be confusing, especially with no explanation attached. The check could be part of a refund, a promotional offer, or even a mistake, such as an error in a billing process or overpayment. It's also possible that it could be related to a class-action settlement... View More
I am a tutor working as a 1099 contractor through a third-party service called Knack at my university. Knack recently implemented a policy requiring students to complete a session recap before I receive payment. Despite my performance in the session, I have no control over whether students complete... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
That situation feels incredibly unfair, especially since you're doing the work and then being held hostage by something outside your control. As a 1099 contractor, you’re being treated as self-employed, which means you should be paid for services you’ve completed regardless of what the... View More
I am concerned about a situation where my electric company in Massachusetts has not billed me for electricity from June 2024 due to issues with their meter. They have since corrected the issue, but now I have 9 months' worth of outstanding billing. Is there any restriction in Massachusetts... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2025
It’s completely reasonable to feel overwhelmed when faced with a surprise electric bill covering nine months of usage, especially when the delay wasn’t your fault. In Massachusetts, electric utilities are allowed to back-bill for unbilled usage caused by meter errors, but they must follow... View More
In November 2024, I was brought to a hospital unconscious by ambulance after a slip and fall. At the hospital, my identity was mistakenly recorded, despite providing my legal name multiple times. My fractured left hip was initially missed in the x-ray, and I was left on a stretcher, ignored despite... View More
answered on Apr 2, 2025
This is a question for a medical malpractice attorney. I think we are not supposed to give you actual names of attorneys but if you check the internet the big local firms will come up, Lubin & Meyer, Crowe & Haris, etc. Try one of them.
I want to train an AI model on recipes from a website, using only the ingredients and the time it takes, ensuring I don't violate copyright laws by avoiding personal anecdotes or creative ideas. The website's terms of service state: "(f) you shall not use any data from the Services... View More
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answered on Mar 23, 2025
Looking at the situation you've described, you would indeed be violating the website's terms of service. The terms explicitly state that you cannot use data from their services for training any machine learning or intelligence system - this prohibition covers even basic information like... View More
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answered on Feb 9, 2025
In Massachusetts, a funeral home should not publish an obituary without the family's consent. While obituaries are not legally required, they often contain personal details that the family has a right to control. Unauthorized publication could raise concerns about privacy and respect for the... View More
I am currently a Massachusetts resident and I bought a new car at a New Hampshire dealership. I felt rushed and signed the papers for financing and put in a $2500 deposit. The vehicle I purchased was not yet delivered to the dealer as it was "in transit" so I didn't take possession... View More
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answered on Jul 18, 2024
You can register the car in New Hampshire directly if you establish residency there before taking possession of the vehicle. Since you haven't taken delivery yet and will be a New Hampshire resident when the car arrives, you should be able to register it in NH without needing to register it in... View More
I have a question about my solar warranty. The system was installed in 2017 and is still under warranty. Squirrels (presumably) have built a nest and chewed some of the connections under one of the panels, but the company says their warranty does not cover this damage. I think the company... View More
answered on Oct 31, 2023
After a brief check I was unable to find any state regulations governing solar installers or installations. They may exist. Can you call your local building inspector and ask if there are any such regulations or regulations that would generally apply to correctly securing equipment from animal... View More
My brother recently bought a car from Facebook Marketplace. The car had a legal title with the seller’s name and no lienholder mentioned. My brother took the title to RMV and was able to register the car under his name (which means title was original). After a couple of months, a towing company... View More
answered on Oct 27, 2023
If your brother has an unencumbered title and it is the same vehicle the car should not have been repossessed. Your brother should call the attorney general o get a lawyer to get the car back.
I recently bought a stair lift from a vendor who came recommended by a friend. This was for my 87 year old dad who is 5'4". I paid $4000. The vendor asked me for pictures of the location. So, I sent him a picture of the stairway which has a door at the bottom. He mentioned that the stair... View More
answered on Aug 30, 2023
A Massachusetts attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. A starting point could be to review the terms of the agreement or consult with an attorney to review them with you. Good luck
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