Consumer Lawyers
A consumer lawyer deals with issues such as consumer fraud, false advertising, and product liability, as well as other things. They deal with all the scams that might be going on with businesses trying to scam consumers. They also start class-action lawsuits against big companies who are trying to fraud consumers.
You can call around to see if you can find a good consumer lawyer, or you could research online. You could also call the Law Office of Patrea R. Bullock, PS and see what they can do for you. They have had years of experience and can help you with anything that has to do with consumer law.
This article will help you to learn more about consumer law and what can be done about fraud. It will tell you some of the things that you need to know before you buy. If you need to learn more about this, you could also do some more research.
Things to Know About Consumer Law
- Business License
The Department of Consumer Affairs, or DCA, will give licenses to businesses in many different industries. You can check to see if a business has a DCA license in Los Angeles by calling 311 during business hours. You can also learn more about any complaints against any business that is licensed by DCA.
- Refund Policies and Other Information
Stores must post refund policies and other information near their cash registers so that consumers will know about these policies. Although stores can create their own refund policies, they must make sure that consumers know what these policies are. See here about these policies. These policies need to contain all the information about a refund, such as the need for a receipt, restocking fees, time limits, and how refunds are given such as cash, credit, or store credit. If the business fails to post this policy, you have thirty days to return an unopened product with the choice of cash or credit for your refund.
Credit card limitations should also be listed at the cash register. This should include any limitations on credit card purchases such as a minimum purchase or maximum purchase. This information should also be listed at the front door.
- Look for the Price
The price of the goods in a store must be listed, either on the product itself, or on a sign above the product. It is not legal to charge more than the listed price, so make sure you are watching as the store rings up your product. If the store is selling a service, such as dry cleaners or salons, the price must be listed near the register or where you check in. Prices cannot be different for men and women – for example, you cannot charge one price for a man’s shirt and a different price for a woman’s shirt. If the shirts are different, you can charge for those differences as an add-on – for example, you could charge more for sequins on a shirt.
- Receipts
You need to ask for a receipt if it is not offered to you, and then keep it in a safe spot. In some states, a receipt is automatically given to you if you spend at least $20, and they must also give you a receipt if you request it if the total is between $5 and $20. The receipt must include information about the store, such as the name and address, amount charge for each item, total amount paid, tax paid, and the date of the purchase.
- False Advertising
If there is a sale listed in a newspaper or flyer, the sale must list the name, the variety, and the size of anything that is on sale. The ad must also include any restrictions and those restrictions cannot be listed in fine print. You must beware of bait and switch ads that promise one thing but then want to provide something different at the store. In store sales must list the regular price on the display sign, as well as the sale price. The store must also have also have enough of the sale item to go around.
If the store is having a specialty sale, such as a fire, flood, or going out of business, the business must have a special license for that sale. Check to see if they have that license and remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Look For DCA Seals
These seals need to be on all gas pumps, scales, and home heating oil delivery trucks. These seals show that these have all passed DCA inspection and are good to go. If you are buying something that is weighed on scales, these scales must be positioned so that you can see the weight and the price.
- Protect Your ID
You want to make sure that you don’t ever give out personal information on public computers, over the telephone, or any social media sites. You also want to shred any papers that have your personal information on them. You can also protect your smartphone, tablet, or computer from malware by adding security or firewalls. You can also check your free annual credit report to see if there are any unusual activity that you don’t recognize: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action. You can report any suspected fraud to the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission.
- Research
If you are going to buy any expensive merchandise, you need to research where you are buying it from. If it is a well-known store, check reviews for their service and check any references. You can also see if you can negotiate for a better price. If you are signing a contract, make sure you read all the small print before you sign. Make sure that everything that you have discussed is in the contract to protect yourself. Never sign a contract that has blank spots that can be filled in by someone else later on.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the things that you need to know before you buy things. You can always do more research to make sure that you won’t be taken advantage of before you buy. If you do have any issues, you can always talk to a consumer lawyer to express your concerns.
