New and used car dealers in Maryland and around the country are heavily regulated, but misrepresentation and fraud remain worryingly common. This is because the automobile business is fiercely competitive, which leads some dealers to engage in behavior that violates...
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Year: 2020
The law and consumer debt collection
Debtors usually experience many calls from creditors attempting to collect payments from them. Debtors often think collectors can do what they want, but the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from unfair and abusive collection tactics. Knowing what...
What the law says about auto repairs
Most every vehicle owner will face repairs, but finding a trustworthy mechanic can be tricky. Sometimes, mechanics take shortcuts to save money which could be risky. Consumers in Towson, Maryland, should know the basics on legal issues concerning vehicle repairs....
The Maryland Lemon Law
Maryland residents who buy or lease a new car, light truck or motorcycle are protected by the state’s Lemon Law. This law entitles consumers to a refund or replacement vehicle when a problem develops that dealers are unable to repair. However, remedies are only...
Limitations on debt collection practices
Most people think debt collectors in Maryland can do anything they want to pursue payment, which makes debtors afraid to answer the phone. Collectors may attempt to collect debts, but the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act limits how they can contact debtors. What...
How to avoid buying a flood-damaged vehicle in Maryland
When cars are damaged by a hurricane or flood, some of those vehicles end up back on the market. The cars are bought by unsuspecting buyers who have no idea that the vehicle suffered water damage. As a result, the buyers might be exposed to contaminants like mold,...
What a debt collector cannot do
Some debt collectors in Maryland do not get looked upon favorably because of how they attempt to collect debts. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from being abusive toward consumers. Debt collectors cannot use the following tactics....
What you need to know about the CDC’s eviction moratorium
Since quarantine measures began in March 2020, Maryland has faced a rough economic situation, just like the rest of the United States. To aid citizens, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a “temporary halt in residential evictions” in early...
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sues Midland Funding and Others
Yesterday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued a group of debt buyers, including Midland Funding, for violating a 2015 consent order with the CFPB and for violating the Consumer Financial Protection Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You can...
Court Denies Motion to Compel Arbitration in Debt Collection Case
The U.S. District Court of Maryland recently denied a debt collector’s motion to compel arbitration in a putative class action brought by Jane Santoni of Santoni, Vocci & Ortega, LLC on behalf of Edward Skinner, III. Mr. Skinner leased consumer goods from a...