What Is Consumer Law?
Consumer Protection in New York
Consumer law refers to the laws that protect consumers from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous debt collectors, debt collection law firms, lenders, financing companies, mortgage brokers, auto dealers, credit card companies, and the like. Each
New York consumer protection lawyer with Schlanger & Schlanger, LLP can use a variety of state and federal consumer protection laws to help address unfair and deceptive practices. These consumer protection laws include, but are not limited to:
Many of the consumer protection laws cited above have mandatory "fee shifting" provisions, meaning that the consumer is entitled to compensation for his or her attorney's fees if a court finds that the consumer's rights were violated. Because the unscrupulous debt collectors, crooked car dealers, and others who are covered under these consumer laws know that they will have to pay attorney's fees to the consumer if they lose, a consumer attorney is often able to recover attorney's fees as part of settlement. Because of these fee shifting provisions, some consumer law cases can be handled without the consumer paying their attorney's fees in advance, or the case can be handled on a contingency.
Depending on the facts, many consumers can also use traditional common law claims such as fraud, breach of contract (including breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing); wrongful misrepresentation; conversion; and more. In contrast with products liability law which deals with products that cause harm or injury, consumer law typically deals with unfair or deceptive treatment by those selling the product; providing financing for the purchase; attempting to collect a debt-related to the purchase; or reporting the debt's status to credit reporting agencies.
Types of Cases Handled by Our Consumer Protection Lawyers
At Schlanger & Schlanger, LLP, our lawyers are passionate about protecting consumer rights. Debt-related problems can be caused by any number of unexpected life events: a period of unemployment, failure of a small business, medical emergency, and divorce are common causes. In some cases, debt collectors pursue a consumer who is a victim of identity theft or otherwise doesn't owe the debt at all! To assist people in these circumstances who have problems with debt and debt collectors, we handle a wide variety of debt-related issues, including:
People with debt, credit, and auto fraud related issues often have more options than they realize. Whether you are being harassed for a debt you don't owe, want assistance negotiating with a creditor, dealing with a dishonest auto dealer, or find yourself needing to get a fresh start through bankruptcy, the consumer rights lawyers at Schlanger & Schlanger, LLP are here to help you assess your options and move forward.
We Can Help
Contact Schlanger & Schlanger, LLP or complete our
case evaluation form online to find out about getting the quality counsel and representation you deserve with your consumer law case. We work with consumers with a wide variety of needs, and our practice includes bring lawsuits based on deceptive collection or auto financing practices, defending collection lawsuits brought against our clients, negotiating with creditors, as well as helping clients seek bankruptcy protection.