Get free answers to your Consumer Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I was involved in a car accident on 3/23, and my car's repairs have yet to begin. I'm facing challenges because a technician did some work unofficially, off the clock, and not in a shop. I paid him cash to install a painted fender I purchased with a check from the insurance company. Now,... View More 
answered on May 21, 2025
It looks like you are dealing with a claim that has somehow attracted suspicion. If SIU is involved on the case, it might be difficult to do anything before their investigators are satisfied as to the details of the claim. Ultimately, it could be worth considering an attorney consult if you are not... View More
I was involved in a car accident in Maryland and received an insurance estimate for repairs, including painting, which is expensive. However, the insurance company now wants to total the car. Do I need to complete all the repairs listed, including the paint, or can I choose not to, given that I... View More
answered on May 3, 2025
If the car is totaled, the insurance company will pay you the fair market value of the vehicle plus 6% sales tax and tags. If you wish to keep the vehicle, they will deduct salvage value and you will have to get a salvage title. It may be more expensive and difficult to insure the vehicle. You do... View More
I live in Maryland and want to own and operate a decommissioned ambulance as a personal vehicle, possibly converting it into a camper van. I'm concerned about the legality, insurance, and registration requirements for such a vehicle. Are there any laws in Maryland preventing this, and what... View More
answered on Mar 31, 2025
Yes, you can register and drive a de-commissioned ambulance as a used truck. You must remove all emergency lights and logos/wording/markings designating it as an emergency vehicle (the words “emergency,” “EMS,” crosses, etc.). You should check with the MVA whether anything else must be... View More
I am homeless and was sleeping in my car parked at a hotel in Edgewood, Harford County, Maryland. I was assaulted and taken to the hospital, and during that time, my car was towed without my knowledge. The towing bill is now over $3000. I've contacted the police and have a police report... View More
answered on Mar 24, 2025
That sounds like a very challenging situation. Unfortunately a tow company often has the legal right to charge per day fees for vehicles they legally tow, even though on a personal level such fees may work a significant financial hardship.
You might consider reaching out to the Maryland... View More
A veterinarian's office ran a test on my pet without my knowledge or approval and did not inform me until I called to make an appointment months later. They claimed I owe $80 for the test, despite not discussing or approving it, and they cannot find any record of my approval. I refused to pay,... View More
answered on Mar 10, 2025
The Public Defender's Office only represents person charged with a criminal offense who cannot fford a lawyer to defend the charges. You are being sued in civil court for an unpaid debt or for breach of contract. Persons appearing in civil court cases are not entitled to receive free legal... View More
I discovered an account in collections on my credit report that was fraudulently opened using my SSN. I reported the identity theft to my local police department and disputed the account with Experian, which removed it. However, Transunion has not removed it, and as I'm applying for a... View More
answered on Feb 25, 2025
I would contact a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act to determine if there is an actionable claim against Trans Union. If there is an actionable FCRA claim, there's a chance that this increased interest rate can be used as damages but tough to determine... View More
In June 2024 I had a baby shower and placed the catering order at a company. I thought I paid online but when my fiancé got to the location, he asked if I if he needed to pay they said no he want to make sure that he didn’t need to pay and they said no in January I get a call stating that the... View More
answered on Feb 24, 2025
The restaurant can sell the unpaid account to a collection agency, or retain a collection agency for a fee, to try and collect the past due amount owed. If you do not work something out with either the restaurant or the collection agency that takes over collection of the debt, then eventually they... View More
my question is the fire report said it was careless smoking and won’t even hear me when I’m trying to tell them that it had to have been a defective lighter since I found one in her truck and since bought three more and have had to blow up in my face. Due to the fire report and the fact that... View More
answered on Nov 25, 2024
What you describe is pure guess, conjecture and speculation. You do not identify any hard evidence that a lighter (a) exploded in her home; or (b) was the cause of the fire that killed your sister.
The fact that it could have happened that way doesn’t mean it did. The fact that other... View More
I purchased a 2013 650I BMW from an Annapolis MD dealership in or around 7/2022 which unbeknownst to me was a lemon. To my surprise, I learned during a service call for an oil change in 6/2024 that the vehicle which has been driven minimally as a result of me working from home during the pandemic... View More
answered on Aug 31, 2024
While it is frustrating to have significant repairs on a vehicle you recently purchased, a used vehicle that is 9 or 10 years old does not have the same warranties as a new car.
Maryland's "lemon law" applies to a NEW passenger car, light truck or motorcycle that has... View More
How can I challenge State Farm's undervaluation without incurring prohibitive legal costs and ensure my 27-1001 filing is as strong as possible?
answered on Aug 14, 2024
A Maryland attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Until you are able to consult with a local attorney, the general manner of challenging an undervaluation could include presenting evidence in the form of comparable listings within a given region, an... View More
I accrued medical expenses and tow expenses and well as getting the damaged done out of pocket
answered on Jul 3, 2024
Yes, you can sue the company that installed the brakes and rotors on your car if their negligence caused you to hit a wall and suffer medical damages.
To succeed in a negligence claim against the company, you would have to demonstrate that the company's improper installation of the... View More
I accrued medical expenses and tow expenses and well as getting the damaged done out of pocket
answered on Jul 3, 2024
Yes, you may have a valid claim if you can prove that the service work performed was substandard and caused the crash. It may require a vehicle inspection by an expert to provide an opinion admissible in court. You will need to prove that the work was done negligently and was a substantial factor... View More
I do not believe he is licensed. He has a LLC. I have searched the internet and his company does not come up or his name. Yet he is telling everyone he is licensed. He built a deck for my neighbor and did a great job. I reviewed all his work on FB and everyone seemed satisfied. However, the... View More
answered on Apr 30, 2024
It is a crime for an unlicensed contractor to work without a license. If he is not licensed, you can file criminal charges and ask for a refund as restitution.
If he is licensed, you can filed a complaint with the home improvement commission.
You also could sue him for damages.
I hired a Virginia-based company to repair a leak in my home. I asked if they were licensed to work in Maryland, and they said they were, but the document they provided me says "Out-of-state contractor (not for home improvement)," and neither the business trade name nor any of the... View More
answered on Feb 17, 2024
Performing a home improvement without a license is a criminal offense in Maryland, and the civil courts will not enforce the contract for the contractor. In other words, the contractor cannot legally accept payment, or sue you if you don’t pay, so no, you do not have to pay. I would immediately... View More
I am looking into creating an E-commerce site that sells Cannabis Accessories (Grinders, Pipes, Etc). I have no intention on selling any CBD products.
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answered on Jan 28, 2024
Here are the key regulations around selling cannabis accessories online in Maryland:
1. Legal to sell cannabis accessories - Maryland has legalized cannabis accessories, so products like grinders, rolling papers, pipes, bongs, etc are legal to sell to adults over 21.
2. No sale of... View More
Along with other problems like catalytic covertor axle broke and transmission being replaced twice which they had for 6 weeks and we paid 3000 dollars in rental car
answered on Dec 15, 2023
It isn't clear what legal issue you are seeking help with. It is neither fun nor cheap to replace a transmission but generally that falls 100% on the car owner unless the car is covered under a Lemon Law.
Maryland "Lemon Law" only applies to new (or newer) cars driven... View More
When they got here I weighed them and they averaged 915 lbs. I had paid him before he sent them to me. What can I do to make him take them back or refund money to me ?
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answered on Dec 6, 2023
In your situation, where the cattle delivered from New York State weigh significantly less than what was represented by the seller, you have a few potential options to pursue. The discrepancy in weight can be a valid basis for a claim, especially if you have evidence of the seller's original... View More
In July 2023, I bought a Key FOB from a Jaguar dealership for $750, but by October, it failed to lock my doors. From October 2023 to January 2024, I communicated with the dealership's local corporate leadership to solve the issue. I contacted a mediator at the Maryland Attorney General's... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
You’ve done everything right so far—communicating clearly, seeking help from the Attorney General's Office, and giving the dealership more than enough time to resolve the issue. The fact that the Key FOB failed and they offered only a loyalty coupon instead of a refund or repair is not... View More
In July 2023, I purchased a Key FOB from a Jaguar dealership for $750, but by October 2023, I realized it wasn't locking my doors. From October 2023 to January 2024, I communicated with the dealership's local corporate leadership to resolve the issue. I then sought help from a mediator in... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
You're absolutely right to want real resolution after all this time. You paid for a product that doesn't work as promised, and despite trying every reasonable channel—including the Maryland Attorney General's Office—the dealership has failed to make it right. Offering a \$750... View More
I have been living in a motel room in Cecil County, MD for 76 consecutive days and have been charged $5 per day each for county and state occupancy taxes. I recently learned that if I had provided written notification of my extended stay upon arrival, I shouldn't have had to pay these taxes... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
Yes, under Maryland law, you're generally exempt from paying state and local hotel occupancy taxes after 30 consecutive days of staying at the same lodging facility. Since you've stayed 76 days, you shouldn't have been charged those taxes beyond the first month—*but* the exemption... View More
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