Consumer Protection

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DannLaw’s highly skilled attorneys use a bountiful “alphabet soup” of federal and state laws that enable us to act as private “attorney generals” who fight for consumers and hold lenders, banks, mortgage servicers, debt collectors and other corporate predators accountable for their misdeeds.

In this capacity we file suit on behalf of consumers, stop foreclosures and other collection activities, and secure justice and substantial financial damages for our clients. Yes, it’s true, the cases are often complicated and our adversaries formidable and well-heeled, but the hundreds of victories we’ve achieved in and out of court clearly demonstrate how effective these legal tools can be in the hands of attorneys who know how to use them.

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy

Civil Litigation

Consumer protection

Forced Arbitration

Foreclosure Defense

Lender Accountability

Loan Modification

Student Loan Debt

Is Bankruptcy the Right Choice For You?

Debt and financial problems can creep up on you faster than you realize, and it can happen to anyone. The debt relief attorneys at DannLaw are experienced in bankruptcy cases and can help you determine if bankruptcy is the right course of action for your situation. You might consider it if:

-You are receiving constant harassment from creditors through calls and collection attempts

-You are facing foreclosure

-You have had your car or personal property repossessed

-You are struggling to repay loans, debts or credit cards

-Your wages are being garnished

-Bank levies are currently blocking your accounts

These are just some of the most common situations where bankruptcy can be the best choice available. It is also important to understand the difference between the two primary types, as they afford you different options.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

RESPA is the most important consumer protection statute enacted in the past 25 years because homeowners can now seek and receive substantial financial compensation from big banks and mortgages companies engaged in abusive and/or illegal practices.

The Act’s rigid guidelines govern every aspect of mortgage loan servicing after origination including the loan modification process. It prohibits dual tracking, which occurs when servicers foreclose on a home while a loan modification is being reviewed, requires servicers to provide homeowners and their attorneys with detailed information upon request, and establishes specific methods for resolving disputes. Servicers are subject to statutory damages of up to $2,000 per violation of the law’s provisions and may be liable for attorney’s fees and court costs.

Because successful suits can generate six-figure settlements, RESPA makes it economically feasible for attorneys who practice consumer law to take on and pursue difficult cases against well-heeled banks and mortgage companies and the “tall building” law firms that represent them. Despite the complicated nature of the cases and the time it takes to prepare and litigate them, we decided to focus on this area of practice for two reasons: first because the Act provides an effective way to help people save their homes and rebuild their lives and, second, because the financial costs violators incur may deter future abuses.

Over the past two years, the DannLaw has become a national leader in RESPA litigation. We conduct seminars and training sessions on the law and are currently serving as co-counsel with outstanding law firms that have filed RESPA actions in federal courts across the nation. We firmly believe this area of the law will expand in the years ahead as more homeowners and attorneys become aware of its potential for securing justice and just financial settlements for borrowers who have been abused.

EFTA: The Electronic Fund Transfer Act

Signed into law in 1978, EFTA, which establishes the rights and responsibilities of all parties who participate in electronic funds transfer activities, is growing in significance due to the explosion in internet commerce. The Act governs matters related to ATMs, direct deposit, pay-by-phone, payments made via the internet, electronic check conversion and debit card transactions.

The Act requires financial institutions and companies that facilitate electronic fund transfers to provide consumers with the following:

-A written summary of a consumer’s liability for unauthorized transfers;

-A number consumers can call to report unauthorized transfers;

-The fees associated with various types of transfers;

-A summary of an institution’s liability to a consumer if it fails to make or stop a transaction;The circumstances in which the institution can share a consumer’s information with a third party;

-A process for reporting errors;

A notice about the fees that may be charged for using a third-party ATM.

The EFTA is administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation but consumers do have a private cause of action under the Act. Institutions that violate the EFTA may be liable for actual damages, statutory damages of up to $1,000.00, along with reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

ECOA: Equal Credit Opportunity Act

ECOA makes it unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant for any credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national original, sex, marital status, age, because an applicant’s income is derived in any part from a public assistance program, or because an applicant exercised their rights under the Consumer Credit Protection Act/Truth in Lending Act. Any entity that regularly makes credit decisions: banks, retailers, bankcard companies, finance companies, and credit unions are covered by the act. ECOA liability has not, however, been expanded to include mortgage loan modifications.

The Act is a powerful tool for consumers because civil penalties can include $10,000.00 in punitive damages, actual damages as well as attorney’s fees.

FCDPA: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Enacted in 1978, the FDCPA is the most well-known federal consumer protection statute. Its primary purpose is to prevent third party debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, false, or deceptive practices to collect debts. Violators of the Act may be liable for statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney’s fees. Entities collecting debt on their own behalf are not subject to the Act.

Because the Supreme Court has yet to define many aspects of the FDCPA, its impact and application varies across the nation. For example, within the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction which includes Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, consumers may only be awarded one statutory damage recovery regardless of how many times a debt collector violated the Act.

TCPA: Telephone Consumer Protection Act

The TCPA may be the most misunderstood federal consumer protection law. Its explicit purpose is to limit the use of automatic telephone dialing systems (ATDS) and artificial or prerecorded voice messages by telemarketers. Since its passage in 1991, the TCPA has been expanded to cover the use of ATDS’s and voice messages by debt collectors.

While the Act has not completely evolved to keep pace with the seismic shift away from the use of landlines to cell phones, thanks to guidance issued by the Federal Communications Commission in 2016 the TCPA now applies to cell phones if an affected consumer does not have a landline. Under the guidance, debt collectors may not call a cell phone unless the owner gives consent. That means it’s important for consumers to deny consent verbally during the initial call and then to immediately withdraw consent in writing.

Statutory damages under TCPA range from $500.00 to $1,500.00 per call and may be applied to each and every call made if it is found that a debt collector willfully violated the Act. The ability to “stack” damages serves as an effective deterrent and provides just compensation for consumers who have been victimized by aggressive debt collectors who willfully violate the law.

TILA: Truth in Lending Act

TILA governs a wide range of credit transactions including mortgage loans, credit card transactions, student loan financing, and car loans. The Act requires lenders to disclose important information to borrowers before they sign credit applications. The required disclosures include the annual percentage rate (APR), term of the loan and total costs. TILA also gives borrowers a “right of rescission” that enables them to cancel home equity loans or lines of credit and mortgage refinancing transactions under certain circumstances.

Lenders that violate TILA are subject to statutory damages, actual damages, and may be forced to pay court costs and plaintiff’s attorney’s fees. Because the Act covers a broad spectrum of issues in very specific ways, consumers, as well as lawyers who do not regularly practice this type of law, should consult with DannLaw’s highly experienced attorneys before pursuing claims.

Ohio Consumer Protection Laws

The Ohio General Assembly has enacted consumer protection laws that mirror and in some cases expand federal law. The statutes, which are designed to protect Ohioans from deceptive practices and other types of illegal activities govern telemarketing, identity theft, auto sales, condo and home sales, pyramid schemes, credit cards, automobile sales, and many other types of transactions. In many instances, consumers who have been cheated are entitled to monetary damages. Contact the DannLaw office near you to arrange a free consultation that will enable us to evaluate your situation and determine if you have a claim.

New Jersey Consumer Protection Laws

New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) is one of the strongest consumer-protection laws in the nation. The CFA prohibits misrepresentations, unconscionable practices, bait-and-switch and similar tactics in all consumer transactions and allows victims to recover up to three times their actual damages.

The CFA also permits victims to recover attorneys’ fees. This fee-shifting feature of the law enables us to cases on a contingency fee basis. That means in most situations we don not charge an up-front fee—DannLaw will only get paid if we win or settle a client’s case. And of course, there is never a charge for an initial consultation with one of our highly experienced consumer protection attorneys. To schedule a consultation click here.

The specific areas of our New Jersey consumer-fraud practice include:

Auto Fraud.

DannLaw attorneys are among New Jersey’s leading advocates for consumers who have been victimized by dishonest car dealerships and auto financing companies. We help clients deal with illegal fees, registration overcharges, fraudulent “certified pre-owned”, undisclosed prior wrecks, unlawful repair practices, and Lemon Law claims. To learn more about our auto fraud practice click here.

For specific information about Lemon Law claims click here.

Home Improvement / Contractor Fraud.

When a home improvement contractor engages in abusive or fraudulent conduct, the homeowner’s life can be upended.

Fortunately, New Jersey law affords many protections to homeowners against contractor misconduct. All home improvement contractors must be licensed with the state, and their licensing information must be printed on their contracts and all other documents and signs they use.

All home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and must allow the homeowner to cancel the contract within 3 days. The contract must also include all of the details of the job, including the beginning and end date, a description of the materials to be used and the work to be performed. If the job is delayed, the contractor must notify the homeowner of the reason for the delay and provide new timeframes for the job in writing. The contractor may not accept final payment until the job is finished and passes inspection. If your contractor failed to follow these laws and caused you to suffer damages, you may be entitled to relief.

Warranty Fraud.

A warranty is a promise from the seller of a product or service that the product or service will meet certain expectations. Warranties can be express, such as the written warranty that comes with a computer or a car, or implied by law.

Under the laws of most states, most products automatically come with two implied warranties: the warranty of merchantability and the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. These warranties are designed to ensure that when you buy a product, it does what it was designed and marketed to do. For example, a cell phone that was too fragile and broke during normal use would violate these warranties. DannLaw represents victims of warranty fraud, including fraudulent denial of warranty claims for vehicles, electronics, and other products.