Working with the firm
- Does it cost anything to ask about my case?
- No. The case evaluation is free and confidential, and there is no obligation to hire the firm afterward.
- What should I have ready for the first conversation?
- The documents you already have — contracts, advertisements, financing papers, repair orders, letters, statements — plus a dated note of what happened and when. In consumer cases the paperwork usually matters more than the recollection, and a phone photo of a document is enough to begin.
- How quickly should I reach out?
- Sooner rather than later. Consumer claims are governed by deadlines, and evidence such as advertisements, recordings, repair records, and staff memory tends to fade or disappear. A free evaluation tells you whether timing is a problem in your situation.
- Does contacting the firm make you my lawyer?
- No. An attorney-client relationship begins only when the firm agrees to take your matter, usually in writing. Until then, what you send is treated as confidential, but no legal advice is given or relied upon.
- Will you tell me if I don't have a case?
- Yes. If the law does not give you a remedy worth pursuing, you will hear that plainly, along with what would have to change for the answer to be different.
Auto fraud and lemon law
- The dealer said one thing and the contract says another. Do I have a claim?
- It depends on what was represented, whether it mattered to your decision, and what loss followed. Maryland's Consumer Protection Act may reach material misrepresentations or omissions in a vehicle sale, but sales talk and terms you agreed to at signing are a different matter.
- Can I still do something after I signed the paperwork?
- Often, yes. Signing does not automatically erase claims about what was undisclosed or misrepresented before you signed, although the contract's terms and what you were told about them will both be examined.
- How many repairs before a car is a lemon?
- There is no universal number. Maryland Lemon Law and warranty protections turn on the vehicle, when the defect appeared, the documented repair history, how much time the car spent out of service, and whether the defect affects use, value, or safety.
- What if the dealer refuses to give my money back?
- Keep the vehicle and every record, and put the demand in writing with a date. Whether a refund, replacement, arbitration, or a claim is the right path depends on the vehicle and the paperwork, so have the file reviewed before you give the car back.
Contractors and home work
- My contractor took a deposit and never started. What now?
- Write a timeline of promises and payments, request a written explanation, and check the contractor's license status with the appropriate Maryland agency. Whether that is a scheduling dispute, abandonment, or something deceptive depends on the agreement and the conduct.
- Is my problem defective work or unfinished work?
- Both can be actionable, but the proof differs. Defective work usually needs a written assessment from an independent professional; unfinished work usually needs the contract scope, the payment record, and the dates.
- Can a contractor put a lien on my house for work I never agreed to?
- A lien claim is a legal filing, not proof that the work was agreed to or done properly. Disputed liens have their own procedures and deadlines, so get the filing and have it reviewed promptly.
- Are there rules about how much a contractor may collect up front?
- Maryland's home-improvement rules limit how much a contractor may collect before work begins and require specific terms in the contract. Confirm the requirement that applies to your project rather than relying on a general figure.
Debt collection
- A collector calls constantly. Is that illegal?
- It depends on the caller, the frequency, the purpose, and what was said or disclosed. A dated call log, saved voicemails, and copies of any written requests are what turn "they won't stop calling" into a pattern that can be assessed.
- I don't recognize the debt. Do I have to pay it?
- No. Ask for enough information to identify the alleged creditor and account, and dispute anything inaccurate in writing. Verifying a debt and paying it are different steps, and you are not required to concede ownership in order to get information.
- A collector threatened me with arrest. What should I do?
- Save the exact communication — the wording, date, caller, and account — and separate any real court paper from a verbal threat. Court documents still require a timely response even when the collector's other conduct is disputed.
- My wages are being garnished. Can that be stopped?
- A garnishment is court-authorized enforcement, not a collection phone call, so the answer depends on the judgment, the notice you received, the source of the funds, and possible exemptions. Get the papers and case-specific advice quickly; disputing the debt with a collector does not automatically pause enforcement.
Credit reporting
- My dispute didn't work. Is that a violation?
- Not automatically. An unfavorable result alone does not prove a legal violation; what matters is the accuracy of the entry, what you submitted, how the bureau or furnisher investigated, and what the response was.
- How long can a wrong entry stay on my report?
- Reporting periods depend on the type of entry and the underlying dates, and an account updated to look newer is a separate question from how long it may be reported. Keep older reports so the original dates can be compared.
- Someone else's account is on my report. Where do I start?
- Identify each incorrect entry precisely, keep the report showing it, and submit a documented dispute through the appropriate channels, retaining the response and any updated report. If fraud is involved, identity-theft-specific steps may apply in addition to an ordinary accuracy dispute.
- Will fixing my credit report get my money back?
- A claim can sometimes address losses caused by inaccurate reporting, but the available claims depend on the dispute history, the conduct, and the harm you can show. Correcting the report and recovering a loss are two different questions.
The Maryland Consumer Protection Act
- What does the Act actually cover?
- It addresses unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practices in covered consumer transactions. The conduct, your reliance where reliance is required, and the resulting loss all have to line up before there is a private claim.
- I'm unhappy with a purchase. Is that a case?
- Dissatisfaction alone is usually not enough. The question is whether the seller's conduct was unfair or deceptive, and whether it caused you a measurable loss.
- Is the Act the only law that might help?
- No. Contract, warranty, licensing, and federal statutes — such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the federal debt collection rules — often apply alongside Maryland law, and the right mix depends on your facts.
- Do I have to sue to get anything done?
- Not necessarily. Many matters are resolved by a documented demand, a dispute, or a negotiation once the other side sees the record. Filing is one tool, and whether it is the right one depends on the claim and the response.