As a consumer, it’s imperative to understand that there are a litany of laws in place to protect your rights. While many of these pertain to your credit score or debt collection, you may be surprised to learn about the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), which helps protect those in California from unfair and deceptive business practices. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters, including the importance of discussing your circumstances with a California consumer lawyer to explore your legal options if you were taken advantage of by a business.
What Is the Consumers Legal Remedies Act and What Are Common Violations?
The Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) is a set of regulations enacted by the state of California to provide protection to consumers by prohibiting certain unfair business practices. Some prohibited behaviors by companies and businesses include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Misrepresenting the true nature of goods or services
- Lying about where goods or services originate from
- Faking certain professional affiliations or endorsements to seem more qualified
- Advertising goods and services with no intent to sell them how they are advertised
- Advertising goods while not explaining there is a limited quantity
- Spreading falsehoods regarding other businesses and companies to increase your sales
- Using “robocalls” to contact anyone other than those who are current customers or who owe a debt
It’s imperative to understand that if any of the aforementioned circumstances apply to you, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the damages inflicted. While you can always file an individual civil suit, if there are other impacted consumers, a class-action lawsuit may occur.
What Should I Do if My Rights Are Violated?
In the event that your rights are violated by a business and you are interested in seeking compensation for the damages that have been inflicted, it’s imperative to understand the steps involved in this process.
Generally, the first thing you must do is determine whether or not your potential case is still under the statute of limitation. Under the CLRA, you have three years from the date of the violation to file a claim against the negligent party. In addition, you must understand that 30 days before you intend to file a claim, you must send a letter to the agency asking them to remedy or replace the goods or services that have allegedly violated the CLRA.
If the agency fails to rectify the situation within the correct timeframe, you’ll be able to pursue legal action. As such, the most important thing you can do to fight for the justice you deserve is contact an experienced consumer defense attorney.
At Los Angeles Legal Solutions, our firm understands how difficult these matters can be to navigate. That’s why we are committed to helping you through these difficult times so you can fight for the compensation and justice you deserve. Connect with our team today to learn how we can fight for you.
