Bradenton Consumer Protection Lawyer
Florida’s consumer laws are designed to protect its residents from scams and to enforce their rights against corporations as well as the government. There are various agencies that are involved in consumer protection throughout the state, including the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Department of Legal Affairs and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You’ll also find that some counties even have their own local consumer protection or service agencies.
If you feel that you have been wronged as a consumer, you need to speak with a knowledgeable Bradenton consumer protection lawyer who can help you understand what your legal rights are.
Florida Consumer Protection Laws
There are a number of different consumer protection laws that govern the state of Florida. These include:
- Florida lemon laws deal with new automobile purchases that are defective
- Florida antitrust laws are designed to encourage competition
- Florida identity theft laws deal with the theft of someone’s identity
- Florida homestead laws protect eligible disabled or elderly people who are facing eviction or foreclosure
- Florida interest rate laws protect consumers from unlawful interest rates
- Florida deceptive trade practice laws protect against bait and switch, false advertising, etc.
What Consumer Complaints Florida State Agencies Handle
The Florida Attorney General’s Department of Legal Affairs handles consumer issues with deceptive trade practices and misleading advertising as well as lemon law complaints.
The Division of Consumer Services handles state regulations that are designed to protect consumers in a variety of different transactional complaints. These include complaints involving charitable organizations, travel agents, telemarketers, health studios, pawnbrokers, motor vehicle repair shops, intrastate movers, and more. It also serves to protect consumers from unsafe and unfair business practices from a wide range of sectors, from gasoline to amusement park rides.
Examples of some of the other consumer protection agencies include:
- Florida Office of Financial Regulation
- Florida Department of Financial Services
Federal Consumer Protection Laws
On a federal level, there are more agencies that work to protect consumers’ rights, like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Better Business Bureau. Some of the applicable federal laws that protect consumers include:
- Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act: Restricts home loans to prevent predatory lending practices
- Bankruptcy protection:The ability to file bankruptcy is also considered a consumer protection law
- Privacy Policies: Dealing with financial privacy, identity theft, unfairness, and deception
- Fair Credit Reporting Laws: These include various acts like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Truth in Lending Act: Requires a lender to give disclosures in writing about the cost and terms of a loan
Retaining a Bradenton Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been wronged as a consumer and believe you have a valid claim, it’s important to contact a Bradenton personal injury attorney who can assist. There are a variety of different agencies and/or laws that may apply to your particular situation. Your attorney can help ensure complaints are filed with the appropriate agencies and ensure your rights are protected. At The Pendas Law Firm, we have over a decade of experience helping Florida consumers with their personal injury matters. Contact our offices today at 1-844-200-0000 to schedule an initial consultation.
