1st Edition

Everyday Law for Consumers

By Michael L. Rustad Copyright 2007
    320 Pages
    by Routledge

    320 Pages
    by Routledge

    "Your toolkit for prevention, redemption, and occasionally retribution." -Ralph Nader Whenever you purchase goods or services in a personal, household, or family capacity, you are entitled to the rights and remedies of state and federal consumer law. Realistically, only a very small percentage of consumer problems can be addressed by hiring a private attorney. Everyday Law for Consumers teaches practical self-help remedies that ordinary Americans can use to protect their consumer rights. Michael L. Rustad, a nationally known practicing attorney and legal scholar, translates into plain English the legalese that forms the basis for many common transactions, including consumer loans, credit repair, credit, consumer leases, usury, interest rates, Internet transactions, identity theft, distance contracts, home shopping, television advertisements, door-to-door sales, and telephone solicitations. Using real-life examples, sample complaint letters, and an appendix of further examples, this easy-to-read book empowers everyday people to become effective self-advocates in an increasingly consumer-driven society.

    Preface Acknowledgments List of Acronyms Chapter 1. Overview of Consumer Law PART I: HOW TO USE PUBLIC CONSUMER LAW Chapter 2. Your Federal Consumer Law Rights Chapter 3. How You Are Protected by State Consumer Law PART II: PRIVATE CONSUMER REMEDIES Chapter 4. Taking Direct Action by Filing a Lawsuit Chapter 5. Small Claims Courts Chapter 6. Choosing and Working with Your Own Lawyer Chapter 7. Consumer Class Actions Chapter 8. Mandatory Arbitration: Protecting Your Rights PART III: COMMON LAW'S CONSUMER PROTECTION Chapter 9. Protecting Your Rights in Consumer Contracts Chapter 10. Torts and Defective Products PART IV: SPECIFIC CONSUMER PROTECTION Chapter 11. Automobile Sales, Services, and Financing Chapter 12. Obtaining Credit Chapter 13. Banking, Credit Cards, and Debit Cards Chapter 14. Credit Reports Chapter 15. Your Debtor's Rights and Remedies Chapter 16. Home Sweet Home Chapter 17. Consumer Protection in Cyberspace

    Biography

    Michael L. Rustad

    “This is a book that you can put down on your shelf to be used whenever you feel abused by sellers and manufacturers of services and products you have bought. Everyday Law for Consumers is your toolkit for prevention, redemption, and occasionally retribution when your dollars, your credit, your health and safety and peace of mind are at stake. You’ll save more per hour of digesting and deploying the advice in Everyday Law for Consumers than you’re likely to make per hour as an executive of the vendors who rip you off. Not their CEO, just a regular executive. Because your savings tend to repeat themselves, as with insurance, year after year.”
    —Ralph Nader

    “Everyday Law for Consumers is an engaging and informative book that encourages ordinary people to defend their rights as consumers in a marketplace increasingly driven by corporate interests. Everyone should read this superb book.”
    —Joanne Doroshow, President and Executive Director of the Center for Justice and Democracy and Cofounder of Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR).