Consumer Ed

Dear Consumer Ed: I moved out of my apartment six weeks ago and I still haven’t received my security deposit back. I have emailed the apartment manager twice, but she has not replied. I have the documents showing that all the bills and dues were paid. What can I do? Consumer Ed says: Within 30…

Dear Consumer Ed: I live in a senior care facility. They are attempting to make me pay for services that I did not receive. What recourse do I have? Consumer Ed says: If you have been unable to resolve the billing dispute with your senior care facility verbally, the next step is to write a…

Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division Dear Consumer Ed: If I ask questions about an old debt that might have expired, will that make it active again? I’m not sure what the original debt was for before it was sold to a debt collector, and I need to find…

 Dear Consumer Ed: Since my original apartment lease expired, I am on a month-to-month lease. Can my landlord increase the rent by $150/month with only eight days’ notice? Consumer Ed says: No. When your lease expired it converted into what is called a tenancy-at-will.  This simply means that the lease has no specified termination date.…

Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division CAR REPOSSESSION Dear Consumer Ed: Once your car is repossessed, how much time are you given to pay the overdue amount before your vehicle is sold? Also, how long does a repo company have to wait before getting rid of any belongings you…

Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division DEFAULTED STUDENT LOAN Dear Consumer Ed: I have an old student loan debt that I defaulted on in 2004. It is still on my credit report. I thought the statute of limitation on debt was six years. Don’t they have to remove this…

Volume 245  |  October 6, 2020 Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division DATE LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR MEAT Dear Consumer Ed: Can a grocery store sell meat and other food without a date on it? Consumer Ed says: For the answer to this question, we consulted the Georgia Department of…

Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division ONLINE AND REMOTE EYE EXAMS Dear Consumer Ed: I need to get some more contact lenses, but my vision has changed since my last eye exam. I’ve heard about online and remote exams and thought this could be a convenient way to get…

Brought to you by the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division AUTO REPAIR SHOP DID NOT DISCLOSE DIAGNOSTIC FEE Dear Consumer Ed: I dropped my car off for an estimate at the repair shop, and they want to charge me an $80 diagnostic fee. They never disclosed this fee beforehand. Is this legal? Consumer…

Dear Consumer Ed: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, my landlord has been forcing residents to pay their rent online, which incurs an $18 to $30 fee. Is this legal? Consumer Ed says: Your question raises two issues: (1) Can a landlord require you to change your method of payment, and (2) can that landlord require…