Financial Literacy Education Series · Session 4
Understanding Consumer Rights in the United States · Apex Learn × House of Friendship
Rules that are the same everywhere in the U.S. are marked national. Rules that depend on the state are marked state — for those, take the action, and free legal help gives you the local rule.
| Situation | What you can do | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| A charge I did not make | Call the number on the card, then confirm in writing. Debit/transfer: report within 2 business days → at most $50 owed. Credit card: at most $50, often $0. Check statements weekly. | National |
| Overdraft fees | For debit-card purchases the bank needs your permission to charge overdraft fees. You can say no. | National |
| My credit report | Get it free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute mistakes in writing; the bureau must investigate (usually 30 days). Freeze it for free. | National |
| A debt collector | No calls before 8 a.m. / after 9 p.m.; no threats of arrest or deportation; no lies; no telling others. Ask for written proof; dispute in writing within 30 days of their first letter. Ask in writing to stop contact. | National |
| A hospital bill | Ask for an itemized bill. Ask about financial assistance — non-profit hospitals must have a program. | National |
| A loan or card | APR and total cost must be shown before you agree. You cannot be refused because of national origin, religion, race, sex, marital status, age or public assistance. | National |
| Renting | No refusal or different treatment for national origin, religion, race, family status, disability, sex. In most states eviction goes through a court — lockouts and utility cut-offs are not allowed. | National / most states |
| Deposit · repairs · notice | Get a receipt; photos at move-in and move-out; ask for repairs and for the deposit in writing, keep copies. Then legal aid for the local rule. | State |
| Returns | No general right to return — it is store policy. Ask before you pay. Keep the receipt. | National |
| Sales at my door | Most sales at your home over $25: 3 business days to cancel in writing. | National |
| A used car | The dealer must show a Buyers Guide (warranty or “as is”). “As is” = no warranty — inspect first. Watch for add-ons in the contract. | National |
| Any contract | “I need time to read this.” Get a copy. Never sign a blank or a paper you cannot read. Hospitals, courts and government offices that receive federal money must provide a free interpreter. | National |
Financial Literacy Education Series · Session 4
A letter form, and where to get free help. Copy it as often as you need.
A short letter that works (email or paper — keep a copy)
To: Date:
On (date), I
(was charged $___ · paid a deposit of $___ · received a call from ___ · signed ___)
I am asking you to
(return $___ · remove the charge of $___ · send written proof of this debt · send an itemized list · stop contacting me)
Please respond in writing within 14 days. If I do not hear from you, I will file a complaint with .
Name: Address / email:
Attach: copies (never originals) of receipts, statements, photos, the collector’s letter. Calm and clear. No threats, no apologies.
Where to get free help
None of these charge you. Anyone who charges to “file a complaint” or “fix your credit” is not one of them.
My notebook by the phone
| Date / time | Who (name, company) | What was said |
|---|---|---|
A written record turns “they ignored me” into something a complaint site or legal aid can act on.
Six sentences to keep
“I need time to read this.” · “Please put that in writing.” · “What is the total, including fees?” · “I would like a copy.” · “Please send me written proof.” · “I would like an interpreter.”
Financial Literacy Education Series · Session 4
A fictional family. Work through it with your table.
Shirin and Kaveh have been in the U.S. for 20 months with two children. Both work. They just moved to a bigger apartment. Kaveh needs a car for a new job. In one month, three things go wrong.
| Problem | What happened | Allowed? | What can they do? Where is free help? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · The collector | A collector calls Shirin at 7 a.m. about a $640 medical bill she does not recognise. “Pay today or we take legal action.” He calls again at her work. | ||
| 2 · The car contract | At a used-car lot, the paper Kaveh is asked to sign has a $1,200 “protection package” he never asked for. The salesman says the APR “will be on the next page.” | ||
| 3 · The deposit | Six weeks after they left the old apartment, the $1,100 deposit has not come back. The old landlord does not answer calls. |
A · The collector calls again. What should Shirin do first?
Why:
Two things the collector did that are not allowed:
B · Write the first sentence of each letter
To the collector:
To the old landlord:
Use the form on page 2.
C · At the car lot, what does Kaveh say before signing?
D · Which of the three is a national rule, which is a state rule, and which is “read before you sign”?
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