Deceptive Trade Practices & Debtor Harassment

Austin, Texas Consumer Protection Attorneys

The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) was enacted to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. Pursuant to the act, consumers may be entitled to redress in cases involving false or misleading business practices, breaches of warranty, and general malfeasance on the part of companies and corporations. At the Austin, Texas based law firm of Ross Law Group, our lawyers are experienced in investigating violations of the DTPA. We review actions and/or statements on the part of retailers and companies that involve the sale of defective goods, false advertising and violations of contracts or warranties.

If you believe that you may have been the victim of an unfair or misleading business practices on the part of a company or retailer, contact our Austin, Texas based law firm today.

What Constitutes Deceptive Trade Practices?

Generally speaking, the following types of actions on the part of businesses may constitute deceptive trade practices:

  • Engaging in "bait and switch" sales practices
  • Presenting old, used, or defective merchandise as if it were brand new
  • Falsely claiming goods have an official endorsement or approval they do not
  • Falsely claiming merchandise contains certain ingredients or is composed of certain materials it is not
  • Claiming a product is manufactured or made somewhere different than its actual place of origin
  • Creating a false impression that an association or affiliation with another company or product exists when it does not
  • Falsely claiming products or services are provided by a certain company when they are not
  • False Advertising
  • Claiming certain price reductions are available and then refusing to honor these earlier claims
  • Making unsubstantiated or false claims about another company's goods or services
  • Claiming products or services are of a certain quality or standard when they are not

If you have been misled by the business practices of a company, retailer, insurance agent, or contractor, our attorneys can help you recover losses and demand punitive damages.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Debt collection agencies are often hired by credit card companies, banks, and other lenders to seek payment on delinquent accounts. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides for certain criteria that the debt collection agencies must adhere to when seeking to collect on an unpaid account. As a result of training issues, frequent turnover, and incentive programs that reward employees for closing out accounts, sometimes debt collection agencies step over the line in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Actions that may fall under violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act include:

  • calls at work after you've told them not to call you there
  • frequent calls to your home, morning, noon, and night
  • threats involving bodily harm and financial harm
  • use of foul, inappropriate language

If you believe that you may have been the subject of a debt collection practice which violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, contact our Austin, Texas law firm today.

Ross Law Group | 1104 San Antonio St. | Austin, TX 78701
Office: 800-634-8042 | Fax: 512-474-5306 | Map & Directions