Click
on a question to view the corresponding answer:
- What can I do to solve my problem
with a local business?
- What laws do I have to protect
me as a tenant in Ohio?
- How much may my landlord ask
for as a security deposit?
- I was given an auto repair estimate
and the final bill was much higher. Is there a limit to
how much a repair bill can exceed the estimate?
- I bought a vacuum cleaner from
a door-to-door salesman. Now I don't want it. Can I get
my money back?
- If I buy a vehicle I don't like,
can I cancel the contract within three days?
- Do home improvement contractors
need to be licensed to do work in Ohio?
- I recently purchased a new home
and I have a list of repairs that still need to be done
under the warranty even though I have contacted the builder
numerous times. What can I do to get the builder to complete
the work?
- I signed a contract to join
a health spa, but later I decided I did not want to be a
member. Is there anything I can do?
- I bought some things at a local
store and later decided that I didn't want them. When I
took them back, the store refused to refund my money. Don't
they have to?
- What are
my rights under the Ohio Lemon Law if I have a defective
automobile?
- I do not want solicitors coming
to my door. What can I do?
What can I do
to solve my problem with a local business?
Complain. It is still very true that "the squeaky wheel
is the one that gets the grease." Work your way up the
management ladder with your complaint. Complain effectively.
Be able to state clearly and simply what you expected, what
went wrong, and what you want the business to do about the
problem. If they refuse to fairly resolve the problem, you
can try complaining to the Better
Business Bureau or you can file a complaint with the state
Consumer
Protection Division. The Division may try to help you
but the simple fact is that they don't have the resources,
funding, or manpower to always get the job done right. Rather
than give up, you should contact
an attorney to find out what your legal rights are.
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What laws do I have to protect
me as a tenant in Ohio?
The state Landlord-Tenant law governs tenant-landlord relationships
in Ohio. Generally, the law applies to residential rental
properties. In addition, you may have a lease agreement that
outlines who is responsible for upkeep, maintenance, etc.
Also, your local city or county may have a department responsible
for landlord-tenant complaints. To learn more about the state
Landlord-Tenant law, click
here.
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How much may my landlord
ask for as a security deposit?
There really is no limit, but the landlord may have to pay
you interest on any deposit that is more than one month's
rent. The standard practice is to collect one month's rent.
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I was given an auto repair
estimate and the final bill was much higher. Is there a limit
to how much a repair bill can exceed the estimate?
Yes, no repair work charge may exceed the written estimate
by more than 10% unless the additional work represented by
the excess charge has been authorized by the customer in advance.
You may have lots of other legal rights on auto repairs, too.
To read Ohio's Motor Vehicle Repair Rules, click
here.
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I bought a vacuum cleaner
from a door-to-door salesman. Now I don't want it. Can I get
my money back?
You have the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until
midnight of the third business day after the day on which
you signed the agreement or offer to purchase. You must also
give written notice of cancellation to the seller at the address
stated in the contract, and you may have to return the vacuum
to the seller in substantially as good a condition as it was
when you received it.
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If I buy a vehicle I don't
like, can I cancel the a contract within three days?
Generally not, unless it is part of the agreement. However,
if the car dealer violates the law in the process of selling
you the car, then you probably can cancel the deal as long
as the vehicle is in substantially the same condition as it
was when you got it and you tried to cancel the deal within
a reasonable time. To learn more about the Motor Vehicle Sales
Rule, click here.
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Do home improvement contractors
need to be licensed to do work in Ohio?
Not by state law generally, but your local city or county
may require it. You should call, find out, and verify the
status of your contractor's license before you sign any contract.
In addition, you may contact your local Better
Business Bureau to inquire whether any complaints have
been registered against the contractor.
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I recently purchased a new
home and I have a list of repairs that still need to be done
under the warranty even though I have contacted the builder
numerous times. What can I do to get the builder to complete
the work?
If it involves "Code" violations, you can complain
to the local city or county government that issued the building
license. If not, and if the builder just won't do the repairs,
then you should contact an attorney.
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I signed a contract to join
a health spa, but later I decided I did not want to join.
Can I get out of it?
Yes. The health spa was required to give you a three day right
to cancel your contract. This provision must be clearly written
in your contract. All moneys paid under the contract must
be refunded to you. Even if you don't cancel within the 3
days allowed, you may still be able to cancel later if the
health spa violated consumer protection laws in selling the
membership to you in the first place. To learn more about
Ohio's Prepaid Entertainment Law, click
here.
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I bought something at a
local store and later decided that I didn't want it. When
I took it back, the store refused to refund my money. Don't
they have to?
Not necessarily. Ohio law requires merchants to post a sign
which clearly states their refund policy. This information
must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the store. There's
nothing that says they have to refund your money, but they
at least have to tell you what their policy is in advance.
If they don't, then they must give you a refund unless they
have a valid reason not to.
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What are my rights under
the Ohio Lemon Law if I have a defective automobile?
The Ohio Lemon Law applies to new cars (or used cars still
under a new car warranty, per a recent amendment to the law)
with a defect that occurs during the warranty. A Lemon Law
defect is something that is covered by the warranty and is
a "significant impairment to the use, value or safety
of the vehicle" to you. In other words, it has to be
something important to a reasonable person. After you have
given the dealer a reasonable chance to fix the defect, if
it isn't fixed then you have the right to choose between either
canceling the deal or getting a new vehicle. You may use a
manufacturer's "informal dispute settlement procedure"
or file a lawsuit to enforce the Lemon Law. To learn more
about your Lemon Law rights, click
here.
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 I
do not want solicitors coming to my door. What can I do?
Generally, local laws usually prohibit solicitors from knocking
on your door when a "No Soliciting" sign is posted.
Click here
for a free sign!
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