| Volume 128 Number 11 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Under a Texas rebate law, a company offering a rebate must mail the rebate amount to you within the stated time period. If the company does not state a time period, it must pay the rebate within 30 days after you submit a properly completed rebate request. Click here for more.
Healthcare Premiums to Rise under the Affordable Care Act
Under a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services premiums for plans sold through HealthCare.gov will increase by an average of 22 percent in 2017. The federal government explained that insurers are “continuing to adapt” to a market that looks very different from before “Obamacare." For those looking for more affordable coverage, the administration recommends shopping around. Some consumers may find lower-cost plans by switching out of their current ACA plan. Click here for more.
Your Money
If you are having trouble reaching a representative from a company with a complaint, try using social media. A public conversation about your complaint on Twitter or Facebook may receive a better response from the company. Search online to find out whether the company is on social media and direct your tweets or posts to its account, preferably a customer-service account. Be firm, but not combative. Include specific information about your complaint, such as dates and times, and have a clear goal in mind (a full refund, for example). Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
A report from an auto dealership that does not include the results of an inspection for the condition of individual car components to a buyer is not a "completed inspection report" under California law. Plaintiff bought a car from CarMax and shortly after the car had several problems. California law prohibits a car dealer from selling a used vehicle as "certified" if the dealer fails to provide the buyer with a completed report indicating all the components inspected. Plaintiff contended that CarMax failed to provide a "completed inspection report" before selling him a "certified" vehicle. The 9th Circuit reversed the lower courts, because an inspection report cannot just simply state that parts were inspected without including the results. Gonzales v. CarMax (9th Cir. 2016). Click here for more.