West Virginia Consumer Protection and Employment Law Blog

One of the reasons that many consumers here in Charleston and elsewhere in West Virginia buy new cars is to replace their old, dilapidated car with a new set of reliable wheels. Not all new cars are created equally though.

There are times at which cars that are released onto the market have perpetual problems after very little use. These types of vehicles are commonly referred to as lemon cars.

The easiest way for you to know if the manufacturer of your vehicle has issued a recall is simply to wait for notification. However, this is not always the most effective option. 

There are many things that could stop an auto company from contacting you. If you recently moved to West Virginia, for example, your address information may not be available. Furthermore, manufacturers sometimes need some time to issue a recall. When it comes to faults in your vehicle that could potentially threaten your safety, it is understandable that you may want to be proactive. The rest of this article will look at how you might keep updated about any potential recalls.

Class action lawsuit can often be complicated matters that may seem daunting to the average Charleston resident (thus potentially deterring them from joining in one even if they have a valid claim). Understanding the nuances of such an action may go a long way in assuaging one’s fears. One of the most misunderstood aspects of a class action is the actual formation of the class. In essence, however, the concept of class is relatively simple: a group of people who have a shared grievance against a single party. That group can be as small as a few people, or a body of millions of organizations. 

The latter is what was present in a recent class action lawsuit filed against the social media giant Facebook. In its complaint, the plaintiffs argued that faulty watch time metrics (the information detailing how long viewers were actually watching ads on Facebook) influenced them to spend more in advertising dollars than they would have had they known the real numbers. Facebook’s representatives recognized the error, yet claimed that it did not result in a single advertising partner being overcharged. 

No one in Charleston wants to hear that a product that they have purchased has been recalled (much less one that they have actually been using). Panic may set in if one discovers that they have been using a recalled product (which is indeed reasonably possible, as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 410 products were recalled as recently as 2015). This comes from the fear that a product is only recalled if it is proven to be dangerous. Yet that is not always the case. Oftentimes, a product can be recalled even if it only presents the potential for causing harm, and even then, such harm may not come through standard use.

What should one do, then, if they discover that they have been using a recalled product? The first and most obvious step is to discontinue its use completely. Next, one will want to become educated with both the reason behind the recall and the nest steps to be taken in the process. Typically, the information detailing the recall will include a phone number or web address to contact for more information. That informational source can provide the details on whether one should return the product or simply dispose of it. Oftentimes there will be some form of compensation attached to the recall. Per the USCPSC, one might be entitled to have the product repaired or replaced at no cost, or have its entire purchase price refunded to them.