Hi, Im Matthew Mobilio founder of Mobilio Law.  In this blog post Im going to talk a little bit about a Pennsylvania Law that provides protections to individuals who are taken advantage of during a consumer transaction.  The Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law or (UTPCPL) provides legal remedies for a number of situations that involve “unfair methods of competition” and “unfair or deceptive acts or practices”.  The law makes the following conduct illegal: misrepresenting that services or repairs are needed if they are not, making improvements or repairs that are inferior or below the standard of that agreed to in writing, in addition to a number of other examples of deceptive or fraudulent conduct.  There is also a catch-all provision making it illegal to “engag[e] in any other fraudulent or deceptive conduct which creates a likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding”.

Some examples of conduct that may be deemed illegal under the act might include a car repairman advising that your vehicles needs more repairs than it actually does and a home improvement contract using materials other than what was agreed on.

If you have been a victim of deceptive or fraudulent conduct the law allows you to recover actual damages incurred as a result of the conduct.  In addition, a Judge may, in his or her discretion, award you up to three times the actual damages as well as costs and attorneys fees incurred in seeking the damages.

If you have been the victim of deceptive or fraudulent conduct in a consumer transaction contact me today for a free consultation.