Bait and switch is a cute term that refers to a nasty con game. If you’re the victim of a bait and switch scam you’ve purchased one item only to be given something that doesn’t match the description of what you purchased. Bait and switch typically involve businesses who use the tactic to lure customers in by advertising a great product at a fantastic price only to provide something that’s quite different.

Identifying That you Were a Victim of Bait and Switch

The FTC has done an excellent job of creating guidelines that clarify when a “bait and switch” situation has happened.

According to the FTC, you weren’t a victim of a bait and switch con if you:

✦ Were convinced to buy something different
✦ If the seller simply runs out of whatever item they were promoting, especially ...

Owning a rental property is a great opportunity to earn extra money while also helping resolve a small portion of California’s rental housing crisis.

While there are many good things that go along with owning a rental property there are also some downsides. One such drawback is when you have a tenant who simply refuses to move out of your home.

The good news is that there are some things you can do.

California law states that you have a right to tell your tenant that they’re evicted when they’ve:

✽ Failed to pay their rent
✽ When they do something that blatantly breaks the rental contract, such as having a dog in a no-pets property
✽ The tenant has done so much damage to the property that it’s lowered the overall property value
✽ The tenant is on the property when they break th...

When you’re on probation, the courts will let you know what requirements you have to meet, but no one is going to hold your hand and remind you of those requirements every single day. It’s up to you to remember what you are and aren’t allowed to do. If you break violate your probation, no one will be interested in excuses.

The issue of probation violations in California is covered by Penal Code section 1203.3. The code gives the court the option to decide to revoke or modify your probation following a violation.

When your probation officer alerts the court to a violation, you’ll have to appear at a probation revocation hearing.

Probation revocation hearings are different from traditional trials. The prosecution doesn’t have to prove their case “beyond a reasonable doubt...

One of the more fascinating aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is watching how it has impacted the crime rates. Not only has the number of arrests changed since COVID-19 was discovered in the United States, but the types of crimes are also different.

When the government first started to shut things down, many of us tensed, positive that the changes would trigger a surge in crime. That didn’t happen. During the first few months of the pandemic, crime rates dropped.

It’s difficult to track down just how much crime rates decreased during the early months of the pandemic. The main metric used to determine the crime rate in most areas is the number of 911 calls dispatchers receive. From March 16 through April 22, 2020, nearly every major city reported that 911 calls had decreased...

If you need a bail bond, you want to quell your first instinct of going with the first company you contact. It’s possible that you’ll connect with a truly outstanding family-owned bail bonds business that offers everything from zero interest bail to a reasonable payment plan. It’s also possible you’ll get scammed by a company that doesn’t have your best interests at heart or who doesn’t fully understand the bail bonds process.

When you’re choosing a reputable bail bonds company, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

The Company Should be Treasure Trove of Information

No bail bonds company should expect you to know everything...

You love your best buddy and have no hesitation about going out of your way to help them whenever they ask, but getting asked to post bail is different from agreeing to help them move. When your best friend calls and asks you to help cover their bail, there are a few things you need to consider before you agree.

Can You Afford it?

When you post cash bail for your buddy, you’ll get all of the money back… eventually. The refund doesn’t happen until your buddy’s case has been resolved. How long it takes to resolve the case depends on if your buddy plans on fighting the charges or pleading guilty right away. If your buddy is determined to prove their innocence and the case goes before a jury, a full year could easily pass before the court returns your money.

Going through a bail bon...

Most of us are familiar with drunk driving and know that it’s something we should avoid. Few of us know about distracted driving. Distracted driving is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re ticketed for distracted driving, it means that rather than paying attention to the road, the bulk of your attention was focused on something else.

Most distracted driving tickets are issued because the driver was using their cell phone while driving, but you can be ticketed for getting in an argument with your passengers, trying to set your navigation system while your vehicle is in motion, or even trying to mop up coffee that you’ve spilled all over yourself.

Distracted driving became a thing when manufacturers started installing radios in cars and people started getting into accidents becau...

If you’re confused about what your employer can and can’t require of you during this pandemic, you’re not alone. Every other day it seems like some new rules and requirements and expectations seem to intrude on our rights. In many cases, getting a straight answer feels impossible.

Finding out if you have to submit for a Covid-19 test each time you go to work is a perfect example of how many people don’t know what they can and can’t fight. Some lawyers freely admit that they’re not sure how legal this topic is. For a long time, it was common knowledge that employers couldn’t legally require employees to undergo any medical examination that didn’t directly impact their work. COVID-19 has changed things.

Based on what the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has stated, ...

Bankruptcy fraud is hardly a new concept. As long as bankruptcy has existed, people have taken advantage of the program. Most people simply weren’t aware of it happening.

Many people first started thinking about bankruptcy fraud when Abby Lee Miller, the star of Dance Moms, was convicted of it and served time in federal prison. The case alerted people to several truths about bankruptcy, including how easily the system could be corrupted and that it was a crime that didn’t just result in a slap on the wrist.

While there are many negative connotations connected to bankruptcy, for many people it’s a last, desperate attempt to climb out of a horrible financial situation and rebuild their lives. In some situations, it’s a chance at redemption.

The way California’s bankruptcy system w...

A lemon is a vehicle that continues to malfunction, even after several repairs have been done in an attempt to remedy the situation. Basically, cars that are considered lemons simply have something wrong with them that defies mechanical explanation.

The good news is that lemons are quite rare. The bad news is that they are both frustrating and expensive to own. The good news is that there are lemon laws that help protect you from bad vehicles.

Just because a vehicle has been to a shop for repairs over and over again, it doesn’t mean the vehicle is a lemon. In California, a vehicle can’t be older than 18 months or have more than 18,000 miles on it to qualify as a lemon...