QUESTION 1. A car salesman convinced me to buy a new car last night. I just cannot afford it. Don't I have three days to change my mind and take it back?
ANSWER: No. The three day rule only applies to cases where a salesman comes to your house and convinces you to buy something, or in swimming pool contracts. Otherwise, you are stuck with you new car. You must carefully consider all the ramifications of the deal before you sign a contract. Chances are, you will be bound by the contract.
QUESTION 2. I lost my job and missed a couple of car payments. My car was repossessed and now they sent me papers that say I still owe them a lot of money and I don't even have the car. Can they make me pay?
ANSWER: Yes. Welcome to the world of deficiency judgments. If your car is repossessed, you will be charged with the cost of repossessing it, fixing it up for sale, and the sale costs, plus what you still owe. If they sell it for less than that total amount, they can get a judgment against you for the difference and make you pay it.
QUESTION 3. When my boyfriend and I were living together, he needed a car and had bad credit so I co-signed so he could get the car. Now he and the car are gone and he doesn't have a job and the finance company says I have to make the payments. Can they do that?
ANSWER: Yes. Co-signing is not just a method of allowing the flake to get a car. It is a promise to pay if he doesn't. They are enforceable and you should never co-sign with anybody for anything unless you are really willing to make the payments under any circumstances and you can afford it.
QUESTION 4. I worked for a company that requires the employees to be at work by 7:30 AM. I have been late to work a few times during the last 6 months and today they told me I was terminated because of being late too much. Can they get away with that? I always had a good reason when I was late.
ANSWER: See a lawyer about this that handles wrongful termination cases. The answer depends on too many variables to handle this way. In very general terms, the employer has the right to insist on you being to work on time. However, they have to treat everybody the same. If some are allowed to get away with being late, then they can't fire you. Did they tell you ahead of time that your tardiness was a problem and warn you to correct the problem or you would be terminated? Do they have a written policy or employee manual? If so, was it followed.? If you are late does it cause a problem on the production line? Does someone else have to cover for you? Sometimes, employers use being late to work as an excuse to get rid of an employee they don't like but don't have any legitimate reason to terminate.
QUESTION 5: One of my co-workers is making nasty comments to me all the time. He is always suggesting that we engage in some kind of sexual conduct. What should I do? I really need this job. I am a single mother and I have 2 children to support.
ANSWER: See a lawyer about this also. Try to find an attorney who handles sexual harassment cases. In general terms, you should:
Inform your supervisor. Be specific. Today, at 11 AM he said we should go and have a nooner. Tell the person that you don't like the things he says and you want him to stop it. Keep a detailed written log of everything that happens. If you don't see any change in a few day, Tell your supervisor the conduct is continuing and that you want him to do something about it. If your boss doesn't seem to be doing anything about it, go to management. Give them a full report and request that action be taken. If your boss is the one doing it, go to his boss. Start looking for a new job. You might not be able to salvage this one. If the situation isn't improved, talk to a lawyer. You may have a case against your employer.