Practice area
Consumer protection
I help consumers with defective products, poor workmanship, misleading sales practices and collection problems. Depending on the amount and the facts, the right path may be a complaint, a demand letter, small claims court or a lawsuit.
What I handle in this area
- 01Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) claims
- 02Defective products and warranty claims
- 03Contractor and home repair disputes
- 04Online purchases and subscriptions
- 05Debt collection practices
- 06Small claims cases in justice court
Should I file a complaint or go to court?
The amount and the goal decide this. Justice court handles claims up to $20,000 (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031), and the process is designed so people can represent themselves. A complaint to the Texas Attorney General or a federal agency can help, but those agencies do not act as your lawyer.
Before suing under the DTPA, a consumer generally must give the business written notice at least 60 days before filing, describing the complaint and the amount claimed (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.505).
What should I keep when a product or service goes wrong?
Keep the receipt, the order confirmation, the warranty, repair tickets and photos of the problem. Put your complaints in writing and keep copies, because a written timeline is far easier to prove than a phone call.
DTPA claims generally must be brought within two years after the deceptive act or after the consumer discovered it or should have (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.565), so it is better not to wait.
Related calculators
Related legal guides
Consumer complaints in Texas, where to file and whenOptions for a consumer dispute in Texas: complaints to the Attorney General and FTC, chargebacks, small claims in justice court up to $20,000, and DTPA notice.
How mediation works, step by stepWhat a mediator does, when Texas courts send cases to mediation, what happens in the session, who pays, and how a signed settlement binds you.
How a lawsuit starts, court costs, and the main stagesHow a civil lawsuit is filed in Texas: the petition, filing and service costs, which court hears the case, the answer deadline, and the stages that follow.
Appointments
You can schedule an appointment to talk about your consumer protection matter. Bringing the documents above to the first meeting makes the review easier.