Legal Services of Southern Piedmont


string(15) "108081817001588"
string(2) "17"
Consumer Protection and Employment Law

The Consumer Protection and Employment Law Program fosters the financial stability of lower income persons.

The program focuses on the following issues:

1)      Building and preserving wealth in low income families by:
  • increasing the number of unemployed workers who receive UI benefits thereby reducing the incidence of eviction, homelessness and hunger among the unemployed;
  • protecting home ownership by preventing foreclosures;
  • preserving home equity; and
  • ensuring that workers receive the wages they are due.
2)      Targeting and preventing predatory and abusive lending practices aimed at the low income population by:
  • teaching consumers how to avoid these pitfalls;
  • referring the unemployed to job training leading to higher wages; and
  • increasing income and capital.
3)      Preserving transportation necessary to keep working clients employed and providing unemployed workers the ability to work by:
  • stopping predatory lending practices; and
  • preventing automobile fraud.
 Case Work

 The major issues addressed by this program are:

 Home Preservation
  • Foreclosure defense
  • Home financing and mortgage service disputes
  • Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy to preserve home ownership and home equity
Employment and Unemployment Advocacy
  • Representation of claimants in administrative and judicial appeals
  • Representation of workers in wage claims
  • Limited assistance with Family and Medical Leave Act Issues
Consumer Disputes
  • Predatory Lending Practices
  • Automobile financing, warranties and fraud
  • Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices
  • Unfair Debt Collection Practices
The population to be served includes low-income families and individuals, the elderly and disabled persons, who are residents of Mecklenburg County.  The program’s Consumer component also includes eight surrounding counties: Gaston; Lincoln; Cabarrus; Iredell; Rowan; Stanly; Union and Catawba.

Advocacy

The project enforces existing laws and advocates for improvements in consumer protection and employment law at local, state and national levels. Strategies include litigation, legislative advocacy in coordination with other agencies and community education to both the client community and to service providers. The program responds to questions and support requests from consumer advocates throughout the county and surrounding areas.