CONSUMERS EMPOWERED.ORG

1. Gift certificates and merchandise credits are good for 2 years in Massachusetts.

Wrong! Gift certificates are good for 7 years in Massachusetts.

Correct! Gift certificates are good for 7 years in Massachusetts.

2. You are entitled to a free credit report from the 3 credit reporting agencies once a year and every time you are denied credit.

You are right! You are entitled to a free credit report every year and every time you are denied credit.

Sorry! You are wrong! You are entitled to a free credit report every year and every time you are denied credit.

3. Debt Collectors can call you at home as often as they want as long as long as it is from 8:00AM to 9:00 PM.

Wrong! Debt collectors can only call you 2 times per week from 8:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M.

Correct! Debt collectors can only call you 2 times per week from 8:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M.

4. When renting an apartment or house for a year or more, the landlord must pay interest on the last month’s rent and security deposit.

Correct! Landlords must pay interest on security deposits and the last month’s rent.

Wrong! Landlords must pay interest on security deposits and the last month’s rent.

5.In Massachusetts, a consumer has three days to cancel a contract.

Wrong! In Massachusetts there is no “three day right to cancel” for most contracts. The exceptions are a three day right to cancel health club contracts, timeshares, sales contracts signed at a place other than the merchant's usual place of business (e.g., door to door sales, home shows), and a three day right to rescind for mortgage refinancings. A specific procedure must be followed for cancellation. The procedure can be found by searching Right to Cancel a Sale on the Massachusetts Attorney General's website, www.mass.gov/ago.

Correct! In Massachusetts there is no “three day right to cancel” for most contracts. The exceptions are a three day right to cancel health club contracts, timeshares, sales contracts signed at a place other than the merchant's usual place of business (e.g., door to door sales, home shows), and a three day right to rescind for mortgage refinancings. A specific procedure must be followed for cancellation. The procedure can be found be searching Right to Cancel a Sale on the Massachusetts Attorney General's website, www.mass.gov/ago.

6. The Lemon Law does not apply to the purchase of an automobile in New Hampshire .

Correct! The Lemon Law only applies to automobiles purchased in Massachusetts.

Wrong! The Lemon Law only applies to automobiles purchased in Massachusetts.

7. Massachusetts has a Lemon Law, but doesn’t have a law to protect consumers who buy used cars from dealers.

Wrong! The Used Car Warranty Law protects consumers who have purchased cars from car dealers.

Correct! The Used Car Warranty Law protects consumers who have purchased cars from car dealers.

8. An auto repair shop must give you an estimate of the cost of the work and obtain your verbal or written permission to perform the work and cannot exceed their estimate by $10 without your permission.

Correct! Auto repairs shops must give you an estimate of the work to be performed and must obtain your permission before beginning the job.

Wrong! Auto repairs shops must give you an estimate of the work to be performed and must obtain your permission before beginning the job.

9. If a store has a refund policy that all sales are final, they do not have to accept returns of defective merchandise.

Wrong! A store must give you your money back unless you choose to let the store repair or replace the item.

Correct! A store must give you your money back unless you choose to let the store repair or replace the item.

10. Under the Home Improvement Contractor Law in Massachusetts, contractors cannot ask for more than one-third of the total contract price before beginning a job, unless they need to order custom material.

Correct! Contractors cannot ask for more than one-third of the total contract price before beginning a project.

Wrong! Contractors cannot ask for more than one-third of the total contract price before beginning a project.

11. Under Massachusetts state law, every contract between a Home Improvement Contractor and an owner costing more than a $1000 must be in writing.

Correct! Contractors must provide a written contract for home improvement projects that cost over $1,000.

Wrong! Contractors must provide a written contract for home improvement projects that cost over $1,000.