Refunds, scams, contracts and hiring the right professional

Consumer problems have a pattern. Something went wrong, someone else has your money or your signature, and there's usually a clock running that nobody mentioned. A refund with a 30-day window. A warranty that needs a receipt you threw away. A contract that renews automatically. A scam that feels urgent on purpose.

This section covers the practical side of being a customer: reading the fine print before you sign, asking for a refund in writing, escalating a complaint without burning the bridge, and recognizing the warning signs of a scam. It also covers hiring professionals, from contractors to accountants to lawyers, because choosing and questioning someone you're paying is one of the most common consumer decisions there is.

Our first piece here is about exactly that: what to ask a DUI lawyer at the first consultation. The principle carries over to almost any professional. Ask about process and deadlines first, fees second, and treat promises with suspicion. Where a public body can help, such as the Federal Trade Commission in the US or Citizens Advice in the UK, we'll name it.