( O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-780 et seq .)
The "Georgia Lemon Law Act" outlines a self-help process designed to aid you in getting your vehicle repaired. It covers new motor vehicles purchased, leased or registered in Georgia, or reacquired on or after January 1, 2009. If the manufacturer fails to repair a recurring problem after a reasonable number of attempts and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may apply for a state arbitration hearing. An arbitration panel may hear your complaint to decide whether you are entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund.
( O.C.G.A. Sections 18-5-1 et seq .) Georgia's Debt Adjustment Act regulates services in Georgia that arrange to pay off consumers’ debts. A debt adjuster may not charge you a fee of more than 7.5 percent of the total amount you pay each month for distribution to your creditors. A separate trust account must be set up for you, with certain safeguards including insurance and an annual audit that is filed with our office. The law requires that your funds be disbursed to your creditors within 30 days after you deposit them into your account. Criminal and civil penalties may result if a company violates this law.
( O.C.G.A. Section 46-5-27 ) The Georgia Do Not Call Law prohibits telemarketers who are selling a product or service from contacting households that have chosen to have their telephone numbers placed on the Do Not Call List. Certain types of calls are exempt, such as those from charitable organizations, political campaigns, and businesses with which you have a prior relationship, unless you have asked them not to call you. Georgia’s Do Not Call List is now a part of the National Do Not Call Registry, which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. The federal government can assess penalties when telemarketers ignore or circumvent our laws protecting you from invasion of your privacy.
( O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-410 et seq. ) Business opportunity companies sell or lease to you the right to start a business identical to the parent company. You then purchase products, equipment, supplies or services from the company. Multilevel distribution is a form of retailing in which you earn a commission on products or services sold personally and by the distributors you recruit. Under Georgia's Sale of Business Opportunities and Multilevel Distribution Companies Act, if you sign up for certain business opportunities or join certain multilevel distribution companies, you must be given specific information prior to signing any contract. Additionally, the contract must detail the terms and conditions for your payment to the company, the goods or services the company will provide, and the approximate delivery date for these goods or services. Please note, however, that not all business opportunities and multilevel companies are covered by this law.
( O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-590 et seq. ) Buying clubs charge a fee to join and offer merchandise to members at below-retail prices. Under the Georgia Buying Services Act, a buying club must purchase an annual license, offer consumers a three-day membership cancellation period, and maintain a $25,000 bond for the protection of its members.
( O.C.G.A. Sections 43-17-1 et seq. ) In accordance with the Georgia Charitable Solicitations Act, Georgia Department of Law's Consumer Protection Division helps to ensure that charities operating in Georgia are also abiding by the standards of the Fair Business Practices act.