California Legal Remedies Act (CLRA): What You Should Know

Did a business take advantage of you? There is a law in California that helps people like you get money back when a store or company treats you unfairly. It is called the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA).

What is the CLRA?

The CLRA is a California law that says businesses must be honest when they sell things to people. If a store lies to you, tricks you, or hides important information, they may have broken this law. If you suspect a store has done so, you may be able to get your money back.

What Counts as Being Tricked?

Here are some examples of things the CLRA says businesses cannot do:

Lie about what something is. Such as saying a bag is genuine leather when it is not.
Charge more than the price on the sign. Such as showing one price in an advertisement, on a tag, but charging you more at checkout.
Claim something is new when it is not. Such as repacking, resealing, and/or selling a used item as brand new.
Promise something and not delivering. Such as saying a product fixes/solves a problem when it, in fact, does not.
Hide important information. Such as not telling you about a known problem or issue with something you are buying.

What Can You Receive If You Win?

If the CLRA applies to your situation, the law says you are entitled to:

Your Money Back: You can get back what you lost or are out-of-pocket due to a trick or lie.
At Least $1000: Even if the item did not cost much, the law sets a minimum amount.
Extra Money: If the company acted in bad faith or to deceive you, you may get even more compensation.
Legal Fees Paid: The company may have to pay for your attorney fees.

What Does It Cost to Get Help?

In many CLRA cases, you do not have to pay a lawyer upfront. If you win, the law can make the company pay your legal fees. That means you can fight back even if you do not have the money.

What should you do next?

You do not have to let companies treat you badly. The law is on your side, and so is 360 Consumer Law.

If something happened to you that felt unfair or dishonest, contact us. There is no cost to talk to us. We will listen. We will tell you if the CLRA can help you.