Unlawful charges, and how to get your money back

unlawfulcharges.com investigates companies that add fees and charges state and/or federal law doesn't allow — and helps the people who paid them recover, at no upfront cost. We only get paid if you recover real money.

  • 18 active investigations
  • No upfront cost
  • Withdraw at any time

unlawfulcharges.com is operated by Maginnis Howard, a consumer-protection law firm.

A pattern, not an accident

Often entire industries break the law in the same way, so you may have more than one claim.

Current investigations

See all 18 investigations

When unfair becomes unlawful

Plenty of pricing is annoying but legal. These investigations concern something narrower: charges that specific state laws prohibit — hidden fees, drip pricing, and other unfair and deceptive business practices.

Why a small claim is still worth pursuing

Alone, a $30 charge isn't worth fighting. Companies count on exactly that — a charge too small to dispute, multiplied across millions of customers.
Together, thousands of identical claims change the economics. The same fine print that makes one claim uneconomic is what makes many of them work. Plus, many state laws allow for 'statutory damages' and for claimants to recover their attorney fees. We may be able to recover more than just the extra money you were charged.

Each claim remains individually yours, and you can walk away at any time.

What it costs, plainly

  • You pay nothing up front. The firm is paid a percentage only if money is recovered for you.
  • Signing up takes a few minutes; most claims need only basic account details.
  • Cases like these typically resolve in months, not weeks.
  • You can withdraw at any time.

The firm behind this site

Maginnis Howard is a consumer-protection and personal injury law firm. Its consumer practice pursues companies that charge people fees the law does not allow.

Every investigation here is the firm's own work: what the company does, which law prohibits it, and what you can do about it. AI does write some of the content, but these investigations and cases are very real.

  • Over $100 million recovered for clients across the firm's practice areas. carolinalaw.com
  • A $7,000,000 consumer-protection settlement against a mortgage company for use of illegal payment collection tactics. carolinalaw.com
  • A $2,500,000 class-action settlement for consumers charged unlawful debt-collection fees. carolinalaw.com
  • A $9,000,000 settlement against an apartment property management company for assessing unlawful fees. carolinalaw.com
  • Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Charged by a company that isn't listed here?

If a company is adding charges you believe are unlawful and you don't see it above, tell us — describe the charge and where it appears on your bill. If an investigation opens, it will be published here.

Email unlawfulcharges@carolinalaw.com