DisputeKit / States / Georgia
Your consumer rights in Georgia
What Georgia and federal law say about getting a security deposit back, refunds and cancelling subscriptions, with the law cited and a sample letter for each.
Security deposits
30 days. Under Official Code of Georgia § 44-7-34, a landlord must return the security deposit, or give the tenant a written statement of the exact reasons for keeping any part of it (including the final damage list) together with payment of the balance within 30 days. The clock starts when you move out and hand back possession of the unit. If they miss that deadline, they lose the right to keep any part of the deposit. A court may also award three times the sum improperly withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees, unless the landlord shows the withholding was unintentional and resulted from a bona fide error.
Refunds
If a company won't refund you, send a written demand with a clear deadline. If you paid by credit card, you may also be able to dispute the charge: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a billing-error dispute must reach the card issuer in writing within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge.
Subscriptions
Georgia has its own automatic-renewal law for subscriptions, on top of the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.
Small claims and complaints in Georgia
- Georgia consumer law
- Official Code of Georgia § 10-1-393 (Fair Business Practices Act)
- Where to file a complaint
- Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division
- Small claims limit
- $15,000 in magistrate court
- Filing fee
- set by each county's magistrate court; check with the local clerk