Some things should be obvious. But, apparently, a columnist in car dealer publication Automotive News felt that car dealerships need to be told that: "Signing a customer's name is forgery. Period." Check out the article, which suggests that the reasons for forgery...
Month: April 2013
Our Auto Dealer Fraud Practice and Representative Cases
In our experience, consumers have more problems involving motor vehicles than with any other type of purchase. State and federal laws provide consumers who lease or purchase motor vehicles with many protections, and an alarming percentage of motor vehicle sales or...
Buying a decent car with poor credit
Buying a decent car without good credit can be tough. In Connecticut, car dealers can charge up to 19% interest. All too often, dealers charge prices are well above book values, and that is before the cost of conveyance fees and other "extras" are added to the...
Trans Union Now Considering Metropolitan Area When Evaluating Credit Risk
Trans Union is now using "metro ratings" to evaluate credit risks for collective groups based on where they live. Attorney Chris Kittell of the Kittell Law Firm writes Trans Union contends that a low metro rating does not just reflect a geographically localized group...
Dealing With New Car Warranties: Part 2
Good Morning! If you've been following our blog, you might know from yesterday's post that Attorney Dan Blinn bought a brand new car over the weekend and that, less than 24 hours later, the car wouldn't start. Yesterday's post detailed some of the things that we...
It Can Happen To Anyone: Dealing with New Car Warranty Issues
It can happen to anyone - CLG attorney Dan Blinn bought a new car this weekend and, less than 24 hours later, it wouldn't start. So, he follows the advice that he gives to clients facing similar situations involving new car warranty problems:.... 1. Promptly...
Cell Phone Calls, Debt Collectors and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Many consumers have told us that they get several calls a day on their cell phones from a debt collector or creditor who is trying to collect a debt. Collection calls to cell phones can be particularly frustrating because most consumers always keep their cell phones...
Don’t be afraid to fight against auto fraud
If you believe that you have become a victim of auto fraud, it's likely that you have had some unpleasant interactions with your dealer. You'll likely be left with a bitter taste in your mouth and feeling that you have been short-changed in some way, but you may be a...
How to recognize vehicle warranty scams
Auto repairs are more than just an inconvenience -- they can be prohibitively expensive. For this reason, some people in Hartford feel the safe thing to do is to purchase a manufacturer’s warranty from their auto dealer. It is important to understand the difference...
Reminders for used car purchases in Connecticut
Many people consider buying used cars because they are often more affordable than brand-new cars. A used car purchase is a still a large transaction, however, and there is important information available for consumers in Connecticut to keep in mind. Connecticut law...
What are the different types of auto dealer fraud?
Buying a car can be a challenging and exciting process. To ensure they are not taken advantage of, consumers should be familiar with the different types of auto dealer fraud and the protections against auto dealer fraud. Types of auto dealer fraud There are several...
What are the possible outcomes if I have a “Lemon law” hearing?
We expect the new or used cars we buy are in good working condition, especially if they are relatively new or have a low mileage. Under Connecticut’s “Lemon Law” if you were sold a defective vehicle that is either at or under two years old or has a mileage at or under...
What can you do if you suspect auto dealer fraud?
Is your recently purchased used car already causing problems? It may have faulty components that were not disclosed at the time of purchase, the auto dealer may have failed to disclose it was involved in a prior accident or the dealer could even have been tampered...
Don’t get burned by these three common types of auto fraud
Studies show that around 1 in 10 property/casualty insurance claims are fraudulent. In fact, insurance fraud is close behind tax evasion amongst some of the most pervasive white-collar crimes. This means that the likelihood of experiencing the outcome of such fraud is...
What should I know about arbitration for a Lemon Law case?
When a Connecticut resident purchases a new vehicle and it fails to live up to its expectations, it is more than a personal disappointment. It could be a financial morass in which more and more money was poured into the vehicle in addition to making the payments for...
Connecticut pre-owned vehicle warranty protections
Consumers who buy a preowned car should not purchase someone else’s problems. They should know about Connecticut’s law that helps protect them from vehicle warranty problems. Coverage Under state law, warranties are required for a used car purchased from a dealer...
Spotting odometer tampering in a used car
Until the advent of digital odometers, tampering with the analog odometers was perhaps the most common type of fraud involved in used car sales in Connecticut and elsewhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration once estimated that more than 450,000 used...