Many consumers applying for credit have heard this phrase at least once. Most often, it seems to be heard in the finance offices of car dealerships. Over the years, we’ve met many married clients who have visited auto dealerships with the intent to apply for credit...
Month: May 2013
Recent Cases- Rent to Own Collection Practices
On May 14, 2013 we filed two lawsuits concerning the collection and repossession activities of two Rent-to-Own companies. The first of the two lawsuits alleges that, after a consumer had fallen behind on her monthly payments, the employees of a Rent-to-Own company...
Certified Pre-Owned Cars: Besnoff v. Gene Langan Volkswagen of Connecticut, Inc. and VW Credit, Inc.
We filed a civil action concerning a Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen against Gene Langan Volkswagen of Connecticut, Inc. ("GLVW") and VW Credit, Inc. ("VWC"). The Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, asserts that Gene...
Does the dealer have to tell you if your car was in a flood?
When you go to buy a car, you want to learn as much as you can about that car's history. You want to know if it was ever in any accidents or if there was any other type of damage. You need to know what repairs were made, especially if they were expensive. But what if...
Why might a dealership hide the history of your used car?
Buying a used car is unquestionably a more affordable choice than buying a brand new vehicle. If you find a used vehicle in good condition, it could serve as your primary form of transportation for many years. Unfortunately, not every used vehicle is in great...
Connecticut ranks high for auto fraud in the U.S.
Did you know Connecticut ranks among the top states with auto fraud based upon data provided by the Federal Trade Commission? Unfortunately, in 2020, 120,000 cases of auto fraud took place in the United States. In Connecticut, 318.9 incidents were reported per million...
Can a dealership hide that a used car has a salvage title?
Buying a used car is a major investment. You will likely depend on that vehicle to get to work or to safely transport your children to and from school. You should know the condition of the vehicle based on your test drive and the disclosures made by the salesperson...
Bent and damaged frames on cars: What to know
Of all the problems that you can find with a vehicle, a bent frame is among the worse. Structural damage to the chassis will cause you major problems. Unfortunately for consumers, there are plenty of unscrupulous car dealers out there who will cheerfully sell you a...
What to do if your car is a lemon
The last thing you want after purchasing a new vehicle is to start experiencing mechanical problems. It can be challenging, especially if you put everything into buying what you thought would be a reliable vehicle to meet your daily transport needs. Fortunately, there...
Some used car salesmen deserve their reputation
It’s fair to say that used car salesmen have a negative reputation. The cliche is that they’re out to trick consumers and sell them useless products at inflated prices. This is certainly not true for every salesman, and there’s a reason people say to be wary about...
Is an extended vehicle warranty worth the cost?
If the manufacturer warranty that came with your car is expiring soon, you may actually start to listen to those extended warranty robocall messages on your phone. But is an extended warranty – also known as a vehicle service contract – worth the money? Surveys of...
Can you return a used car to the dealership?
When you buy a vehicle, it’s with the expectation that it has been represented correctly by the dealership. In fact, you go to a dealership to avoid questions about the vehicle, because many dealerships do their due diligence and make sure they are aware of all...
Price gouging is more than irritating, it is illegal
It’s a hard time to buy a vehicle. Due to supply shortages, there are fewer new and used cars at today’s dealerships, and that means prices have skyrocketed. As Business Insider notes, a lack of computer chips, rampant supply chain problems and high demand have all...