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...
What are lemon laws?
Lemon laws provide many important protections for car shoppers, car purchasers and consumers. For that reason, anyone considering a car purchase or who has recently purchased a car should be familiar with lemon laws. What is a considered a lemon? What qualifies as a...
What makes a problematic vehicle a “lemon” under the law?
When we purchase a new car from a dealer, we have the right to expect the vehicle to conform and perform to the expectations advertised by the manufacturer, as well as the dealership. However, many cars do roll off the assembly line with problems that were not caught...
What if I buy a car that’s been in an undisclosed accident?
Buying a used car always is a little bit of a gamble. You may choose to buy a car from an auto dealer because you feel better about that than buying one from a private party. However, auto dealers sometimes are sneaky and may try to sell you a car without disclosing...
Setting a Budget BEFORE Car Shopping
We continue our blog series on things to do before car shopping at a dealership. One important step to take before visiting a dealership is setting a budget. I bought my first car in 1982. Although I had graduated high school and had two years of college, I was...
Setting a Budget When Car Shopping
I bought my first car in 1982. Although I had graduated high school and had two years of college, I was financially naïve. I had never learned how to set a budget or how to manage credit. I was, in that sense, very much like many consumers today. Fortunately, the...
Check Your Credit Report Before You Start Car Shopping
The next article in our blog series on things that people thinking of buying a car should do before they visit a dealership addresses the importance of checking credit reports. According to a 2019 study,over 85% of new car purchases and over 55% of used car purchases...
The Way We Buy Cars
Not many people are car shopping during the COVID-19 shutdown. However, once businesses re-open and people get back to work, car dealers will be aggressively marketing to the public. In order to help our clients and friends avoid becoming a victim of the Games...
Toxic Car Dealerships
A recent lawsuit filed by employees of a New Jersey auto dealer shows the toxic atmosphere that exists in some car dealerships. While there are many car dealers that respect their employees and customers, we have heard many stories from employees and consumers about...
Avoiding Repossessions During COVID-19 Shutdown
Are you concerned about avoiding a repossession due to lack of work or reduced income because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Consumer Law Group Managing Attorney Dan Blinn offers advice on dealing with auto lenders in this new video.
Why Does the State Tolerate Auto Dealer Fraud?
The most frequently asked question that we hear from consumers who have been victimized by Auto Dealer Fraud is "How Do They Get Away With It?". We regularly see examples of auto dealers committing fraud, forgery, odometer violations, and the sale of dangerous cars....