Consumer Law Group Managing Attorney Dan Blinn was interviewed in a News 8 (WTNH) investigation on the sale of defective used cars in Connecticut. The story, which aired on January 30, 2014, focused on a woman who purchased a used car that an independent mechanic...
Month: January 2014
Setting up a Google+ for CLG’s Office Hours
If you're planning on attending our next office hours session, you will need a Google+ Account to access the hangout. Below is all the information you'll need to get started. If you already use Google+, you can add us to your circles...
Games Dealers Play: Overcharging for a Vehicle
We don’t buy cars the same way that we buy other things. For most purchases, a consumer can walk into a store, pick out an item, and reasonably expect to pay the same price that is charged to everybody. That is not true at most car dealerships, and consumers who do...
Continued Momentum to Address Forced Arbitration
SFGate.com When the little guy gets shut out of court Those who fail to read a contract's fine print - in other words, most of us - may not realize we are routinely forfeiting our right to a fair grievance process when we get a job, seek medical treatment or...
Announcing Office Hours!
CONSUMER LAW GROUP OFFICE HOURS! First Session: Friday, January 24, 4:00 - 5:30 PM(ET) with Attorney Daniel Blinn . Not our physical office - those are still M-F, 9-5. As a service to our clients and friends, we are now offering an on-line "virtual" open office...
Games Dealers Play: The Incredible Shrinking Down Payment
Most car and truck purchases are financed at a car dealership under retail installment contracts. Our attorneys have reviewed thousands of these transactions over the years, and we have learned much about the tricks that car dealerships play in order to maximize...
My personal information has been compromised– What Should I Do?
The recent theft of financial information from Target’s website is just one of many instances where consumers have been exposed to the risk of identity theft. Sensitive information such as account statements, loan or mortgage documents, or tax documents can also be...
Printing Credit/Debit Card Numbers and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
The recent Target security breach has drawn a great deal of attention to the security measures used by retailers to protect consumers’ financial information from hackers. However, not all identity thefts involve complex hacking schemes; sometimes, all the necessary...
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...