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...
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...