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...
Auto dealer fraudster sentenced to prison for 60 months
Used car dealers and salesman are some of the most hated individuals in the U.S. This is mostly due to a pervasive idea that they are fraudsters, and this is why every state has laws against auto dealer fraud. Though, what some may not realize is that federal law also...
Avoiding online car buying scams
Readers of our blog are no stranger to car buying scams. Indeed, many of our blogs are devoted to auto dealer fraud, like last week’s blog. In that blog post, we described how some online “internet prices” were actually after an undisclosed down payment. And, after...
Be careful when shopping for a car online
When a Connecticut resident needs a new car chances are they will search the internet first before heading into the dealership. This can be a good way of checking prices, models, features, etc., but a recent article in PC Magazine highlights the deceptive nature of...
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...
Understanding title types to make an informed purchase
When a person purchases a used vehicle, it can sometimes be difficult to know the vehicle’s full history. The vehicle may have been in accident, may have flood damage or may have been owned by several different people. Buyers may not be aware that there are several...
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...
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...
Review of Connecticut’s repossession laws
Most people in Connecticut realize that those who provide automobile loans have the right to repossess the vehicle if the borrower does not make timely payments. However, what they might not realize is that borrowers have rights during the repossession process, and...
Vehicle disclosure requirements and what if they are unmet
Buying a vehicle is exciting and a big step for many people. For that reason, car buyers and consumers should be familiar with vehicle history disclosure requirements and auto dealer fraud and how they can protect themselves. Vehicle disclosure requirements Vehicle...
What can you learn from a VIN search?
Every vehicle is a unique machine that comes with a unique identifier – a vehicle identification number. Known as a “VIN” number, this identifier is an alphanumeric code that provides important information about the vehicle's history. There are ways for...