An article in today's New York Times discusses the increase in subprime mortgage lending. As the article points out, although most of the really bad mortgages that caused the financial crisis were subprime loans, not all subprime loans are bad. People with less than...
Month: June 2014
Marking Up The Interest Rate
Car dealers like to brag about their relationships with multiple banks and finance companies, and they often imply that these connections help consumers get low interest rates. But, many consumers would be surprised to learn that car dealers frequently mark-up the...
Dan Blinn on Law Talk
Managing Attorney Dan Blinn will be the in-studio guest on WTIC 1080 Law Talk on Saturday, June 28 at 3:00 pm. He'll be talking about how to avoid getting ripped off at the car dealership. Feel free to call in and ask any consumer law related questions.
Buying Former Rental Cars: Good Deal or Big Headache?
Car rental companies owned nearly 2 million in 2013, and most of those rentals will be resold on the consumer market. Some rental companies have retail divisions that sell former rentals directly to consumers. Many of those cars can be a good deal, and many rental...
Games Dealers Play: Dealer Conveyance Fees
One of the biggest tricks in the car business is the "dealer conveyance fee," which is supposed to compensate the dealership for its costs in processing the paperwork, taking care of the registration, and closing the deal. About 20 years ago, dealer conveyance fees...
CashCall and Western Sky borrowers may be entitled to a refund!
Important news for Connecticut residents who have taken out a payday loan: the Connecticut Department of Banking recently reached a settlement with CashCall, Inc. and Western Sky Financial, LLC concerning unlawful lending practices. Customers that took out a payday...
Games Dealers Play: VIN Etching
One trick played by auto dealers to boost their profits is to charge customers to etch the vehicle identification number (VIN) onto the windows of a car. The VIN is a 17 digit number that is unique to a specific motor vehicle. There is some evidence that car thieves...
Games Dealers Play: Not Paying Off the Trade-In
Many consumers decide to trade-in their cars before they have paid off the old loan. When things go right, the dealership will obtain a pay-off amount from the bank or finance company and will make the payment on time and for the proper amount. The dealer gets the...
I Bought a Certified Pre-Owned Car – and it was WRECKED!
Most car manufacturers have certified pre-owned ("CPO") programs. Typically, CPO programs involve an inspection by an authorized dealership, who "certifies" that the car meets the manufacturer's high standards. For example, Toyota advertises that it has a "160-Point...
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...
Beware of hurricane damaged vehicles
Connecticut managed to avoid any extensive damage from the historic 2020 hurricane season. However, used car buyers should still be on the lookout for vehicles that may have suffered from flood damage. Often, flood-damaged cars are transported far beyond their...
What is odometer fraud?
When people in Connecticut purchase a used car, one feature they may pay particular attention to is the milage on the vehicle. In general, vehicles with lower mileages will have less wear-and-tear and thus may be more reliable vehicles. However, not all dealers are...
State law protects buyers of used cars before and after the sale
Connecticut has laws which authorized used car dealerships have to follow. These laws are there to protect customers from paying way too much for a car that has significant mechanical problems. Before the sale of a vehicle, a prospective buyer has the right to have...
An overview of Connecticut’s Lemon Law
Most residents may not know this, but our state was the first state to enact a “Lemon Law” to help car owners of defective vehicles. In fact, the program has refunded or replaced vehicles to the tune of over $60 million. Where is the Lemon Law? “Lemon Law” is not...