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...
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....
Recalled Cars: The Five Minute Exercise That Can Save Your Life
A recent study by the Consumer Federation of America found that there were 70 million recalled cars that were on American roads. "While these open recalls present a clear hazard to the occupants of these vehicles, they are also a hazard to the rest of the driving...
Home Improvement Hassles – Dan Blinn in the News
Consumer Law Group Managing Attorney Daniel Blinn was recently interviewed by NBC 30 News about a consumer who hired a Home Improvement contractor who did not finish the job.The story, which broadcast on November 8, 2019, discussed a Wallingford resident who hired a...
Consumer Prevails in Auto Warranty Claim Involving Certified Car
A Connecticut consumer recently won an Auto Warranty claim in United States District Court. The consumer had sued Brandfon Honda in Branford Connecticut. The dealership had sold the vehicle pictured above as a certified-pre owned car. The jury found that the...