When shopping for cars, consumers typically fill out a credit application at the dealership. The dealership may then submit the application to multiple banks and finance companies. This is known as "shotgunning". When a prospective creditor pulls your credit report,...
In the typical Yo-Yo Scam, a car dealership tells the consumer that she is "all set" and that her credit application has been approved. She drives home in her new (or pre-owned) car and shows it off her to her friends, family, and co-workers. About a week later, the...
Are Certified Pre-Owned ("CPO") cars worth the extra money? A recent article by Tribune Newspapers discusses the increased cost of CPO vehicles, which consumers bought at record levels in 2014. Certified pre-owned cars are supposedly subjected to an extensive...
A recent Consumer Reports article asks the question that every new car buyer should ask before going to the car dealership: Do You Really Need a New Car?: New-car envy. It can creep up anytime. It may snag you at a stoplight when a muscle car or luxury sedan sidles...
Powerbooking is one of the most common types of credit application fraud that car dealers commit. A car dealership powerbooks when it tells a bank or finance company that a car or truck is loaded even though it does not have many of the options that are described. For...
Do car dealer employees commit forgery? "It is like smoking a cigarette," said one employee of a major Connecticut car dealership. This individual, a salesman who was upset with his employer, had agreed to talk with me about dealership practices. He confirmed what we...
The most important thing that a consumer should do before buying a used car is have an independent mechanic inspect the car or truck. A qualified inspector can help car buyers avoid vehicles with serious defects or other problems. Additionally, any minor problems...
The advertisements seem too good to be true: the car dealership will give you $3,500 for your trade-in, regardless of condition. Many consumers who have trade-ins with serious problems find these offers impossible to resist. But, be careful, because these...