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...
Firm News
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...
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...
Pet Lemon Law
Several clients have called us recently with questions about their rights and options when their new puppy is sick. Thankfully, Connecticut is one of 22 states with a Pet Lemon Law. The law applies to cats and dogs that are purchased from a pet shop. If your new puppy...
Electronic Repossessions on the Rise
The subprime auto loan market is surging, and electronic repossessions are also on the rise. An article in the New York Times states that electronic disabling devices have been installed in two million vehicles. Lenders can activate these devices remotely, and they...
Avoiding Credit Card Fraud
You may be at risk of credit card fraud if you have ever charged a purchase at Home Depot. As widely reported in the media,hackers have obtained credit and debit card information for perhaps as many as 60 million customers. This may be the largest security breach...
Consumer Law Group Assists Plaintiffs in Obtaining Combined $65,344 Judgment Against Connecticut Auto Dealership
Consumer Law Group recently obtained a judgment against Prime Auto Group, LLC- an East Windsor, Connecticut car dealership- for its wrongful conduct in connection with the sale of motor vehicles to two Connecticut residents, and its subsequent wrongful repossession...
Are Direct Auto Sales Good for Consumers?
Tesla Motors, a manufacturer of electric cars, has announced plans to open a store in Milford, Connecticut. Aside from being known for making electric cars, Tesla has gained significant attention through its innovative marketing strategy. Unlike traditional...
Does the dealer have to tell you if your car was in a flood?
When you go to buy a car, you want to learn as much as you can about that car's history. You want to know if it was ever in any accidents or if there was any other type of damage. You need to know what repairs were made, especially if they were expensive. But what if...
Why might a dealership hide the history of your used car?
Buying a used car is unquestionably a more affordable choice than buying a brand new vehicle. If you find a used vehicle in good condition, it could serve as your primary form of transportation for many years. Unfortunately, not every used vehicle is in great...
Connecticut ranks high for auto fraud in the U.S.
Did you know Connecticut ranks among the top states with auto fraud based upon data provided by the Federal Trade Commission? Unfortunately, in 2020, 120,000 cases of auto fraud took place in the United States. In Connecticut, 318.9 incidents were reported per million...
Can a dealership hide that a used car has a salvage title?
Buying a used car is a major investment. You will likely depend on that vehicle to get to work or to safely transport your children to and from school. You should know the condition of the vehicle based on your test drive and the disclosures made by the salesperson...
Bent and damaged frames on cars: What to know
Of all the problems that you can find with a vehicle, a bent frame is among the worse. Structural damage to the chassis will cause you major problems. Unfortunately for consumers, there are plenty of unscrupulous car dealers out there who will cheerfully sell you a...
What to do if your car is a lemon
The last thing you want after purchasing a new vehicle is to start experiencing mechanical problems. It can be challenging, especially if you put everything into buying what you thought would be a reliable vehicle to meet your daily transport needs. Fortunately, there...
Some used car salesmen deserve their reputation
It’s fair to say that used car salesmen have a negative reputation. The cliche is that they’re out to trick consumers and sell them useless products at inflated prices. This is certainly not true for every salesman, and there’s a reason people say to be wary about...
Is an extended vehicle warranty worth the cost?
If the manufacturer warranty that came with your car is expiring soon, you may actually start to listen to those extended warranty robocall messages on your phone. But is an extended warranty – also known as a vehicle service contract – worth the money? Surveys of...
Can you return a used car to the dealership?
When you buy a vehicle, it’s with the expectation that it has been represented correctly by the dealership. In fact, you go to a dealership to avoid questions about the vehicle, because many dealerships do their due diligence and make sure they are aware of all...
Price gouging is more than irritating, it is illegal
It’s a hard time to buy a vehicle. Due to supply shortages, there are fewer new and used cars at today’s dealerships, and that means prices have skyrocketed. As Business Insider notes, a lack of computer chips, rampant supply chain problems and high demand have all...