Dealer Fraud

Car dealerships have customers sign titles all the time, but often don't follow the rules for titles. The federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, generally known as the Odometer Act, has very specific procedures for completing a title. Procedures for...

A used car purchase typically starts with an ad from the internet. The potential buyer goes to the dealership expecting to purchase the vehicle described in the ad. The problem is that the car on the lot may not be what was described in the ad. It may have more miles...

Odometer fraud is still a common occurrence, despite the switch from analog to digital odometers. With the increase in price and scarcity in used cars, dealerships are now taking more chances and selling more vehicles with rolled back and tampered odometers on their...

You have to consider many details when purchasing a used vehicle. The make and model of the vehicle and how well it retains its value, among other factors. So, too, is the appearance of the vehicle. Many people will decide how much they are willing to pay for a used...

Car companies have a responsibility to provide a safe vehicle to customers. Time and time again however, we see that not happening. A recent recall from one of the auto industry’s iconic brands serves as a good reminder that even seemingly small mistakes have the...

The Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law is a powerful tool for consumers in the fight against fraudulent and deceptive car sales by dealerships. The Unfair Trade Law gives car purchasers the ability to sue dealerships for a number of unfair...

A used car dealer manager was recently arrested for tampering with a vehicle's odometer.  In this case, the 37-year-old manager sold a 2013 Chevrolet Cargo Van, claiming that it had 159,000 miles on it. In reality, the van had more than 303,000 miles - a fact...

A Court in Summit County, Ohio recently ordered an Ohio car dealership to refund the entire purchase price for a car sold with frame damage to my client from West Virginia. The dealership sold a 2009 Nissan Murano for over $15,000. When my client tried to trade...

The Consumer Protection Financial Bureau just adopted a new rule affecting class action clauses and mandatory arbitration. The new rule prohibits class action bans in arbitration clauses by financial service firms in consumer contracts and requires reporting of...

Many car dealerships refuse to help buyers with serious problems such as a bad transmission, defective engine or accident damage because the car was sold "As-Is", even if the car was recently purchased. While an As-Is clause is usually considered by dealerships to be...