The National Consumer Law Center has issued an important study on the high costs and discriminatory practices of car dealerships. The NCLC is calling for legislative actions to protect the consumer public. (NCLC Publication, October 2017: “Auto Add-Ons Add Up: How Dealer Discretion Drives Excessive, Arbitrary and Discriminatory Pricing.”) The Car Dealership Industry claims the…
If you have one of these lemon vehicles, you may need the help of a lemon lawyer. Here is the list of the most troubled as compiled by Consumer Reports: 10) Chevy Camaro — transmission, drive system, 9) Mercedes GLC– brakes, steering, 8) Jaguar F-Pace — drive system and electronics problems, leaks, 7) GMC Acadia…
Driving allows an aging person to maintain independence, but aging does often affect your driving. Arthritic hands may struggle with small buttons or gripping the wheel. Getting in and out of a car with bucket seats or one that’s low to the ground can be tough. The American Automobile Association has created a useful interactive…
Consumers are conditioned to look at the posted invoice price (or MSRP) of a car and assume that’s what the dealer paid for it, or that is fair and true price. Wrong. Manufacturer money, hidden money, is a game changer: No. 1, the Dealer holdback: This is money the manufacturer pays to the dealer only after a…
In 2015, financial results for the six publicly traded, new-car dealer groups in the United States showed that dealerships are in the business of selling cars so they can service them and finance them. Compared to the new-car department, gross profit margins for dealerships are much higher for service and parts, where they may have…
The California Vehicle Code states all California car dealers must post notice of the consumer’s right to have any vehicle for sale inspected by third party. (Vehicle Code §§11709.1 and 11609.5.) Nevertheless, Carmax, one of the largest used car sellers in the state, has been refusing to allow consumers to have cars inspected. Know your…
AAA has come out with a warning for buyers of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles: Buyers Beware! Go to NHTSA.gov/recalls to find out if your CPO is recalled for a safety defect. The manufacturer’s and dealers MAY NOT TELL YOU, and they may even be knowingly advertising recalled vehicles as CPOs! Check out Peter Bohr’s expose in…
In the recent case, Medina v. South Coast Car Company, Fourth App. Dist., Div.5, 2017 DJDAR 939 (Sept. 25, 2017), a California Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court’s judgment that Veros Credit, the lender on a fraudulent car sale, was held responsible for consumer damages and attorney’s fees through the “holder clause” that is…
We are continually told by consumers that dealerships are required to run their credit, even sometimes claiming anti-terrorism laws require this! Not true. Some anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering rules require dealers to CHECK THE IDENTIFICATION of customers paying more than $10,000 in cash and to report to the IRS on Form 8300. BUT DEALERS DO…
The news is coming out of a new scam by Wells Fargo: secretly placing insurance on your vehicle and charging you for it. In many cases, the consumer’s vehicle even get repossessed by Wells Fargo when these secret charges go unpaid! Check your bank statements everyone, if you have a car loan or lease through…
