A consumer advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader and Consumers Union is gain taking aim at FCA US, this time over instances of stalling being alleged by dozens of consumers while driving the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan. The Center for Auto Safety is asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open an investigation and…
If you sue someone, you or the other side will probably offer to settle the case. Settling a case means one side agrees to do something to avoid going to court. For example, if you sue a drunk driver for crashing into your car, the other side might offer to settle the case by promising…
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…
The New York Times obtained an internal Wells Fargo report that over 800,000 people with WF car loans were charged for auto insurance they did not want or need. This caused countless repos and overcharges for unsuspecting consumers. Wells Fargo only stopped the offending program in September of 2016. The Office of the Comptroller of…
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…
The ANTI-ARBITRATION VOTE IS TODAY – PLEASE CALL!! Today there is going to be a vote in the United States Senate on Senate Joint Resolution 47, a vote to overturn the new CFPB rule that restores your 7th amendment right to a trial in court and not by secret tribunal where Wells or Equifax pays…
Often consumers call when their vehicles are no longer covered by the manufacturer’s factory warranty, but are covered under a “service contract.” Under Civil Code Section 1794(a), consumers can pursue a Court case if they are “damaged by a failure to comply with any obligation under [a]… service contract.” This is not a claim for…
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…
