The Consumer Protection advocates

Monthly Archives: September 2010

Sep
27

Number plate cloning is a wide spread problem in the world. The thieves “clone” car number plates and as a result clone the identity of a vehicle- meaning any speeding fines or violations of traffic will be recorded against the legitimate car which has been cloned. How does it work? The theory of cloning number plates or vehicles begins as a thief acquires a vehicle, by finding a similar vehicle and noting the number plate – the criminal then proceeds to have a set of number plates made. By having this new number plates on his own car – the thief has “cloned” the car – there are now …



Sep
24

In order to protect yourself from being a victim of car leasing scams arm  yourself with worthy knowledge. Instructions 1.    Make an online research about the car and the manufacturer ahead of going into a dealership. You can get all the information you need together with the invoice cost, the money factor/interest rate, the residual value, additional fees from the manufacturer and special deals and promotions. 2.    As you begin the negotiation compare the information you uncover with your research with the ones offered by the dealer. In case the dealership does not present the money factor or residual value terms you’ve uncovered, require a good explanation or find …



Sep
23

A car title purposely misrepresents the car title history for any number of reasons then car title fraud has occurred. The chief basis for car title fraud being actual is because states lack conformity on what constitutes a “salvaged car”. As a vehicle is damaged by a natural disaster, involved in a serious collision, or stripped as a result of theft the insurance company can take possession of the car after reimbursing the insured driver and repair it. Then the car gets a new title which includes the type of damage the vehicle sustained and the vehicle is then often sold at an insurance auction. Vehicle title fraud takes …



Sep
15

Almost 1,000 people lately lost up to $5,000 each in an Internet car scam. 1.    Talk with Different People The easiest way to protect yourself from scams is to have a live contact with the dealer. It’s an automatic red light in case your only contact with a dealership is through instant message or e-mail. Always ask for phone conversation. If they refuse, don’t buy from them. 2. Remember “Too-Good-to-Be-True” Deals It is tough to pass up an incredible deal. After all, it’s what you were looking for in the first place, right? But if something seems a little too good, it most likely is. Be wary of anything …



Sep
11

Car financing scam is a very important subject to pay attention to. As people fix on buying a car, they must make serious decisions when it comes to the selection of dealers irrespective of buying a new or used vehicle. Car dealers would seem honest but the buyers cannot take it for granted at any conditions. The borrowers must be informed of the various scams in order to safeguard their interests. Here are some of the valuable tips on how to avoid the auto dealership financing scams. Financing scams are the most famous ones that gain the market. The borrowers apply for a loan and the lenders agree to …



Sep
09

Car’s odometer rolling back can increase the resale value of a high-mileage vehicle and increase repair costs down the road. Every car buyer checks the odometer since a vehicle’s mileage affects its value. The higher the mileage is the less you pay and vice versa. This makes interfere in the odometer very tempting for individuals selling cars. Rolling back the odometer puts a little extra money in their pockets. Only imagine how much a car dealership could make doing this. Usually the dishonest car dealers are caught red handed engaging in odometer rollback scams. Their gain is your loss. The dealer makes extra money and you are stuck with …



Sep
07

This auto dealer scam allows a dealer to make a quick profit from car buyers. Even though it is legal, it is considered to be a scam because auto dealerships are able to recover these preparation fees from the manufacturers. Generally, preparation fees cover the checking of fluid levels, peeling of plastic off the seats, vacuuming the interior, and washing and waxing the exterior. It takes about 2 or 3 hours of work. They may tell you that you must pay a fee for this, however you don’t have to pay anything because it is already paid for and listed on the MSRP. The car scam lies in the …



Sep
01

There are several common car trade in price scams, tricks, and bargaining tactics when buying a new or used car from a dealer. Knowledge of these practices will give a car buyer an advantage one can at least be aware of what is happening in the process. Knowing how to avoid them is even more helpful because the result can be a far more attractive price one receives for a traded vehicle. Negotiating Trade in Price Right from the very beginning, the trade in price should be negotiated separately from the purchase price of the car one is interested in buying. Indicating real interest in buying a car will …