Tag Archives: victim of dealer fraud

Gas prices fluctuated heavily over the summer and busy holidays when people were likely to travel in 2010.  So today when one gallon gas costs up to three dollars, drivers are more careful when filling up their tanks. So if you are thinking to buy a car, but are still unsure, use your old one till its pumps are friendly. This will enable you to gain some trying time. Do not let car dealers convince you. Weigh the pros and cons of buying a new car before you go to shop for another one – be it a reliable family car or just a car for your personal usage. …

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Is buying a car at a car show a wise investment? Should you listen to the inner child who is probably screaming to buy the car or should you calm down and walk away. Buying a car at a car show is risky and may involve car scam practices. You should avoid buying a car at a car show unless you have had enough time to carefully shop around and see how much the vehicle that you are interested in would be worth. Additionally, during a car show the owner is not going to have much time to discuss the car details with you. This is simply because the …

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Worthless add-ons Do not let the dealers use their “scam art” on you and sell you worthless add-ons such as fabric protectant, rust-proofing, VIN etching and lifetime wax protection since they have very little value, though the salesmen will probably claim the opposite. Besides the price, new cars already come with rust-proofing and lifetime wax doesn’t last longer than any other wax job. A prepaid maintenance plan might also be worthless since it usually covers only the regular maintenance expenses such as tire rotations and oil changes. In other words, the maintenance plan might cost more than the individual visits would. So if the dealer refuses to negotiate the …

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Below is a brief summary of negotiation strategies and tips for ensuring you get the best car for your money and avoid becoming a victim of dealer fraud. Take Your Chances Negotiating with a car dealer is far easier than most people believe. Contrary to popular opinion, if you disagree with the dealer on the price, you will not be thrown out of the dealership. The salesman is almost never authorized to agree on a final purchase price anyway, so you should not hesitate sending him to a manager to ask for a lower price. Come Prepared Conduct some research to find the fairest price for your target car. …

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Read our blog if you want to be able to detect any hidden defects on the vehicle and be protected from becoming a victim of dealer fraud. Windows See if there are any hairline cracks or tiny holes in the glass. Make sure that they move up and down smoothly and if they fit snugly when fully rolled up or down. Tailpipe Check if the vehicle’s tailpipe is damaged from poor reversing. Examine the rear bumper for too much soot from the exhaust.  If the tailpipe has black gummy soot, this may be an indication that the engine has worn rings or bad valves, which could mean expensive repairs. …

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Imagine for a moment that you are a car dealer who is trying to sell his/her old coupe for a bigger sedan.  You gather the keys, rummage through your junk pile for the owner’s manual and old service records.  You clean the engines, rub out the stains on the cushions, vacuum the interiors, and put your coupe through a car wash. Imagine and remember this since this is exactly how a private seller with an ounce of business sense would prepare his or her vehicle before a sale.  So, how to detect hidden defects on the vehicle and be protected from becoming a victim of dealer fraud? Body Check …

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Many of us have heard of car warranty scams. Here are some tips that will help you make a wise decision and not become a victim of dealer fraud. Too Good to Be True If you come across an auto warranty broker who is offering to cover everything that is on the car at an extremely unbelievable rate, it is probably too good to be true. You’re better avoid this company all together and find someone else to handle your car warranty coverage plans. Listing with Better Business Bureau When considering car warranty coverage purchase, make sure that the company you have chosen is listed with the Better Business …

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During the car negotiations of the car deal customers get to know a number of terms, such as purchase price, options, down payment, trade-in credit, monthly payment, interest rate, loan term, and balloon payment. All these elements of a car deal lead to confusion or fraud. It is difficult for the customer to focus on all of the terms mentioned by the car dealer. If the customer focuses on one of the terms he will probably miss all the others and car dealers know this. Distraction is an art that many car salesmen study diligently. For example, many people have become a victim of dealer fraud by focusing on …

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Car dealers know that the average consumer will not read most of a pre-printed document and most of the time they take advantage of this to make more profit. It is common for dealers to promise consumers to help arrange the financing with a third party lender. This is because financing is complex and confusinf and dealers routine hold themselves out as experts in auto finance. Car buyers prefer all the terms explained by the dealer rather than read all documents themselves. This is when the car dealers scam you. Never sign the deal on the first day. Take some time to think it over. Ask the dealer for …

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Though there are no laws that require a dealer to check a car over before selling it, the buyer’s guide states that the car is supposed to have a post on the window stating if the car has a warranty or is sold “As Is.” The car dealer is supposed to offer a consumer to sign a copy of the Buyer’s Guide and give the car buyer a copy of it. If the car buyer have signed the Buyer’s Guide and have a copy of it the buyer will probably have no recourse, because the dealer can say it was posted on the car and no fraud occurred. The …

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