LOS ANGELES – May 30, 2017 — For recent car buyers, nothing frustrates them more than finding out they’ve been ripped-off on their car deal. An attorney from Consumer Action Law Group advises on what to do when the car dealer has ripped-off car buyers.
“The best ways to get your money back, cancel your contract, and return the car to the car dealer is to have an auto dealer fraud attorney file a lawsuit against the car dealer who ripped you off,” said attorney Pauliana Lara, head of the auto fraud department at Consumer Action Law Group.
Getting ripped-off by a car dealer may not only make owners pay more than the car’s worth, but it can cost them exponentially later on. For example, their car may break down more than usual because they were not made aware of its previous damage upon purchase. This means it’s going to cost them more money to repair their car.
It’s easy to spot some of the easier scams, but it can get difficult to recognize them all. Here are some of the ways a car dealer can rip-off car owners:
- Selling the car for more than its advertised price
- Not disclosing previous car accidents and damages
- Adding features without the client’s consent
- Misrepresenting mileage on the odometer, and
- Pulling credit without permission or overcharging for loans
Auto fraud can happen to anyone. In 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with faulty odometer readings, costing Americans more than $1 billion annually.
“All fraudulent activities listed above violate the Federal Trade Commission Act, Section 5: Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices,” (Attorney Pauliana Lara). It is against the law for car dealers to practice in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce (FTC Act) (15 USC §45).
When a car dealer rips-off car owners, they can hire an auto fraud attorney to sue the dealership. Auto fraud attorneys can:
- help owners get their money back,
- get them out of contract and return their car,
- get rid of any loan balance, or
- help them keep their car and have the dealer pay for any prior damages.
Car Dealer fraud happens on a daily basis. It is important for consumers to be able to recognize when they are being ripped-off on a deal and know what options they have to remedy their situation. For car owners who have been ripped-off by their car dealer, hiring an auto fraud attorney can help them alleviate their situation. For free legal advice, call and talk to an experienced lawyer at Consumer Action Law Group: 818-254-8413
