There are many ways car dealers use illegal practices to hurt consumers when they purchase a vehicle - from car financing scams and lemon laundering to lying about the vehicle and hiding damage or defects.
Contact us to learn about your rights and options if you think you’ve been scammed by a bad car dealership.
Cars are one of the most expensive and important purchases made by consumers. Cars are also consistently one of the top purchases that results in consumer complaints. Auto dealer fraud is one of the most common types of fraud lawsuits brought by consumers.
The car buying process can be complicated, negotiations can be challenging, and back office conversations can be confusing. Even the most prepared consumer can find themselves at a disadvantage and end up with a bad deal when facing a car salesperson who is well-versed in auto sales and financing scams.
When up against a dishonest dealer, consumers often face a variety of illegal tactics. Car dealerships make money selling cars. The more cars they sell and the more you pay, then the more they earn. Too often bad dealers engage in auto fraud or deceptive practices to close the sale and get you to buy expensive add-ons.
Talk to a car dealership lawyer if you think something went wrong when you purchased your vehicle. There are many ways dealerships take advantage of consumers during the car sales process. There are also a variety of state and federal laws that protect consumers when purchasing a vehicle.
If your new car broke down after you drove it off the lot, it might be a lemon. If the car dealership or manufacturer cannot or will not fix it after a reasonable number of attempts, then you may be entitled to a refund or replacement vehicle.
In many cases, dishonest behavior by a car dealership can violate the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. If you sue a car dealership and the judge finds the dealership violated the Consumer Protection Act, then the judge can order the dealer to pay 2 or 3 times the amount of the damages plus your attorneys' fees and reimbursement for litigation costs at the end of the case.
Examples of unfair and deceptive acts by car dealerships that may be found to violate the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act include:
Walckner Law Office provides a no-cost case evaluation. Discuss your car dealership claim with a lawyer today.
“Lemon” is the name given to a motor vehicle that has a defect during the warranty period that substantially impacts the vehicle's safety, use, or market value. It includes cars, vans, or trucks bought for personal or family use. In some situations, motorcycles are also covered under the lemon law. It does not cover auto homes, off-road vehicles, or vehicles purchased primarily for business use.
The Massachusetts lemon law requires the defective vehicle be repurchased or replaced by the dealer or manufacturer if it cannot be repaired. Under the law, the manufacturer or dealership is given only a limited number of attempts to fix it. Failure to comply with the lemon law is also a violation of the Massachusetts consumer protection law commonly referred to as “93A.” General law chapter 93A offers additional protections to consumers. If you win a 93A lawsuit, you may be able to receive two or three times the amount of your damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
Car dealerships and manufacturers are in the business of selling cars. They are not quick to admit they have sold a defective product or refund your money. Having the assistance of a lemon law attorney and filing a lawsuit is often needed to enforce your auto warranty.
Car dealerships frequently engage in aggressive sales tactics and unfair or deceptive business practices. This includes auto fraud or dealer misrepresentations during the sale. If you believe you were lied to by Massachusetts car dealership when you purchased your car, contact Walckner Law Office to discuss your case.
If you think a car dealer lied or committed auto fraud, then look for a law firm that focuses on car dealership claims. The auto industry is unique and the laws dealerships must follow are technical and complex. When you sue a car dealership you want a lawyer who understands the nuances in the law and the realities of the car business.
Also, look for a local lemon law or auto dealership lawyer. There are many large, national lemon law firms whose attorneys may not actually be located in Massachusetts. While they may be willing to take your case and try for a quick settlement, they are often unfamiliar with the local Massachusetts courts and unwilling to take your case to trial if that is what is needed to obtain the best result for you. Watch out for law firms that have you speak with a client specialist, or someone with a similar title, instead of the actual lemon law attorney who would handle your lemon law or auto dealer lawsuit.
Walckner Law Office represents consumers in lawsuits against car dealerships. We help consumers hurt by auto dealer fraud, auto financing scams, and dealership lies. We offer a no cost initial case evaluation so you can learn about your rights and options if you think you've been cheated by a car dealership.
Walckner Law Office
One Monarch Place, Suite 1345, Springfield, MA 01144
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