Fraudulent auto dealership practices take a variety of forms, including not disclosing that a vehicle has been certified as defective, hiding prior accidents, damage to the frame and/or engine defects, and even dialing back odometers. Auto fraud is on the rise and costs consumers millions of dollars each year in unnecessary repair fees. Unfortunately, dealership fraud usually goes undetected until the buyer has wasted so much time and money trying to figure out what is wrong with the car that the only possible conclusion is the car is simply a lemon—and the dealer knows it. If you have been ripped off by a new or used car dealer, we can take the dealer to court and get the compensation, and justice, you deserve.
Predatory Car Loans
One of the most common scams perpetrated by car dealers is making predatory loans. This involves failing to provide the consumer with all of the information about the contract he or she has signed to buy the vehicle, or making the contract unnecessarily complicated. For example, lumping fees together can prevent the buyer from being able to determine exactly what they are paying for. Another tactic is to provide so many documents to sign that consumers cannot keep track of all of them. Other scams include backdating contracts, selling used cars as brand new and not honoring cancellation policies.
Illegal Car Repossession
If you fall behind on your car payments, your vehicle can be repossessed by the company that financed it. However, certain practices must be strictly followed when repossessing vehicles, and illegal repossessions are more common than many people think. Regardless of how far you are behind on payments, or the amount of your loan, you are entitled to receive a repossession notice informing you of what has happened to your car. Failure to provide such a notice constitutes wrongful repossession. If you think your car has been wrongfully repossessed, we can take legal action on your behalf. We can also help you get your car back using other strategies, such as a loan modification or chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Contact the Florida auto fraud attorney at the Law Offices of Robert W. Murphy, Esq. to protect your rights and get compensation for matters involving fraudulent auto dealership practices.