Many of the people who make Rockville, Maryland, their home chose to settle in the area because it offers quality schools, abundant amenities and easy access to other parts of the state. While its close proximity to major commuter arteries like Interstate 270 and Route 586 may have been Rockville’s major attraction in the past, the area has recently become a destination where people work as well as live. Rockville is now a major technology center and home to several successful biotechnology and software companies.
Rockville and surrounding areas like Rollins Park, Derwood, North Bethesda and Redland are also home to dozens of car dealerships and used car lots selling BMWs, Audis, Chevrolets and other vehicles, and not all of them play by the rules. Overcharging, stealing down payments, GAP and extended warranty money, lying and misrepresentation are alarmingly common, and it is not unheard of for auto dealers to resort to forgery of signatures and initials in the pursuit of profit.
If you have been the victim of auto fraud and need a lawyer to sue a car dealership, you should think about putting the experienced attorneys at Whitney, LLP, on your side. Whitney, LLP, will work to obtain compensation for you and hold the dealer accountable.
Here are reviews from what some of our past clients have said about us, and here are some of our past settlement results in claims and lawsuits against car dealerships. We offer legal consultations. Call us at (410) 583-8000 or use our online form to request your free initial consultation today.
Watch our YouTube Channel and read our Auto Fraud blog for more information on dealer fraud cases.
Forgery and Other Deceptive Practices at Rockville, MD Dealerships
You may think that all is well because your monthly payment matches what the dealer told you, but manipulating finance contracts to increase the selling price while leaving the monthly payment unchanged is one of the most common forms of car dealer fraud. This is often accomplished by lowering the interest rate to conceal the higher price and covering up the deception with forged initials and signatures. Many consumers only find out that they have been cheated when they try to pay off their loans or trade in their vehicles and they discover that they still owe far more than they thought.
Other times, even if the monthly payment is slightly different, even by a few cents or a few dollars, from what you agreed to at the dealership, that indicates the contract terms were changed, and your signature was likely forged.
The attorneys at Whitney, LLP, are familiar with this and other deceptive auto dealer practices, and they know how to examine finance contracts and credit applications for forged initials and other unauthorized alterations. If you tell us, “The dealer must have been forging my signature,” our attorneys can initiate a lawsuit on your behalf.
Unsafe or Defective Vehicles on Rockville, MD, Dealer Lots
Many used car buyers chose to purchase vehicles from established dealers because they want peace of mind, but their faith in these businesses is sometimes misplaced. Used car salespeople are often accused of lying about the previous owners of the vehicles they sell, but sometimes the sedans, pickup trucks and SUVs on dealer lots hide more sinister secrets. Unscrupulous dealers sometimes buy cars at auction that have been totaled in accidents or floods, and they then hide their dubious provenances by titling them in states with lax disclosure laws. They also do not tell customers that the car or truck used to be a rental, which is something customers need to know before they buy.
Buying a defective or potentially dangerous used vehicle in Rollins Park, Derwood, North Bethesda or Redland is a good reason for suing a car dealership, but to prevail in court, you will need an attorney who understands how auto fraud and knows how to spot it. Our experience in this area has taught us that this kind of fraud is very common.
Attorney Representing Auto Fraud Victims in Rockville, MD
Auto dealers usually have deep pockets, which is why the victims of fraud, misrepresentation and overcharging are often reluctant to pursue civil remedies. Many victims of fraud do not know that Whitney, LLP’s lawyers do not charge fees or expenses to victims, and instead recover those from the dealership.
The skilled attorneys at Whitney, LLP, have represented dozens of consumers in lawsuits against new and used car lots, and they can explain what suing a car dealership involves. If you feel that you have been taken advantage of and need a lawyer to sue a car dealership, you should set up a legal consultation with Whitney, LLP, today. You can request one by filling out our online form or you can call us at (410) 583-8000.