If you want to buy a new or used car in Chillum, Maryland, you may visit the local Honda, Ford or Audi dealerships, or any of the numerous used car dealerships. This community in Prince George’s County has approximately 35,000 residents, which means many people are interested in buying a car in town or in neighboring cities like Takoma Park, College Park, Hyattsville and Silver Spring.
Too many trusting consumers find themselves dealing with dishonest auto finance managers and salespeople who violate that trust, engaging hiding damage and accidents, salvage titles, false online price advertising, yo-yo and spot delivery scams, illegally keeping your down payments, running credit checks unlawfully, odometer fraud, and keeping GAP and extended warranty payments without paying for the coverage. Some may even resort to forgery of signatures and initials to sell, finance and lease vehicles at different terms o unknowing customers or impose questionable financing schemes.
If you purchased your car at a Chillum dealership only to find out that you were lied to about the condition of the vehicle or the terms of the transaction, a lawyer to sue a car dealership can help you to seek justice and accountability. Our auto fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP, can fight to get you the compensation you deserve or unwind the deal to return a bad car.
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.
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The Car Dealership Forged My Signature in Chillum, MD
In some particularly egregious cases of dealership fraud, you may find you are trapped by a fraudulent payment structure, including an interest rate that is higher or lower than agreed, monthly payments that are different than what you agreed to, or an amount financed that is more or less than what your signed contract says. Excess fees are also commonly added without customer permission and after documents are signed.
We have represented any clients who reported to us that “The dealership forged my signature and initials” on both sales, finance and lease contracts. These forged initials and signatures may be used to hide important details about the car. Some of these dealers may use forgery to cover up problems with the financing or with the car by giving customers papers with false data. Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud lawyers can help you to fight back if you tell us, “A car dealer was forging my signature.”
Forgeries also occur as part of the dealership canceling the GAP insurance and extended warranty, and keeping those payments. The customer only finds out they did not get the coverage once an accident happens, or their car needs repairs, and upon trying to make a claim, they are told that the policy was never paid for. This happens often in Maryland.
When a car buyer’s signature is forged on any sales, finance or lease document, Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud attorneys can help fight back and recover compensation.
Chillum, MD, Lawyer for Auto Fraud Claims
Car dealerships in Chillum and College Park are legally responsible for providing accurate information about the material condition of their vehicles and the terms of your purchase contract. They must tell you the truth about the price you are paying and the financing system involved, and disclose all charges. However, you may drive home with what seems like a great deal only to later learn that the dealer was lying to you and overcharging you. There are an infinite number of schemes that dealerships use to deceive customers.
You may have found a car that seemed perfect online only to fall victim to a bait and switch tactic where they sell you a car for a higher price with high fees after you arrive at the dealership. Some dealerships may attempt to defraud customers by promising features that are never installed in the vehicle. This is especially common with safety features and other mechanical and technology upgrades that cannot be seen from the exterior of the vehicle.
You may find out that you have a previously damaged vehicle from an undisclosed accident, or that a Takoma Park or Chillum dealer passed off a used car as a new one, or that a rental car history was not disclosed, which is required by Maryland law. The dealership may have tried to explain excess mileage on the odometer by saying it was due to delivery or dealership use, or they may have faked the car’s mileage altogether and committed odometer fraud.
Even if the car itself is as advertised, you may come across fraudulent schemes during the buying process. A dealership, for example, may try to run credit checks on you without permission, which is illegal and can lower your credit score. They may also send you home with your new car when financing has not been approved, only to try to make you give the car back while keeping your down payment and charging you fees. In Maryland, a dealership has 4 days to provide written notice if financing is not approved, and they must return the full down payment without fees taken out. Dealers trying to keep the down payment when financing is not approved, and telling you to bring the car back, happens very often in Maryland
If you have lost out due to a car dealer’s misrepresentation or lying, you can exercise your legal rights. Contact the Whitney, LLP, auto dealership fraud attorneys to find out more about suing a car dealership.
Find a Lawyer Near Me to Sue a Car Dealership
If you were defrauded by a Chillum car dealership, you should not have to pay the price for its fraud and dishonesty.
The experienced auto misrepresentation and fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP, can work hard to uncover the truth about your vehicle and financing terms, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
To request your Legal Consultation, call the offices of Whitney, LLP, at (410) 583-8000 or use our Online Quick Contact form today.