The city of Annapolis, MD, is located on the shores of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. It is home to historic St. John’s College as well as the United States Naval Academy. There are many new and used car dealerships, including Lexus, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and more in Annapolis and the surrounding areas, like Manresa, Parole, Riva and Edgewater,. However, a dishonest car dealership can ruin the car buying experience and cause financial hardship.
Dishonest dealer schemes include:
- Keeping your down payment illegally if financing is not approved, or selling your trade without financing being approved;
- Falsely advertising a car online at a low price, but then insist on a higher price when you arrive;
- Committing odometer fraud to display a lower mileage;
- Forgery of signatures and initials on finance and lease contracts; and
- Failing to disclose a used car’s rental car history, or history of commercial use.
- Whitney, LLP’s attorneys can often unwind a bad deal and recover compensation for unfair practices.
When you start making payments and realize that the dealer was lying about the vehicle or is overcharging you, you may think about hiring an attorney to sue a car dealership. The experienced auto fraud lawyers at Whitney, LLP can help you sue the car dealership in cases of forgery, misrepresentation and general car dealership fraud.
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.
Whitney, LLP offers Legal Consultations. Call us at (410) 583-8000, or use our online form to request your free initial consultation today.
The Car Dealership in Annapolis, MD, Forged My Signature
When the numbers on your monthly payments or amount financed are higher or lower than agreed, and are different from what you agreed on at the dealership with the finance manager, you may wonder, “Was the dealership forging my signature to change the deal?” The answer is probably yes. With the amount of paperwork that comes with every sale, finance or lease, it is easy for a dealer to use forged signatures and initials to add options or change the payment plan. Signatures are often forged to allow dealerships to keep GAP Insurance and extended warranty payments – instead, they payment for those products is stolen and the customer does not find out about it until they make a claim and there is no coverage.
Forgery can have serious implications for your financial well-being. If you live on a fixed budget, unexpected costs are a real concern. Car dealership forgery is an unethical practice that the auto fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP have experience detecting, holding dealerships accountable for, and recovering compensation for forgery victims.
Legal Claims Against Car Dealerships
Many things can go wrong when you purchase a new vehicle. You may have looked at several makes and models online and found a car that feels like the perfect fit. When you get to the dealership, though, the car may cost more than advertised online, or it may be missing features shown in the ad. Your dealer may omit information about prior accidents, salvage history, or a rental history, which Maryland law requires to be disclosed, or they may outright commit odometer fraud. If it feels like your dealer is hiding information and was dishonest, you may want to consider hiring a lawyer for help with suing a car dealership or making a claim. Whitney, LLP can help.
You can also fall prey to fraud during the process of buying the car. In some cases, the dealer may send you home with your car before your loan is even approved. This is called a Spot Delivery. Then, when the bank denies the loan, they might try to coax you into agreeing to different, worse terms in a spot delivery scheme. Buyers in Maryland have the right to return the car and recover their down payment, without any fees, when financing is not approved. However, dealers in Maryland often try and illegally keep your down payment. Some dealers may also try to run extra, unauthorized credit checks on your credit without your permission, which is illegal. They often do it multiple times, which can damage your credit score. Whitney, LLP can help get those credit inquiries removed from your credit report.
When a dishonest car dealer in Annapolis, MD, takes advantage of you, you do not have to deal with the consequences on your own, or be ignored when you complain to your salesman or general manager. Instead, you can contact Whitney, LLP’s consumer attorneys for a Legal Consultation to discuss your legal rights.
In places like Annapolis, Manresa, Parole, Riva and Edgewater, the car dealership will have experienced legal experts working on its behalf to deny paying compensation. You will likely need an experienced lawyer who has the knowledge and skills to successfully file a lawsuit and recover compensation. Compensation in auto fraud cases can include the car being returned, compensation for emotional distress due to fraud, and punitive damages.
Lawyer Near Me to Sue a Car Dealership
Whitney, LLP will work hard to develop your case and determine the proper compensation for fraud and misrepresentation. We have experience in resolving car dealership fraud cases, and we can help you through this difficult legal process.
For a Legal Consultation, contact Whitney, LLP using our online Quick Contact Form, or call us at (410) 583-8000.