Ilchester is a lovely Maryland town on the banks of the Patapsco River. Many of the residents of Ilchester and surrounding towns such as Elkridge, Catonsville, Ellicott City and Arbutus commute into Baltimore, so a car is a necessity for most households. Dealerships in the area sell all makes and models including Mercedes, Lexus, Ford, Toyotas and Hyundais.
If you suspect your car dealer has engaged in forgery or other forms of auto fraud, the attorneys at Whitney, LLP can help. We have experience handling many types auto fraud cases and have sued many car dealerships for fraud and deceptive practices. We can often unwind the deal and recover compensation for fraud, forgery, hidden damage and other dishonest practices.
There is nothing like getting behind the wheel of a new vehicle. However, that initial excitement can turn into anger if you realize a seller has taken advantage of you. Car dealership fraud can take many forms:
- A dealership can use forged initials or signatures to falsify a contract.
- Dealers often use false online price advertising, odometer fraud or other forms of lying to trick you into a purchase.
- Keeping down payments when financing is not approved.
- A dealer might also run a credit check on a customer without permission, a practice that can damage your credit rating.
- Or, they fail to disclose the rental history of a vehicle, which is required by Maryland law.
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.
The Car Dealership Forged My Signature
Red Flags for car dealer forgery include:
- Monthly finance or lease payments are higher or lower than agreed to
- The interest rate is different
- The term of the lease or finance contract is longer or shorter than agreed to
- When a GAP Insurance or Extended Warranty claim is made, you are told there is no policy in effect.
As you apply for the purchase and financing of your new car, there are many forms to initial and sign. If the amount of your monthly payments does not match what you were quoted, you could wonder, “Was the dealer forging my signature?” The answer is likely yes.
Unfortunately, forged initials and other types of forgery have long been used by fraudulent car dealers. They are hoping that you will forget what you signed and accept the higher costs.
A dealership fraud attorney at Whitney, LLP will work hard to prove the dealer is overcharging you. We have experience representing car buyers in forgery cases across Maryland.
Car Dealer Fraud in Ilchester, MD
Residents of Elkridge, Ellicott City, Arbutus and Ilchester should be aware of the schemes that unethical car dealers use to take advantage of their customers. If you think you have experienced any of the following types of misrepresentation, you probably will search for “a car dealership fraud attorney near me.”
Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud lawyers can help car buyers who are victims of these schemes:
False online advertising: These days, you can do a good part of the car-buying process online. Fraud occurs when a dealer is lying about the vehicle, increases the price when you arrive at the dealership, or tries to force you to take a different car when you get to the lot.
Odometer fraud: A dealer can engage in misrepresentation by resetting or rolling back the odometer. The result is a vehicle that has more wear and tear than the buyer expects with lower miles than it really has. When you contact a lawyer to sue a car dealership, he or she will check the title and other records to prove that there has been tampering.
Spot delivery failure: Many car buyers want their vehicles as soon as possible. Some dealers will send the car off the lot before a lending institution approves the financing. If the financing arrangement fails, the dealer must allow you to return the car and recover your full down payment. They cannot force you to make a new deal with worse terms, or agree to higher payments than you expected.
Down payment fraud: One of the ways a car buyer can minimize monthly payments is by making a down payment on the vehicle. An unscrupulous car dealership might fail to report some or all of that payment to the lending institution, and instead steal the down payment. This action will lead to the bank overcharging you in your monthly payments.
Credit Report fraud: It is tempting for car dealers to learn about customer credit before they start negotiating. They are hoping to prevent a deal that falls through due to poor credit. However, they cannot check your credit without your express permission. If they do so, they are violating federal law.
Rental History Not Disclosed: Dealers in Maryland must disclose when a used car used to be a rental, a taxi, and other specific uses. Many customers do not want to buy a rental due to it likely not being cared for.
An Ilchester, MD, Auto Fraud Lawyer Near Me
If you have been impacted by a seller’s illegal practices, Whitney, LLP’s attorneys can assist you in suing the car dealership and unwinding the deal and recovering compensation. The auto fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP, are ready to help you. To begin your Legal Consultation, contact us online today or call us at (410) 583-8000.