North Bethesda, Maryland, is home to several important centers of science and commerce. The National Institute of Health has facilities for four of its branches here. Corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Host Hotels and Marriott International have their headquarters in the community as well. With this amount of commerce, you can bet there are plenty of car dealerships in the area. A few of these include new car dealers for Subaru, Volkswagen and Porsche.
When you buy a new or used car in North Bethesda or surrounding areas like Rockville, Kensington, Rollins Park or Huntington Terrace, it can be an exciting experience. Unfortunately, the thrill of a new vehicle will fade quickly when you have been the victim of auto fraud. If you suspect that a car dealer was lying about your vehicle or overcharging you, you will probably need a lawyer to help you fix the problem and sue the car dealership if necessary.
Our experienced attorneys pursue auto dealership fraud cases including:
- forgery,
- stealing the down payment,
- hidden damage,
- flood damage,
- odometer fraud.
- false online price advertising,
- failing to disclose a used car’s rental or commercial use history, and
- stealing GAP and extended warranty payments.
Whitney, LLP’s attorneys help car buyers unwind bad deals and recover compensation for unfair practices.
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.
Car Dealer Forgery Lawyer In North Bethesda, MD
Honesty is a car dealer’s ethical responsibility when dealing with customers. This means that it needs to tell the truth about the vehicles at the car dealership. There can be no misrepresentation concerning the condition of a vehicle or its pricing, or other charges. The dealer needs to be upfront about the sticker price and avoid overcharging you. There also must be complete transparency throughout the process of making a deal and signing contracts. Using forged signatures and initials to increase the price is certainly a fraudulent practice, and happens more often than most consumers realize.
When buying a new car, there is always a stack of paperwork that the customer must sign and initial. This is the moment when you are agreeing to the price and financing arrangements for the vehicle. You could also be signing up to receive additional charges for optional features. If the monthly payment amount you are paying is different than the amount you agreed to, or if the term, interest rate or amount financed is different, you may wonder, “is someone forging my signature?.” The answer is probably yes in these situations.
We have been called by many customers who bought a car only to find that the car dealership canceled the GAP insurance and extended warranty and stole the money. This practice is often accompanied by forgeries. As outrageous as it sounds, this happens often in Maryland. If the dealership stole the GAP or extended warranty money, the lawyers at Whitney, LLP can help get it back.
Suing a Car Dealership in North Bethesda, MD
If you suspect dealer fraud in North Bethesda, Rockville, Kensington, Rollins Park or Huntington Terrace, you want to have the help of an attorney with experience in car dealership fraud. Suing a car dealership is not an easy task because many dealerships already have strong legal representation. Often times, customers who complain and do not have a lawyer are ignored.
Keep copies of any paperwork you sign. Save emails you have received from the dealership. A skilled lawyer can find evidence of misrepresentation or forgery during the auto sale process if it exists. Your legal counsel will also help determine the amount of compensation that is appropriate for your case. Overcharging for a vehicle can lead to credit problems and other consequences for which the legal system should hold the dealer responsible.
Common schemes including keeping and stealing the down payment when financing is not approved, and tricking customers into charges that are simply added profit, but disguised as something else. It happens often that a dealership will allow a customer to drive a new or used car off the lot, but financing has not been approved. This is called a Spot Delivery. If financing is not approved, the dealer should return the down payment and any other fees the customer paid. However, dealerships often make up excuses to keep the down payment, which is illegal. If this happens, the customer has legal rights, and Whitney, LLP can help recover money from the dealership.
Auto Fraud Lawyer Near Me in North Bethesda, MD
The victims of car dealership fraud often feel like they have nowhere to turn. Without a lawyer, car buyers who have been cheated and deceived are likely to be ignored by the dishonest dealership.
The lawyers at Whitney, LLP, have experience successfully fighting dealer fraud throughout the state of Maryland. With Free consultations, we can help you argue your case effectively. To request a legal consultation, contact us online today or call us at (410) 583-8000. Our fee are paid by compensation we recover from the dealership.