With a population of over 20,000, Lake Shore is an affluent Maryland community that sits on the Hog Neck peninsula by the Chesapeake Bay. When residents of Lake Shore and the nearby communities of Pasadena, Jacobsville, Glen Burnie, and Ferndale go auto shopping, they often stop at the local new and used dealerships.
Unfortunately, some residents have found themselves dealing dishonest auto dealerships’ fraud, including:
- misrepresentation,
- stealing down payments,
- lying about options on a car or accident history,
- overcharging for fake inspections and fees,
- forgery,
- keeping down payments and selling a trade in despite financing not being approved,
- spot delivery violations,
- odometer fraud,
- false online price advertising,
- and running credit checks without permission.
Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud lawyers sue car dealerships and help buyers unwind bad deals and recover compensation. At Whitney, LLP, our experienced auto fraud attorneys can work with you to fight back and seek the compensation you deserve.
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 Dealer Signed My Name Without Permission – Forgery
Under Maryland law, car dealers in Lake Shore, Jacobsville, and elsewhere in the state are required to not commit any fraud while selling a car. However, forgery is common at some dealerships in Maryland.
If your monthly payments, loan amount or interest rate are different, either higher or lower, than you agreed to at the dealership, your signature was likely forged by a finance manager at the dealership after you left.
Forged initials and signatures can be used to cover up fraudulent financing schemes, illegal fees, or dangerous flaws in the vehicle itself. If you discover that a Lake Shore dealer was forging you signature, contact the auto fraud lawyers at Whitney, LLP. We have represented multiple car buyers in forgery cases against car dealerships.
Other Dealership Schemes in Lake Shore, MD
If a fraudulent dealer in Lake Shore or Pasadena wants to cheat a buyer, it could try to roll back the odometer. This is a classic way to make a vehicle seem newer and justify a higher price. However, odometer fraud is illegal.
In other cases, a great online sale price turns out to be bogus. The dealer never intended to sell the car at the price advertised online, and adds thousands more, including bogus reconditioning fees and inspection fees.
Spot Delivery Scams – When Financing is Not Approved
Financing schemes can also be a major problem too. The vehicle itself could be solid and seem like a good deal. However, a greedy dealer could engage in spot delivery fraud to get more money. They let you drive off the lot with your new car before financing is secured, only to later tell you that you must either pay an exorbitant interest rate, higher price or bring the car back.
In some cases, they will even try to keep your down payment if the financing deal goes bad, or, will have sold your trade-in already, and try to force you to buy a new car. Maryland law is clear- these schemes are illegal.
Still, others run credit checks without permission. These hard inquiries could damage your credit, resulting in higher interest rates. If you have been the victim of misrepresentation when buying a car, contact the auto fraud lawyers at Whitney, LLP. We help car buyers sue dealerships and recover compensation for unfair practices.
Lake Shore, MD, Lawyer for Auto Dealer Fraud Claims
You should not have to suffer due to the deception and dishonesty of an auto dealer. In many cases, it makes sense to hire a lawyer to sue a car dealership. Most customer complaints are ignored or downplayed until the customer had obtained legal representation.
At Whitney, LLP, our experienced car dealership fraud attorneys can uncover the truth about your car, and fight hard to unwind bad deals and get the compensation you deserve. Call the offices of Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000, or use our secure online form to request your initial legal consultation.