Located near Rockville, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring in central Maryland, Olney has been ranked as one of the top places to live in America by Money Magazine. The census-designated place is named after the hometown of English poet William Cowper.
While Olney may be a pleasant area, the local new and used car dealerships who sell Mercedes, BMWs, Chryslers, Hondas, Hyundai’s and Toyotas are not always trustworthy. While they claim to be upfront, their practices do not always match what they tell you.
Common car dealership schemes that car buyers in and around Olney may face are spot delivery violations, keeping the down payment when financing is not approved, odometer fraud, false online price advertising and bait and switch, hiding a rental car history, hidden damage and salvage titles, and running your credit without permission, and forgery of signatures and initials on lease and sale documents. When auto fraud happens, the experienced auto fraud lawyers at Whitney, LLP can help, with remedies including unwinding the deal and recovering compensation.
Here are reviews from what some of Whitney, LLP’s 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 in Olney Forged My Signature
Surprisingly enough, dishonest car dealers often illegally forge their customers’ signatures and initials to try to make an illegal additional profit. Whitney, LLP has had many clients tell us that they have been charged more than they have agreed on for the car, and found their monthly payments, interest rate or loan balance different, either higher or lower than agreed to.
Customers have also found their contracts altered, with GAP Insurance and extended warranties found to be canceled when they try to make a claim after an accident or when needing repairs. When GAP and extended warranties are canceled without the customer knowing, the dealership keeps the premiums and effectively steals them.
When a client reports to Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud and forgery attorneys that “the dealer forged my signature,” we can help. We have helped many clients who have been the victim of auto finance and lease contract forgery. It is more common than you think. If you find yourself asking if a dealer was “forging my signature,” reach out to Whitney, LLP’s experienced attorneys.
Lawyer to Sue a Car Dealership Near Me in Olney
Perhaps the car that you bought is not the vehicle that was advertised online, and is missing features, such as GPS or DVD. Dealers often make misrepresentations or fail to tell buyers something that they later claim is “immaterial.” If the car was used as a rental or fleet vehicle, or had a history of accidents, structural damage, or a salvage title the dealer should disclose that information. However, they often do not, at the cost of the customer.
Dishonest dealerships also commit odometer fraud, and reduce the number of miles the odometer shows. Whitney, LLP’s odometer fraud attorneys have experience suing dishonest car dealerships for odometer fraud and tampering.
There are other types of auto fraud for which you can sue a dealer in Olney or Gaithersburg as well. For example, when an auto dealership advertises the car at one price, they cannot sell it to you for more once you arrive at the dealership, or charge you fees that are not disclosed. In addition, the price that they agree on with you is the price that they must charge for the vehicle.
Spot Delivery and Illegally Keeping the Down Payment
In a Spot Delivery, dealers let a customer drive the car home before financing is approved. If financing is not approved, the customer has the right to returnthe car and get their down payment back, without any added fees. Dealers cannot send you home with the car and change the financing terms afterward if the bank denies your loan. Additionally, if they make you give the car back when you don’t agree to new terms, they cannot keep or steal your down payment. They also cannot run credit checks without your written consent. This can damage your credit score and cause problems down the road. Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud attorneys have experience successfully suing dealers for all of these schemes.
Neighborhood car dealers are not always entirely truthful. That is why you must be very careful and check your paperwork closely. Unfortunately, lying and auto fraud is all too common in Silver Spring and the surrounding communities. While not all car dealers are unscrupulous, some auto finance and salespeople will stop at nothing to pad their own pockets, and you’ll need the help of a lawyer to sue the dishonest car dealership for fraud.
Dealership Fraud Attorneys Near Me for Olney, MD
Car buyer complaints are often ignored or responded to with denials, nonsense, or a tiny offer such as a free tank of gas or a car wash. Hiring an experienced attorney is a much better way to deal with recovering compensation or unwinding a deal.
Do not be afraid to file a lawsuit and sue the car dealer who has tried to take advantage of you. When you are looking for a lawyer to sue a car dealership, turn to Whitney, LLP. Our lawyers have a track record of making dealers answer in court for what they have done.
We have helped numerous clients over the years and are well aware of the many tricks that car dealers use to rip you off and defraud you. Call the consumer attorneys at Whitney, LLP today at (410) 583-8000 to set up your Legal Consultation, or use our Online Quick Contact form.
Watch our YouTube Channel and read our Auto Fraud blog for more information on dealer fraud cases.