Ballenger Creek, Maryland, is part of a growing area fed by the I-270 high-tech corridor. Many of its approximately 20,000 residents commute to work to cities such as Gaithersburg, Frederick and Germantown. The area has experienced rapid growth, and it is home to Honda, Toyota and Kia dealerships.
Some dishonest dealers have few boundaries in their pursuit of extra profit. As a result, they devise various means of overcharging. These tricks can include selling cars they do not have the title to, failing to disclose car rental or commercial use history on used cars, selling trade-ins when financing is not approved, odometer fraud, false price advertising, forgery, spot delivery violations and keeping down payments. Their customers may not realize that they have been scammed until after they have signed on the dotted line – but it is not too late. When this happens, the car dealership fraud lawyers at Whitney, LLP can help. They know how to use the legal system that protects you to your advantage.
The consumer lawyers at Whitney, LLP represent car buyers and can often unwind bad deals and recover compensation in unfair transactions.
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.
Auto Forgery in Ballenger Creek, MD
You may wonder if a Ballenger Creek dealer has been forging your signature? If you are being charged more than you agreed to in the contract, or your monthly payment, interest rate or loan amount is different, either higher or lower, than you agreed to, you are probably the victim of car dealership forgery.
Whitney, LLP has represented many car buyers in forgery claims against car dealerships. We can obtain a copy of the sales agreement that was sent to the bank, and review the contract for forgeries and other fraud.
Other Car Dealer Schemes in Ballenger Creek, MD
When it comes to car dealers, misrepresentation and lying can take several different forms. There are the garden variety lies that seem to happen in the normal course of business. Then there are even worse forms of auto fraud.
One of these is odometer fraud. Federal law prohibits tampering with the odometer, but a dealer can try to roll it back to make the car seem brand new or simply newer. There also are laws that can make a Gaithersburg or Germantown dealer responsible if it engages in false advertising. This is especially true when a dealer is advertising the price of the car. It cannot try to sell the vehicle for more than the advertised price after luring the customer in with a low online price, and then adding bogus fees or charges raise the price by thousands.
When Financing is Not Approved, But Dealer Keeps Trade In or Down Payment
Another example of auto fraud is known as a spot delivery violation.
This is when you go home with a car only to find out that the financing falls through. Magically, the new terms of the deal to keep the car have you paying more for the vehicle, or a higher interest rate, or larger down payment.
Dealers often sell the buyer’s trade-in before financing is approved, which forces the car buyer to buy a car at a price they did not agree to. Dealerships also often keep and steal the down payment when financing is not approved, although Maryland law requires the trade-in and down payment to be immediately returned. You may need to hire a lawyer to sue a car dealership to force it to return your tradein and down payment.
Finally, a dealer may be running unauthorized credit checks on you. When this happens, federal law permits suing a car dealership for damages
The law is very strict about auto fraud. It is there to protect you, and when you find a lawyer to sue a car dealership, the company that ripped you off will be forced to answer for what it did in court. This can cover many forms of deceit and misrepresentation that either took more of your money or caused you to get less of a car.
Car Dealership Fraud Lawyers in Ballenger Creek, MD
It is an unfortunate fact that car dealers will try to stonewall their customers after being caught cheating or being dishonest. This is why you often need an experienced lawyer when suing a car dealership.
The attorneys at Whitney, LLP are experienced at unwinding bad deals and helping clients successfully bring claims against a dishonest dealership. Call us today at (410) 583-8000, or contact us online to request your free initial consultation so that you can learn more about your rights.