For many years, Essex was associated with the aerospace industry as it is the home of Glenn L. Martin State Airport. Essex has grown from an area with just ten blocks to a Baltimore suburb with just under 40,000 people. Essex is often associated with Dundalk as they are located right next to each other and in close proximity to Sparrows Point. Edgemere and Parkville are also close by. There are many used car dealerships, and a few new car dealerships, in and around Essex to serve its residents.
When dishonest Essex car dealerships engage in auto fraud such as misrepresentation, odometer fraud, running a credit report without permission, false online price advertising, overcharging and forgery, hiding damage, not disclosing salvage titles, not disclosing that a car used to be a rental car, canceling warranty or GAP policies, and keeping a down payment when financing is not approved, you will likely need a lawyer to sue the car dealership and get your money back. The consumer car dealership fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP have helped numerous car buyers across Maryland who have been the victim of auto fraud.
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.
Watch our YouTube Channel and read our Auto Fraud blog for more information on dealer fraud cases.
Car Dealership Forgery Attorney Near Me in Essex, MD
When customers think “The dealer has been forging my signature,” they are not being paranoid. That is because forgery really happens. We have had clients tell us that the dealer was forging my signature or had forged my initials. Dishonest dealers do this to alter the terms of the sale and financing contracts after you have already bought the car. Forged initials and signatures are often used to change terms of the contract after the customer has already agreed to it.
Red flags to determine if a car dealership was forging signatures or initials includes monthly payments being higher or lower than agreed to, higher or lower interest rates and amounts financed, and other financial terms being different. Also, if you purchased a warranty or GAP insurance, and are told it was canceled, but you did not cancel it, your signature was likely forged. Our customers have had accidents, and called their GAP Insurance company, only to find the policy was canceled. They have had similar problems with extended warranties after their car has trouble and they want to get it fixed, but their warranty was canceled.
These are grounds for suing a car dealership. Whitney, LLP’s lawyers have sued many dealerships for forgery and recovered significant compensation for our clients.
Suing a Car Dealership Near Me in Essex, MD
When you buy a car in Essex or the surrounding areas of Baltimore, Dundalk and Sparrows Point, you have a right to expect that the car is exactly what the dealer told you it is. You can also demand that the dealer honor the price that they advertised the car for or that you agreed to when you signed the sales document. False online advertising happens all the time, and is usually discovered when the customer goes to the dealership and it told that the real price is much higher, or that there are expensive inspection fees that have to be paid.
Spot delivery violations are another common scheme. Dealerships often let customers leave in their new car without financing being approved. When this happens, the dealership has 4 days to provide a written notice that financing was not approved. When financing is not approved, the dealership must return your down payment and charge any fees for depreciation or mileage. When dealerships keep the down payment when financing is not approved, car buyers have legal rights and can call Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud lawyers to recover their down payment, any fees that were withheld by the dealership, and other related expenses.
Odometer fraud is another common trick that used car dealers do to cheat their customers. Whitney, LLP’s odometer fraud lawyers have seen many cases where customers find out after the purchase that the odometer was tampered with, and the mileage is much higher than what was disclosed on the sales paperwork and on the odometer. If you were the victim of odometer fraud, Whitney, LLP can help.
Running a credit check or credit report on a customer without their permission often happens. Salesman and finance managers want to make sure they are not wasting their time with customers, and try to pre-qualify them, sometimes without telling him. If our credit was run without your permission, Whitney, LLP’s attorneys can help get the inquiry removed from your credit report.
Essex, MD Car Dealership Fraud Attorneys
Whitney, LLP’s auto fraud lawyers have helped many Maryland clients get their money back or return the car when a dealer has cheated them. We have also helped clients recover damages for their emotional distress in auto fraud cases.
When you realize that the dealer has ripped you off, you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer instead of simply letting it go unaddressed, or trying to handle it yourself. Dealerships often ignore customers until they hire an attorney to file a lawsuit. The car dealership fraud attorneys at Whitney, LLP will fight for you. To set up a legal consultation, contact us online right away, or call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000.