Do Not Be a Dealership Victim

I suppose that taking advantage of the most important asset – the customer - comes naturally to some automotive dealerships. It seems as if there has been an epidemic of dealership misconduct recently. For instance, just recently I was presented with a case where a local car dealer sold a customer a "certified, pre-owned vehicle” and led the buyer to believe that the car had been thoroughly inspected for safety, reliability, and overall quality. Following the purchase of the vehicle, it was learned that the vehicle had in reality been in a serious accident and that it was illegally modified, unsafe, and sold for thousands of dollars more than its true value. The dealership refused to acknowledge multiple requests to take the vehicle back.

The problem is that, if this happens to you, you will most likely not realize the vehicle has a problem until you find out further down the line. The problems will not be likely to manifest themselves until much later, and you will generally discover them by accident. It is nice to know that you will have a way out, even though it is usually a difficult journey.

To qualify under the Lemon Law, a vehicle must be under warranty and the same problem must have been repaired more than four times, otherwise the vehicle must have required service, for any reason, for thirty days or more. When something like this occurs, you should be offered a new replacement vehicle or a total or nearly total refund. You will receive a new vehicle to replace yours if this should occur. You have the right not only to have your money refunded, but also for the guilty dealership to pay you additional compensation for committing fraud against a customer.

However, I'm sure it will come as no surprise to learn that no dealership that I have crossed is readily willing to admit that it has committed fraud. The dealerships will usually say they were unaware of the non-disclosure and say that they just made an honest mistake, as is always expected. Though this can be true, it is also true that the dealership assumed it could get away with out proper disclosure. Although it is nearly impossible to tell if a new vehicle is a lemon, some advance research on your part can mean less chance of buying a lemon or of dealer misconduct when purchasing a used vehicle.

Though it isn't often that you can predict whether a new vehicle will be a lemon, researching the vehicle can lower your risks of a lemon or dealer misconduct. Make sure to have a mechanic look at any used vehicle before you buy; a good body shop can also tell you if the car has been in any major accidents. If the vehicle has been in a previous accident then one should avoid buying it. Find out if the vehicle has a salvaged title through www.carfax.com and continue your search for another vehicle if that particular car has been transferred multiple times. Read Consumer Reports to find out which vehicles are the most reliable.

Contact an attorney immediately if, despite your best efforts, you are being victimized by a dealership. Watch out for the dealership’s self-help tips, which are more damaging than helpful for you. Often, the dealership will simply offer to trade your problem vehicle for another one of its "certified pre-owned vehicles" which may well be overvalued and, of course, will result in you having a new commitment to long term payments.

Automobiles need to be dependable; after all it’s your family’s life at stake. You deserve completely fair and honest treatment and nothing less, so know your rights and be a wise buyer.

Article Source: http://bestinfobay.com

As one of the California lemon law attorneys, Barry Edzant completely understands what can happen as a result of buying a “lemon” from a dealership. Many families are cheated out of large sums of money or hurt because of dealership fraud, and it is Barry’s mission to see each family get restitution for their faulty vehicles before they need a Santa Clarita personal injury attorney.

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