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Auto Fraud

On Behalf of | Jan 13, 2011 | Consumer Protection

Have you been lured into purchasing a particular automobile by the sales pitch of the salesman? It is not uncommon for a car salesperson to misrepresent a particular product, or hide information about the product, in order to induce you to buy; in doing so your rights may have been violated.

Most states have a consumer fraud act or follow a uniform deceptive acts and practices code. Many of these require that there was either a misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact that you relied upon when making the decision to buy. Some laws also require that the reliance on the misrepresented or concealed fact be reasonable. In addition, most statutes require that you show that you have been damaged by the fraud or you did not receive the benefit of the bargain. Finally, most statutes provide that if you are successful in bringing a suit you may recover attorney’s fees as well.

Have You Been the Victim of Fraud? If you feel that you are a victim of fraud, please call our office for a free consultation. Below the examples of the more common cases of fraud; if you can relate to any of these or have stories of your own, please give my office a call.

  • Misrepresenting or concealing the fact that the vehicle had been damaged or had been in an accident.
  • Misrepresenting or concealing the ownership history to hide the fact that the vehicle was previously a rent-a-car.
  • Concealing that the vehicle was previously a rebuilt wreck, or was considered a total loss in a prior accident.
  • Misrepresenting the actual mileage on the odometer.
  • Forging or altering the loan documents to alter financing terms.
  • Misrepresenting financing terms or that you were financed when you were not.

 

Due to floods and storms throughout the Midwest this past spring, many vehicles were flooded. Ultimately, some of these vehicles are placed back into the marketplace without disclosure that the vehicle had been underwater. If your vehicle exhibits evidence of water damage such as mold, odd odors, rust under the carpets or in some of the corners of the vehicle, we can help.

There are many ways you can find out if you are a victim of a fraud; check some of the on-line databases that provide histories of vehicles (www.carfax.com and www.autocheck.com) There are laws that protect you as a consumer; if you feel that you have been taken advantage of, please call our office for a free consultation of your case.

Larry SmithConsumer Rights Attorney at SmithMarco, P.C.Larry P. Smith is a consumer attorney and the founder and Managing Partner at SmithMarco, P.C. He has tried dozens of consumer rights cases to verdict and has arbitrated over 700 cases. Additionally, he has amicably resolved over 3,000 consumer fraud, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cases via settlement. Mr. Smith has been a guest on multiple radio outlets including WLS and WGN in Chicago providing consumer advice. Mr. Smith also provides leadership and delivers lectures to the National Association of Consumer Advocates, The National Consumer Law Center, and the Chicago Bar Association. Latest posts by Larry Smith (see all)

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