By: Posted
for more info visit: http://news.carjunky.com/lemon_laws/what-are-lemon-laws-cdh036.shtml
You may have heard a lot of talk in the past few years about lemon law
They are laws that are meant to provide the consumer protection needed when your car buying or any other vehicle that is so rife with problems that it should have never been sold in the first place.
The reason that these lemon laws have been put into place is because cars are so complicated and so easy to replace some parts that it's not unusual for dealerships to hide flaws or replaced parts, things that the average consumer has little knowledge about.
Just as you wouldn't expect to go to a retail store and purchase a television that's been taken apart and replaced with bad parts, so you should get the same type of reliable product when you buy a used car/auto.When your buying a new car, it should be all new.
Lemon laws vary from state to state, but most have the same guidelines and directives.
For instance, most cover incidences of the odometer being rolled back to hide the true mileage of the vehicle, if the auto was involved in a flood, had any kind of serious damage due to a severe accident, or any other reason, that was known to the dealer but not revealed to the consumer.
It's important to note that lemon laws don't apply to every defect in a car and to every car sold. If you purchase a car "as is" and sign an agreement to that effect, then the law does not apply to that sale.
Also, minor defects or problems with cars are not considered covered under lemon laws as they do not affect the car's overall performance or devalue the car to less than what you paid for it.
If you're concerned about whether or not lemon laws might apply to a vehicle purchase of your own, it's good to consult with a local lemon law attorney to get more specific information.
When your dealing with a car that might be a lemon the system can be complicated and confusing. It is always best to consult an attorney who has experience with the lemon laws of your state.
Maryland Attorney General Announces Top Five Consumer Complaints
National Consumer Protection Week, March 2 - 8
BALTIMORE, MD (March 4, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler released the top five Maryland consumer complaints from 2007 to highlight the importance of financial literacy during National Consumer Protection Week. The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) was able to acquire more than $4 million for consumer reimbursements and received 15,661 complaints in 2007. The CPD works to mediate disputes between consumers and businesses such as car dealers, repair shops, landlords or debt collectors. Landlord management topped the list with 3.8% of complaints.
Consumers are faced with daily financial questions ranging from managing their budgets
to understanding their credit reports. Without being financially aware, consumers can make mistakes resulting in serious consequences such as foreclosure or identity theft.
“National Consumer Protection Week is a great time for Maryland consumers to renew their efforts at becoming financially savvy,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Armed with the right information, Marylanders will make smarter decisions to build a solid financial foundation.”
The top five consumer complaints for 2007 include:
* Landlord/Property Manager - 629 complaints (3.8%) were filed on landlords and property managers with varying tenant issues such as failing to return security deposits to not providing a habitable place to live with lack of maintenance or excessive damages deducted from deposits. Consumers can download the pamphlet, “Landlord and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes”
* Auto Repair - 628 complaints (3.8%) concerned consumer experiences on auto repair. The most common complaints were unsatisfactory workmanship, misdiagnosis of services needed and cars held for servicing damaged or not returned. Other top issues in auto repair were failure to honor express warranty and billed for goods/services not requested or received.
* General Merchandise - 572 complaints (3.5%) from Marylanders were on general merchandise issues. Failure to deliver any goods or provide any services was the top complaint in this category. Billed for goods/services not requested or received came in second and other complaints varied from failure to honor refund requests to price gouging.
* Collection Agency - 474 Marylanders (2.9%) complained about collection agency practices. Consumers often complained of collection agencies attempting to collect debt not owed and inaccurate information reported to credit reporting agencies. Consumers who have trouble with a collection agency can order the Consumer’s Edge issue #117 or online
* Used Auto Dealer - 516 consumers (3.1%) filed complaints on their experiences while buying a used car. Defective/damaged goods, failure to honor implied warranty of merchantability, misrepresentation of material fact and omission of material facts were all big issues. Before purchasing, consumers can request the pamphlet “Buying a Used Car” by calling the Consumer Protection Division
Source: Maryland Attorney General
BALTIMORE, MD (March 4, 2008) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler released the top five Maryland consumer complaints from 2007 to highlight the importance of financial literacy during National Consumer Protection Week. The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) was able to acquire more than $4 million for consumer reimbursements and received 15,661 complaints in 2007. The CPD works to mediate disputes between consumers and businesses such as car dealers, repair shops, landlords or debt collectors. Landlord management topped the list with 3.8% of complaints.
Consumers are faced with daily financial questions ranging from managing their budgets
to understanding their credit reports. Without being financially aware, consumers can make mistakes resulting in serious consequences such as foreclosure or identity theft.
“National Consumer Protection Week is a great time for Maryland consumers to renew their efforts at becoming financially savvy,” said Attorney General Gansler. “Armed with the right information, Marylanders will make smarter decisions to build a solid financial foundation.”
The top five consumer complaints for 2007 include:
* Landlord/Property Manager - 629 complaints (3.8%) were filed on landlords and property managers with varying tenant issues such as failing to return security deposits to not providing a habitable place to live with lack of maintenance or excessive damages deducted from deposits. Consumers can download the pamphlet, “Landlord and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes”
* Auto Repair - 628 complaints (3.8%) concerned consumer experiences on auto repair. The most common complaints were unsatisfactory workmanship, misdiagnosis of services needed and cars held for servicing damaged or not returned. Other top issues in auto repair were failure to honor express warranty and billed for goods/services not requested or received.
* General Merchandise - 572 complaints (3.5%) from Marylanders were on general merchandise issues. Failure to deliver any goods or provide any services was the top complaint in this category. Billed for goods/services not requested or received came in second and other complaints varied from failure to honor refund requests to price gouging.
* Collection Agency - 474 Marylanders (2.9%) complained about collection agency practices. Consumers often complained of collection agencies attempting to collect debt not owed and inaccurate information reported to credit reporting agencies. Consumers who have trouble with a collection agency can order the Consumer’s Edge issue #117 or online
* Used Auto Dealer - 516 consumers (3.1%) filed complaints on their experiences while buying a used car. Defective/damaged goods, failure to honor implied warranty of merchantability, misrepresentation of material fact and omission of material facts were all big issues. Before purchasing, consumers can request the pamphlet “Buying a Used Car” by calling the Consumer Protection Division
Source: Maryland Attorney General
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
