Law and Rights
Each year Ohio Attorney General DeWine adds up all the complaints they have gotten from consumers in the last year and sees which area has the most.
As usual, it's car sales that is in the Number One spot again.
Car sales fraud continues to dominate consumer complaints and in the past year we've seen some wild ones. Money really does make a car dealer go blind.
Like the Cleveland car sales operation that concentrates on internet sales of high priced and often wrecked and badly repaired vehicles. We've seen internet car sales fraud involving vehicles under $20,000 all the way up to over $100,000 that are bought by people who see online advertisements and after some phone calls and emails trusting consumers get ripped off more often than ever.
And then there's the Dayton-area operation that deals with its customers by packing high-profit "soft add on products" such as window etching they
call theft deterrent that is worse than useless and a so-called concierge service that amounts to a high priced "call us and we'll answer your questions if we can" scam --- and the customer often doesn't even realize what is happening to them at the time because of the 5 finger close the dealer uses to hide the numbers from the buyer's view.
Or the Rv dealer in the Columbus-area who charges what amounts to a $2,000 "delivery" charge for each motorhome sale.
Perhaps the worst rip off we've seen this year was the Cincinnati area Rv dealer who charged $2,500 for prepping the inside of their Rv's with a germ killing spray-down that was just as effective as a $2 bottle of Lysol.
Before you buy, check out the merchant at your local Better Business Bureau, do an internet search for complaints against the company, or you can even check the Ohio Attorney General's office for complaints against them too.
Buy local from car dealers you know and trust. And if you are not sure, then be extra careful. Read everything. If something is not clear or not what you were told, then make the car dealer hand write on the printed documents what they promised you or what they said to you about the vehicle. Never agree to any arbitration document - cross it out big and bold - if the dealer wants your money bad enough (and he does) then he will not argue over it. If they argue with you, then ask yourself "what are they doing to me that they are afraid of me taking them to court for?"
And when all else fails, get a car sales fraud lawyer on your side. Oh yeah, that's what we do.
Subscribe in a reader
- What Happens When You Buy A Car And Never Get The Title?
You never become the owner, that's what. But you may not be totally stuck because there are laws to protect innocent buyers against crooked and ripoff car dealers. Not only will you have lots of legal rights, but selling a car in Ohio and not...
- The Etch A Sketch Window Etch Ripoff Scam
Window Etching - is it really "theft protection" or is it just another car dealer scam? If you pay hundreds of dollars to a car dealer and you could get the same thing on the internet for less than $20 - which do you think is the better deal? And is it...
- More Complaints Are Made About Car Dealers And Car Problems Than Anything Else
Welcome to my world. According to the latest survey from the Consumer Federation of America (and a couple of other consumer agencies, NACAA and NACPI), the biggest complaint that consumers have is about their cars and car dealers - everything from dealers...
- How Car Dealers Make Their Money Might Surprise You - The Profit Mostly Comes From Everything Else
Once upon a time there was a mega-dealer in Columbus that sold more cars and made more money than anyone in the county. Then it was the region. Then it was Ohio. Where are they now and who?s #1? Well, apparently it isn?t the guy with the guitar anymore....
- Car Sales Fraud Rising
New car sales are slowing down and that can mean an increase in fraudulent practices in the used car department, just to keep the money flowing. For the first time ever, the US automakers are predicted to drop to less than a 50% share of the market in...
Law and Rights
What are the Most Common Types of Consumer Complaints in Ohio?
Each year Ohio Attorney General DeWine adds up all the complaints they have gotten from consumers in the last year and sees which area has the most.As usual, it's car sales that is in the Number One spot again.
The 2015 top complaint categories were:
- Motor vehicles
- Professional services
- Collections, credit reporting, or financial services
- Shopping, food, or beverages
- Utilities, phone, Internet, or TV
- Home or property improvement
- Identity theft
- Potential scams or other (such as sweepstakes, do-not-call issues, or grant offers)
Car sales fraud continues to dominate consumer complaints and in the past year we've seen some wild ones. Money really does make a car dealer go blind.Like the Cleveland car sales operation that concentrates on internet sales of high priced and often wrecked and badly repaired vehicles. We've seen internet car sales fraud involving vehicles under $20,000 all the way up to over $100,000 that are bought by people who see online advertisements and after some phone calls and emails trusting consumers get ripped off more often than ever.
And then there's the Dayton-area operation that deals with its customers by packing high-profit "soft add on products" such as window etching they
call theft deterrent that is worse than useless and a so-called concierge service that amounts to a high priced "call us and we'll answer your questions if we can" scam --- and the customer often doesn't even realize what is happening to them at the time because of the 5 finger close the dealer uses to hide the numbers from the buyer's view.
Or the Rv dealer in the Columbus-area who charges what amounts to a $2,000 "delivery" charge for each motorhome sale.
Perhaps the worst rip off we've seen this year was the Cincinnati area Rv dealer who charged $2,500 for prepping the inside of their Rv's with a germ killing spray-down that was just as effective as a $2 bottle of Lysol.
Before you buy, check out the merchant at your local Better Business Bureau, do an internet search for complaints against the company, or you can even check the Ohio Attorney General's office for complaints against them too.
Buy local from car dealers you know and trust. And if you are not sure, then be extra careful. Read everything. If something is not clear or not what you were told, then make the car dealer hand write on the printed documents what they promised you or what they said to you about the vehicle. Never agree to any arbitration document - cross it out big and bold - if the dealer wants your money bad enough (and he does) then he will not argue over it. If they argue with you, then ask yourself "what are they doing to me that they are afraid of me taking them to court for?"
And when all else fails, get a car sales fraud lawyer on your side. Oh yeah, that's what we do.
Burdge Law Office
www.BurdgeLaw.com
Helping consumers, every day.
Subscribe in a reader- What Happens When You Buy A Car And Never Get The Title?
You never become the owner, that's what. But you may not be totally stuck because there are laws to protect innocent buyers against crooked and ripoff car dealers. Not only will you have lots of legal rights, but selling a car in Ohio and not...
- The Etch A Sketch Window Etch Ripoff Scam
Window Etching - is it really "theft protection" or is it just another car dealer scam? If you pay hundreds of dollars to a car dealer and you could get the same thing on the internet for less than $20 - which do you think is the better deal? And is it...
- More Complaints Are Made About Car Dealers And Car Problems Than Anything Else
Welcome to my world. According to the latest survey from the Consumer Federation of America (and a couple of other consumer agencies, NACAA and NACPI), the biggest complaint that consumers have is about their cars and car dealers - everything from dealers...
- How Car Dealers Make Their Money Might Surprise You - The Profit Mostly Comes From Everything Else
Once upon a time there was a mega-dealer in Columbus that sold more cars and made more money than anyone in the county. Then it was the region. Then it was Ohio. Where are they now and who?s #1? Well, apparently it isn?t the guy with the guitar anymore....
- Car Sales Fraud Rising
New car sales are slowing down and that can mean an increase in fraudulent practices in the used car department, just to keep the money flowing. For the first time ever, the US automakers are predicted to drop to less than a 50% share of the market in...