By: Robert J. Nahoum You find the perfect car online. The price is right, the monthly payment fits your budget, and the listing says it’s sitting on the lot right now. You drive down to the dealership, excited to sign the paperwork, only to hear the salesperson say: “Oh, that car just sold an hour ago. But let me show […]
Caught in an Auto Dealer Bait and Switch? Know Your Rights
Mazda and Toyota Stop Buying Brokered Deals in New Jersey: What Car Buyers Should Know
By: Robert J. Nahoum Mazda and Toyota’s finance companies have taken a big step in New Jersey: they will no longer purchase lease or retail contracts involving brokered vehicle deals in the state. For consumers, this is another sign that brokered auto sales are drawing more scrutiny, especially when they involve transactions that may not comply with New Jersey law. […]
Digital Car Loan Signatures: A Step-by-Step Guide to Avoid Dealer Fraud
By: Robert J. Nahoum Digital signatures have made buying a car faster and more convenient, but they’ve also opened the door to new kinds of dealer fraud. Many buyers don’t realize that clicking “sign” on a tablet or phone can lock them into loan terms they never actually saw or agreed to. If you’re financing a car, especially through a […]
Purchase Order vs. Bill of Sale vs. Retail Installment Contract: How to Spot Auto Dealer Fraud
By: Robert J. Nahoum Auto dealers rarely hand you just one document when you buy a car, and that’s not by accident. Buried in the paperwork are often inconsistencies, hidden fees, or outright misrepresentations. Understanding the difference between the purchase order, bill of sale, and retail installment sales contract can make the difference between a fair deal and getting ripped […]
Don’t Trust the Talk—Read the Contract: When Car Buyers Are Bound by What They Sign
By: Robert J. Nahoum Buying a car should be exciting. Unfortunately, for many consumers, it turns into a legal headache when what they were told at the dealership doesn’t match what they actually signed. As a consumer protection attorney, I regularly speak with people who say some version of the same thing: “That’s not what the salesperson told me.” While that may […]
Deceptive Car Sales: Understanding False Advertising Laws in New York
By: Robert J. Nahoum Buying a vehicle is one of the most significant purchases you will make. Unfortunately, not all car dealerships play fair. From bait-and-switch pricing tactics to hidden fees and misleading advertisements, some dealers resort to deceptive practices to lure buyers onto the lot. If you feel you have been misled by a dealer’s advertisement, you are not […]
Leveling the Playing Field: How TILA Fee-Shifting Makes Justice Accessible in Auto Lending
By: Robert J. Nahoum When consumers shop for a new or used vehicle, the financing process can often feel overwhelming. Between confusing paperwork, add-on products, and complex interest rates, it is easy for hidden fees or deceptive practices to slip through the cracks. For most individuals, the thought of hiring an attorney to fight an auto finance dispute sounds far […]
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) in Auto Lending What You Need to Know
By: Robert J. Nahoum When you walk into a dealership to buy a car, the excitement of driving off the lot can sometimes overshadow the fine print of the financing paperwork. For most of us, an auto loan is one of the largest financial commitments we make. But did you know there is a powerful federal law designed to ensure […]
Long-Term Auto Loans: Why Dealers Push 6-, 7-, and 8-Year Financing
By: Robert J. Nahoum Long-Term Auto Loans Are a Growing Problem Auto dealers increasingly steer buyers into loans longer than five years because the monthly payment looks more affordable, even though the total cost is much higher. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that 42 percent of auto loans made in the prior year had terms of six years or […]
NY VTL 417: How New York Used Car Dealers Break the Law – And How a Consumer Auto Fraud Lawyer Can Help
By: Robert J. Nahoum What Is NY VTL 417? New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 417 requires retail dealers selling second‑hand motor vehicles to provide a written certificate about the condition and safety of the car at the time of sale. This certificate must follow a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and is meant to ensure […]