By: Robert J. Nahoum Buying a car should be an exciting milestone, not a financial trap. Yet, one of the most egregious and deceptive tactics used by dishonest car dealerships in New Jersey is forging signatures on sales and financing documents. When consumers sit down in the Finance & Insurance (F&I) office, they expect transparency. Instead, corrupt dealership staff sometimes […]
Forged Signatures on Car Contracts: NJ Auto Dealer Fraud Explained
What Is a Retail Installment Sales Contract? Understanding Your Auto Loan Rights
By: Robert J. Nahoum What Is a Retail Installment Sales Contract? A retail installment sales contract (often called a “RISC” or “RIC”) is the primary finance contract you sign when you buy a car on credit from a dealership instead of paying cash. In this deal, you agree to pay the dealer the price of the vehicle over time, with interest, and […]
Five Tips to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by an Auto Dealer — And What to Do If You Were
By: Robert J. Nahoum Buying a car should be exciting, not stressful. Unfortunately, some auto dealers take advantage of buyers through hidden markups, fake financing promises, or misleading disclosures. As a New York/ New Jersey consumer protection and auto fraud lawyer, I’ve helped many clients recover when they were deceived. Here are five tips to avoid getting ripped off by an […]
How Auto Dealers Use “Tire and Wheel” Warranties to Overcharge and Rip Off Consumers
By: Robert J. Nahoum How Auto Dealers Use “Tire and Wheel” Warranties to Inflate Prices If you’ve bought a car recently, you may have noticed a line item on your purchase order for a “tire and wheel” warranty. Supposedly, this plan protects you if you damage your tires or wheels on potholes or road debris. But in reality, these add-ons […]
How Electronic Signatures Changed Auto Financing
By: Robert J. Nahoum The rise of electronic signatures has transformed how auto sales are completed. Dealerships can now finalize transactions instantly, allowing consumers to sign purchase and financing documents electronically from a tablet or computer. While convenient, this digital shift has also created new opportunities for deception. Unscrupulous dealers may use electronic signature platforms to slip unauthorized products into […]
How the Federal Truth in Lending Act Protects Car Buyers
By: Robert J. Nahoum The Federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) is a federal law that was enacted in 1968 to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive lending practices. TILA applies to a wide range of consumer credit transactions, including car loans. One of the key provisions of TILA is the requirement that lenders disclose certain information to borrowers before […]
Are Rideshare Cars Like Uber and Lyft Protected by the Truth in Lending Act?
By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM You’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a new car to be used as a Rideshare like Uber and Lyft. Like most people, you don’t have enough cash on hand to buy the car outright so you are planning to finance the purchase of your new car. You get to the car dealership, […]
What Is the Truth in Lending Act in Auto Sales
By: Robert J. Nahoum THE PROBLEM You’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a new car. Like most people, you don’t have enough cash on hand to buy the car outright so you are planning to finance the purchase of your new car. You get to the car dealership, find the car you want and negotiate a price.  Now, […]