Consumer Protection

Did you perchance buy a car from Penn Avenue Auto Sales Inc. in Wilkinsburg, a Pittsburgh-area borough?If so, was it summarily towed away to an impound lot? In what must certainly qualify as one of the stranger stories related to auto dealer fraud and resulting...

We recently chronicled the integrated investigative efforts of several federal agencies in identifying the widespread abusive debt collection practices of one company acting nationally.That company reportedly pursued debt repayment encompassing both some legitimate...

Here is perhaps the ultimate scam dreamed up by an individual or company on the prowl for easy money from unwary consumers: commiserating with a consumer who has been ripped off by a previous con artist and posing as a recovery agent empowered to get money back that...

The potential for vehicle-related fraud is very real in any given case, and not something for any consumer to simply dismiss as a remote or nonexistent possibility.We pointed out one particular type of auto dealer fraud in our immediately preceding blog post (please...

Imagine for a moment that, pursuant to a purchase of a good used vehicle for yourself or a family member, you made a good-faith effort to do all the requisite due diligence required to make an informed decision.Although that can embrace a lot of variables in a given...

Many Philadelphia residents are busy checking gifts off of their holiday shopping lists in stores and online. Unfortunately, some shoppers will fall victim to consumer fraud, and you do not want to be one of them.Keeps these holiday shopping tips from the Federal...

Can you relate to the following hypothetical?You received medical care and, as a duly conscientious consumer who has always timely paid bills and has an impressive credit score to show for it, you watched for the mail and stood ready to perform, as usual.However,...

Even if you don’t overtly know as a consumer what types of specific acts or omissions arguably -- or most certainly -- constitute vehicle fraud, you’ll likely have a good take on what comprises a fraudulent activity on the part of an auto dealer or...

A recent case reminded me just how common-place customer forgeries are in car deals.The dealer had forged my client's signature on a Carfax report to try to avoid liability for misrepresenting a vehicle. At the time of purchase, the dealer had misrepresented that the...

If you’re a Pennsylvania resident who is behind on a few car payments, are you worried that a vehicle repossessor hired by a bank or other lender might suddenly pull in front of your car in a tow truck and simply haul it away?Do you harbor negative thoughts that...