There are about 20,000 cars on Pennsylvania roads that were once listed as totaled due to flood damage. Unscrupulous dealers skirt the law by purchasing salvage vehicles in areas ravaged by natural disasters and then registering them in states with less restrictive...
Consumer Protection
Fine print can hinder consumers’ use of lemon law
Pennsylvania car buyers may worry about their worst nightmare - bringing home a "lemon", a model plagued with a number of defects from the time of purchase. It can be important to review the purchase agreement, as it may affect their rights as consumers.One Ohio...
Fighting auto repossession
If you are a Pennsylvania resident who has fallen behind on your car payments, there may be ways you can avoid repossession. A person who has come to repossess a vehicle must follow legal guidelines. If the repossessor fails to do so, you may have a case for wrongful...
Why odometers may be tampered with
Hollywood may have people believe that rolling back an odometer is a good way to prevent others from knowing that the car was out for a joyride. However, rolling back or otherwise tampering with an odometer is considered a crime. It can also have an economic impact on...
Americans struggling, worrying about debt
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) said a new poll that it commissioned shows that 73 percent of Americans live with debt. The AICPA says that outstanding household debt in the U.S. has hit a new high of $12.84 trillion, even as consumer...
Why dealers love Carfax (and why you should be skeptical)
Most people are familiar with the catchy Carfax commercials. “Show me the Carfax!” a couple says in one older commercial, and the salesman pulls out a puppet of a “car fox.” The car fox has even become the Carfax mascot.While you may feel...
Debt collection industry worried by caller ID apps
The accounts receivable management industry is one that prefers to fly under the radar. The industry is comprised of collection agencies, creditors, debt buyers, investors and others.But trade publication insideARM recently pointed out that the businesses that...
Beware the coming flood of flood-damaged used cars
It might seem that Philadelphia consumers would be safe from unscrupulous car dealers trying to peddle vehicles damaged by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, but don't count on it. Though the flood damage occurred mainly in Texas and Florida, there will be car dealers across...
A quick look at an ongoing problem: auto dealer fraud
Just about everyone is excited over the purchase of an automobile. Whether the purchase is of a new car or a used vehicle, it means you have new wheels with which to drive around Philadelphia and beyond.That elation can sour when a car buyer finds out that they have...
Making a debt collector obey the law
If a Philadelphia police officer sees you roll your car through a stoplight, you will get a traffic ticket. You are also prohibited by law from taking what you like from a grocery store without paying for the items.Likewise, debt collectors' tactics are limited by a...