Home | Ask Your Question | Mortgage Glossary
Find me a lender for:  
The Top 10 Dealership Scams Part 3 By Mia LeCron

Car Dealers have numerous ways to scam a potential buyer. Let's continue examining a few of them so you know what to look out for when making your next car purchase:

6. The Dealer Mark up Scam
This is an unnecessary fee that the dealer charges for no reason other than greed. This fee can be seen on the orange sticker marked on the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP).

The additional dealer markup is nothing more than requiring more money for no real reason. They can include all kinds of extra fees in the additional dealer markup.

When you see an extra dealer mark up fee, ask the dealer to get rid of it. If they refuse, it is pretty much up to you, but remember that if you do pay the extra dealer markup, you are overpaying for no real reason.

7. The Payoff Your Loan Scam
This is when the dealer offers to pay off the balance of your current car loan no matter how much money you still owe. It is a common sales strategy. When the average buyer hears it, they think that by purchasing a new car with a new dealership, they will automatically owe no more money on their current car.

That couldnt be further from the truth.

What really happens is that the dealership does help you get out of your current contract; however, they normally are forgetting to tell you how high your fees are going to be for breaking the lease agreement with your old dealership.

You will now be responsible to pay fees that are in the thousands to make up for it.

You also will not be able to refinance for a new car until those fees are paid. Of course the dealership can add the cost on to your contract with them at a substantially higher rate.

The dealership only agrees to this deal because they want to get more money off of your current car. They arent really doing anything for you at all. The dealership will also give you far less then the car is worth on the trade off. Basically this scam works because they will up your monthly fees, and then sell your trade in for a more money than its worth.

The dealership then extends your monthly payments so that they can make it appear that you are paying a small amount monthly when you dont even realize that you have committed to an extra year of payments.

To avoid this scam, you have to bite the bullet and ride out your current lease till the end. If you are really determined to get a new car, then you should try selling your current car on your own.

Just sell it so that the buyer just takes over the lease payments.

8. The Used Car Sold As Is Scam
This is when a dealership will sell you a car that has been in a car wreck, but they will tell you that the car has been completely refurbished.

When you see the car it has a sticker on it that says as is on it and no warranty is included with your purchase.

This is the dealers way of telling you that you cant bring the car back, you are assuming all risks for the car, and that it is not under warranty.

To avoid this scam, dont buy a car without a warranty or one that says as is on it. By doing this, you might as well buy a car from a stranger on the street with the same deal.

9. The Bounced Check Scam
This is when you walk into a dealership with a bank draft and the dealership charges that they cant accept your draft because your bank bounces checks often so they now refuse checks from that bank.

Of course, this leaves the table open for them to get the extra money they want by offering to sell you a car at a higher interest rate.

You can avoid this scam first by getting your drafts from Capital One Auto Finance.

Then let the finance manager know that you are aware of the scam that they are pulling and that Capital One Auto Finance is in the business of giving loans so the checks dont bounce.

10. The Forced Credit Application
If you are hoping to pay for a car outright or in cash with a bank draft or check that is what you should do. Some dealerships will not let you.

You will hear one of these lines so that they can try and get you into paying monthly terms for more money.

State laws require that you must fill out a credit application before I can sell you this car.

Everyone that buys a car from us fills out a credit application first.

Its the companys policy.

If you hear any of these lies, then know whats going on. When you are paying cash why would you think that you need to fill out a credit application?

It doesnt make sense. No state will force you to apply for credit when paying cash.

Would you have to fill out a credit report if you want to buy a sofa or groceries while paying cash? See how silly this is. To avoid this scam, just laugh in their faces.


Mia LaCron is the founder of How-To-Buy-A-Car.info - http://www.how-to-buy-a-car.info - devoted to helping individuals buy the right car for them at the absoulute best possible prices.




See Also:

Ten Equipment Leasing Tips - Save a Bundle on Your Next Lease
According to the Equipment Leasing Association (ELA), U.S. businesses lease every thing from laptop computers to commercial airplanes, racking up more than $ 200 billion in equipment leased each year. Although four out of five U.S. companies use leasing to acquire equipment, many dont know the ins ... more...

With a Lease, The Devil Is In The Details
In the last article we looked at a few of the things you should consider before leasing that first office or storefront for your business. To recap, you should not only consider the old standard "location, location, location," but also consider things like sufficient parking, the number of ... more...

Smart Car Leasing for Beginners
Car leasing is extremely popular because it provides an attractive method of driving an automobile that you might not otherwise afford. It allows you to make lower monthly payments than with traditional car purchase loans. About one out of every four vehicles driven by automotive consumers in the ... more...

Eight Simple Rules for Avoiding Problems When Car Leasing
The lure of low monthly payments leads many automotive consumers to lease when its not right for them. By the time they discover the error of their ways, its too late.Its not possible to cancel a lease deal after the contract has been signed and the car driven off the lot. Its also not possible to ... more...


More on lease...

Search More Info On:

  • Lease Payments
  • Lease Agreement
  • Purchase Contract
  • Purchase Agreement
  • Refinance
  • Purchase
  •  

    Shop For Your Mortgage Now!
    Shop For Your Mortgage Now!

    You'll be re-directed to Top-Lenders.com

    Want to Know Your Rate?
    Get Customized Mortgage Quote Instantly

     
    ExplainingMortgages © 2005 - 2009