If You Do Nothing, You Get Nothing.

Are you watching the news?  If you are, chances are you are not feeling too well.  The economic outlook is dismal, and that my friends is a euphemism….the money we have worked so hard for, the money we have invested in our future and our family’s future, is in significant danger.  It does not do much good to point a finger at anyone. We know that what goes down must come up eventually, so hopefully, we can ride out this emotional roller coaster.  One thing we know for sure is that, with the exception of those who keep millions stashed under their bed and in their safe deposit box, we are all in this together.  And that includes automobile manufacturers.   Repeatedly, we have told you about the economic turmoil among the manufacturers.  General Motors shares continue in a spiral downward trend, and if you think Ford, Chrysler or any of the automakers is doing that much better, you are sadly mistaken.   Will any of them declare bankruptcy?  We hope not.  Are they in tremendous danger?  Absolutely.

So what does this mean for you, Mr. & Mrs. Car Owner? We know that loans and financing are certainly going to be harder to come by, and chances are manufacturers will also not be so lenient with warranty repairs.  If they can’t find the problem, then they can’t find the problem, and it’s highly unlikely they are going to invest the time and money to try and find it.  As we have repeatedly advised consumers, if you are experiencing a problem, you will need to be as descriptive as possible.  Are you hearing a noise?  Where is the noise coming from?  When does the noise occur?  What exactly does it sound like?  Offer to go with the service manager on a test ride.  Help them help you.

And if the manufacturer can’t fix or find your problem, then what?  Well, you can call the customer service hotline, and speak to a representative.  They will be glad to hear you out and they may present you with a claim number.  A follow-up call may offer one to two months payment, or an extended warranty if you are absolutely lucky.  Chances are good you will never hear them again.  The industry is suffering; they are not looking at offering you a handout without a fight.  And you can scream at your dealer until you are blue in the face.  As we have repeatedly told you, the dealer is not the defendant.  The fact is if you want to take action, you NEED to file a lemon law claim.  The beauty of filing a claim under the State Lemon Law or Federal Warranty Law is that legal help is free.  Under the fee-shifting provisions of these laws, your attorneys’ fees and legal costs are covered by the manufacturer ON TOP OF what of you receive.  It’s very important that you make sure that the lemon law firm you use provides completely free legal help.  With 1-800-LEMON-LAW, it is 100% cost-free win or lose, but it not like that with every firm.  Make sure you make sure that the law firm you are using provides completely cost-free legal representation. Ask questions.

The fact of the matter is that if you do nothing, you will get nothing.  During this especially difficult time, no manufacturer is going to go out of their way to help you.  If you have been in three or more times for the same problem under warranty, or your vehicle has been in the shop for a significant number of days, call us at 1-800 LEMON LAW.  We will be glad to go over your situation with you.  You could be looking at brand new car or a full refund, and if your car is fixed after three or four attempts, you could STILL be looking at significant monetary compensation (plus, you keep your car and your warranty remains completely in effect.)  The laws are out there to protect you, and protect your investment.  Take advantage of your consumer rights.  Utilize lawyers who understand the law, who work on these types of cases, who have access to the manufacturers’ legal team.  Our firm has three ASE-certified mechanics who work full-time inspecting our clients’ vehicles and researching their defects. And it does not cost our client one penny.  Fight for your rights, because if you don’t, no one will do it for you.  If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line or fill out our Get Rid Of Your Lemon page, and we will contact you promptly.