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Обзор

California car dealer мошенничество occurs when a dealer makes false representations, omits material facts, or engages in deceptive practices during a vehicle sale. California law provides strong защита прав потребителейs, including the right to rescind the transaction and recover substantial убытки.

Key Protection: Under California Vehicle Code Section 11713, dealers are prohibited from making false or misleading statements about vehicles. The Consumer Legal Remedies Act (гражданский кодекс 1750) provides for treble убытки and адвокат's fees for dealer мошенничество.

Common types of dealer мошенничество in California:

  • Odometer мошенничество: Rolling back or disconnecting the odometer
  • Salvage title concealment: Hiding prior salvage, rebuilt, or flood title
  • Accident damage concealment: Failing to disclose prior collisions
  • Frame/structural damage: Hiding significant damage history
  • Payment packing: Adding undisclosed products to financing
  • Yo-yo financing: Demanding vehicle return after sale for new terms
  • Bait and switch: Advertising one price but charging another
  • Lemon laundering: Selling buyback vehicles without disclosure
Important: Before filing a судебный иск under the CLRA, you must send the dealer a written требование at least 30 days before filing. This is a legal requirement under гражданский кодекс Section 1782.
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Контрольный Список Доказательств

Gather this доказательства to support your dealer мошенничество требование:

Purchase Documents

Sales contract, buyer's order, financing documents, and all signed paperwork

Vehicle History Report

Carfax, AutoCheck, or NMVTIS report showing actual history

Pre-Purchase Коммуникации

Emails, texts, and written statements from salesperson about the vehicle

Advertising Materials

Screenshots of online listing, window sticker, and promotional materials

Independent Инспекция Report

Mechanic's инспекция revealing undisclosed damage or issues

Title and Registration

Vehicle title showing any brands (salvage, rebuilt, flood, закон о лимонах buyback)

Свидетель Information

Names and contact info for anyone who heard dealer's statements

Ремонт Estimates

Estimates or invoices for ремонтные работы needed due to undisclosed conditions

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Calculate Убытки

Calculate your potential взыскание from dealer мошенничество:

Purchase Price $25,000
Less: Actual Value (with issues) -$12,000
Overpayment (Actual Убытки) $13,000
CLRA Treble Убытки (3x) $39,000
Ремонт Costs $3,500
Итого Potential Взыскание $42,500+
Расторжение (Return the Vehicle)

You can demand to rescind (cancel) the transaction:

  • Return the vehicle to the dealer
  • Get back full purchase price
  • Loan should be cancelled
  • Recover sales tax, registration, and other fees
  • Recover incidental costs (страхование, ремонтные работы, etc.)
Benefit of the Bargain Убытки

If you keep the vehicle, вы можете взыскать:

  • Difference between price paid and actual value
  • Cost of undisclosed ремонтные работы needed
  • Diminished value due to damage history
  • Additional interest paid on inflated loan amount
Treble (Triple) Убытки Under CLRA

If the dealer's conduct was willful:

  • Суд can award up to 3x actual убытки
  • "Willful" means intentional deception, not mere халатность
  • Pattern of similar conduct helps prove willfulness
  • Dealer's knowledge of дефект is key доказательства
Odometer Мошенничество Убытки

Under federal and state odometer laws:

  • 3x actual убытки OR $10,000, whichever is greater
  • Адвокат's fees and costs
  • Punitive убытки possible in California
  • Can pursue both dealer and prior rollback source
Гонорар Адвоката: Under the CLRA and Odometer Act, prevailing consumers recover their адвокат's fees. This makes it economical to hire an адвокат even for moderate claims, as the dealer pays the legal costs.
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Образец Текста

Use this template language for your dealer мошенничество требование:

CLRA Требование (Required Before Судебный Иск)
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP] [Phone Number] [Email] [Date] ЗАКАЗНЫМ ПИСЬМОМ С УВЕДОМЛЕНИЕМ О ВРУЧЕНИИ [Dealer Name] [Dealer Address] [City, State ZIP] Re: Demand for Расторжение/Убытки - Vehicle Мошенничество Vehicle: [Year Make Model] VIN: [VIN Number] Purchase Date: [Date] Stock Нет.: [If known] Dear [Dealer Name]: NOTICE UNDER CALIFORNIA гражданский кодекс SECTION 1782 This letter constitutes the notice required by гражданский кодекс Section 1782(a) до filing suit under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (гражданский кодекс Sections 1750 et seq.). This letter is also demand for relief under California Vehicle Code Section 11713 and the Federal Odometer Act (49 U.S.C. 32701 et seq.). FACTS On [Purchase Date], I purchased the above-referenced vehicle from your dealership for a total price of $[Amount]. Your salesperson, [Name], represented that: [List all representations made - e.g.:] 1. The vehicle had never been in an accident 2. The odometer reading of [XXX,XXX] miles was accurate 3. The vehicle had a clean title with no salvage or other brands 4. The vehicle was in excellent mechanical condition 5. [Other representations] FRAUD DISCOVERED On or about [Discovery Date], I discovered these representations were false: [Detail the мошенничество - e.g.:] 1. A Carfax report reveals the vehicle was in a major collision on [Date] with $[Amount] in damage 2. Service records show the vehicle had [higher mileage] on [earlier date] 3. The vehicle has a branded title due to [salvage/flood/закон о лимонах buyback] 4. A mechanic инспекция revealed [undisclosed damage or defects] VIOLATIONS OF LAW Ваше поведение нарушает: 1. Vehicle Code Section 11713 (false statements by dealer) 2. гражданский кодекс Section 1770(a)(5) (misrepresenting vehicle characteristics) 3. гражданский кодекс Section 1770(a)(7) (representing goods are of a particular quality when they are not) 4. гражданский кодекс Section 1770(a)(9) (advertising goods with intent not to sell as advertised) 5. 49 U.S.C. 32703 (odometer tampering) [if applicable] 6. Business & Professions Code Section 17200 (недобросовестная деловая практика) DAMAGES As a result of your мошенничество, I have suffered the following убытки: - Overpayment for vehicle: $[Amount] - Cost of ремонтные работы for undisclosed damage: $[Amount] - Diminished value: $[Amount] - Incidental expenses: $[Amount] - TOTAL фактический ущерб: $[Amount] ТРЕБОВАНИЕ в соответствии с гражданский кодекс Section 1782, I demand that within thirty (30) days you: OPTION 1 - RESCISSION: 1. Accept return of the vehicle 2. Возврат the full purchase price of $[Amount] 3. Pay off or cancel the financing with [Lender Name] 4. Возврат sales tax, registration, and document fees of $[Amount] 5. Reimburse my incidental costs of $[Amount] OR OPTION 2 - DAMAGES: 1. Pay actual убытки of $[Amount] 2. Pay additional убытки as appropriate under applicable law CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO CURE If you fail to remedy this situation в течение 30 дней, I will file suit seeking: - Расторжение or actual убытки - Treble убытки under the CLRA for willful нарушение - Punitive убытки - Адвокат's fees and costs - Any other relief the суд deems appropriate I am also prepared to file исковое заявлениеs with: - California Department of Motor Vehicles - California Адвокат General Защита Прав Потребителей Division - Federal Trade Commission Please respond in writing в течение 30 дней. С уважением, [Your Signature] [Your Printed Name] Приложения: - Vehicle History Report - [List other доказательства] cc: [Адвокат, if retained]
Odometer Мошенничество Требование
[Your Name] [Your Address] [Date] VIA заказное письмо [Dealer Name] [Address] Re: Federal Odometer Act Нарушение Vehicle: [Year Make Model], VIN: [VIN] Dear [Dealer]: ТРЕБОВАНИЕ UNDER FEDERAL ODOMETER ACT (49 U.S.C. 32701-32711) On [Date], I purchased the above vehicle from your dealership. At the time of sale, the odometer read [XXX,XXX] miles, and you provided an Odometer Disclosure Statement certifying this mileage. ODOMETER FRAUD DISCOVERED I have discovered that this odometer reading was false: [Provide доказательства - e.g.:] 1. Service records from [Source] dated [Date] show mileage of [Higher Amount] 2. Carfax/AutoCheck reports show mileage inconsistency on [Date] 3. Mechanical инспекция reveals wear inconsistent with stated mileage This constitutes a нарушение of 49 U.S.C. 32703, which prohibits odometer tampering and false disclosure. DAMAGES Under 49 U.S.C. 32710, I am entitled to recover: - THREE TIMES actual убытки, OR $10,000, whichever is greater - Reasonable адвокат's fees and costs Actual убытки for odometer мошенничество = (Represented mileage value) - (Actual mileage value) Using standard per-mile depreciation: $[Amount] actual убытки Treble убытки (minimum $10,000): $[Amount] ТРЕБОВАНИЕ I demand payment of $[Amount] в течение 30 дней to resolve this matter without судебный процесс. If payment is not received, I will file suit in [суд], seeking treble убытки, адвокат's fees, costs, and any other available relief. С уважением, [Your Name]
Yo-Yo Financing Response
[Your Name] [Your Address] [Date] [Dealer Name] [Address] Re: Rejection of Demand for Vehicle Return Vehicle: [Year Make Model], VIN: [VIN] Contract Date: [Date] Dear [Dealer]: I am in receipt of your letter dated [Date] demanding that I either return the vehicle or sign a new contract with different financing terms. I reject this demand. BINDING CONTRACT EXISTS On [Date], I purchased the above vehicle and signed a Retail Installment Sales Contract. I provided a down payment of $[Amount], took possession of the vehicle, and have been making payments. This contract is binding. YOUR OPTIONS WERE CLEAR The contract states that financing is "subject to approval." However: 1. You allowed me to take delivery of the vehicle 2. You accepted my trade-in and down payment 3. You registered the vehicle in my name 4. [Number] days have passed since the sale Under California гражданский кодекс Section 2983.35 and established case law, you cannot unilaterally cancel a completed sale merely because you were unable to assign the contract to a third party. ILLEGAL CONDUCT Your demand constitutes: 1. Нарушение of Vehicle Code 11713.1(e) - making buyer responsible for dealer's financing failure 2. Нарушение of CLRA - unfair and deceptive business practice 3. Potential theft/conversion if you repossess ТРЕБОВАНИЕ Я требую, чтобы вы: 1. Cease all demands for the vehicle's return 2. Cease all threats of repossession 3. Honor the original contract terms 4. Confirm in writing that the sale is final If you attempt to repossess this vehicle, I will immediately contact law enforcement and file suit for: - Conversion/theft - CLRA нарушениеs - Intentional infliction of эмоциональные страдания - Punitive убытки The vehicle will not be returned. Honor your contract. С уважением, [Your Name] cc: California Department of Motor Vehicles [Адвокат]

Следующие Шаги

After discovering dealer мошенничество, take these steps:

1. Gather and Preserve Доказательства

Document everything immediately:

  • Order Carfax, AutoCheck, and NMVTIS reports
  • Get an independent mechanic инспекция
  • Preserve all paperwork, texts, and emails
  • Screenshot all online listings
  • Take photos/video of vehicle condition
2. Отправить CLRA Требование

This is a required step before filing a CLRA судебный иск:

  • Отправить via заказное письмо with уведомление о вручении
  • Keep a copy for your records
  • Wait at least 30 days for response
  • If dealer offers to cure, evaluate carefully before accepting
3. File Исковое Заявлениеs

Report the dealer to regulatory agencies:

  • DMV: File исковое заявление online at dmv.ca.gov against dealer license
  • Адвокат General: File исковое заявление with Защита Прав Потребителей Division
  • FTC: Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • BBB: File исковое заявление (less effective but public)
4. Consult an Адвокат

Consider hiring a защита прав потребителей адвокат:

  • Many work on contingency (no upfront cost)
  • Адвокат's fees recoverable under CLRA if you win
  • Experienced адвокатs know dealer tactics
  • Most offer paid consultations
5. File Судебный Иск if Necessary

If the dealer doesn't resolve the matter:

  • Small Claims: Up to $10,000 (no адвокатs allowed)
  • Limited Civil: $10,001-$25,000
  • Unlimited Civil: Over $25,000
  • File in county where you bought the vehicle or where dealer is located
Don't Delay: The срок исковой давности is strict. CLRA claims must be filed within 3 года. Odometer claims within 2 года (or 1 год from discovery). Act promptly to protect ваши права.

Been Defrauded by a Car Dealer?

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