Thursday, July 31, 2008

Buying A Used Car In New Jersey - Check The Lemon Law List of Repurchased Cars


At 1-800-MY-LEMON we are always asked "how do I know if my car was declared a lemon before I purchased it?" The good news is that in New Jersey you can actually check to see if your car was repurchased under the lemon law.

The state of New Jersey requires the manufacturer to brand the title of any car that is repurchased under the lemon law. A complete list of all cars which were repurchased under the New Jersey Lemon Law is available online, and can be viewed by clicking here.

Before purchasing a used car in New Jersey, it is recommended that you check the vin number with the list of repurchase cars under the New Jersey Lemon Law. Just another step in helping you avoid a lemon car.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Warranty Coverage - Do I Have A Lemon Law/Breach Of Warranty Claim

1-800-MY-LEMON, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's largest, and most successful, lemon law firm, represents thousands of consumers for claims regarding defective cars. The firm has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and has become a household name throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Each day we receive numerous phone calls from PA and NJ consumers requesting lemon law information about their defective cars. We have noticed that many consumers are not fully aware of their warranty coverage. In an effort to educate the public we are posting a list of car manufacturers and the mileage and term of the warranties with respect to it's cars. This information will assist you in determining whether a lemon law and/or breach of warranty claim is viable.


Manufacturer Basic Warranty Powertrain Warranty
Acura Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Audi Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Bentley Warranty 2 years/unlimited miles
BMW Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Buick Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Cadillac Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Chevrolet Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Chrysler Warranty (10/31/01 or earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles
Chrysler Warranty (11/1/01-7/8/02) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/100,000 miles
Chrysler Warranty (7/9/02 or later) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/70,000 miles
Dodge Warranty (10/31/01 or earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Dodge Warranty (11/1/01-7/8/02) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/100,000 miles
Dodge Warranty (7/9/02 or later) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/70,000 miles
Ford Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
GMC Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Honda Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Hummer Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Hyundai Warranty (1998 and earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Hyundai Warranty (1999 and later) 5 years/60,000 miles 10 years/100,000 miles
Infiniti Warranty 4 years/60,000 miles 6 years/70,000 miles
Isuzu Warranty (1999 and earlier) 3 years/50,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Isuzu Warranty (2000 - 2002) 3 years/50,000 miles 10 years/120,000 miles
Isuzu Warranty (2003+) 3 years/50,000 miles 7 years/75,000 miles
Jaguar Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Jeep Warranty (10/31/01 or earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Jeep Warranty (11/1/01 - 7/8/02) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/100,000 miles
Jeep Warranty (7/9/02 or later) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/70,000 miles
Kia Warranty (7/2000 and earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Kia Warranty (7/2000 and later) 5 years/60,000 miles 10 years/100,000 miles
Lexus Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 6 years/70,000 miles
Lincoln Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Mazda Warranty (2003 and earlier) 3 years/50,000 miles 3 years/50,000 miles
Mazda Warranty (2004 and later) 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Mercedes-Benz Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Mercury Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Mitsubishi Warranty (2003 and earlier) 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Mitsubishi Warranty (2004 and later) 5 years/60,000 miles 10 years/100,000 miles
Nissan Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Oldsmobile Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Plymouth Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Pontiac Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Porsche Warranty (1998 and earlier) 2 years/unlimited 2 years/unlimited
Porsche Warranty (1999 and later) 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Saab Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles
Saturn Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Scion Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Subaru Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Suzuki Warranty (prior to 8/1/02) 3 years/36,000 miles 3 years/36,000 miles
Suzuki Warranty (8/1/02 and later) 3 years/36,000 miles 7 years/100,000 miles
Toyota Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Volkswagen Warranty (2001 and older) 2 years/24,000 miles 10 years/100,000 miles
Volkswagen Warranty (2002 and later) 4 years/50,000 miles 5 years/60,000 miles
Volvo Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles 4 years/50,000 miles

Sunday, July 27, 2008

1-800-MY-LEMON Air Banner Featured In Atlantic City Press


A big thank you to Eric Oritz at the Atlantic City Press for featuring 1-800-MY-LEMON, and lemon law attorney, David Gorberg, in his article about the successful use of air banners over the beaches of New Jersey.

Banner planes still soar despite high gas prices

By ERIK ORTIZ Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, July 27, 2008

The soaring cost of gas may force drivers to scale back on their road trips, but it's sure not grounding pilots - at least not those working for local banner plane companies.

Banner plane advertising "has become an accepted form of media, whereas before it was seen as guerrilla advertising," Dempsey said. "You're seeing a lot of big-name brands you haven't seen before."

For Dempsey, that includes flying banners for nationally recognized companies such as State Farm, regional businesses such as the lemon law firm 1-800-MY-LEMON and local businesses, from the Atlantic City casinos to well-established restaurants.

"I can tell you that the beaches are packed," Dempsey said, "but they've been packed in years past, too."

Attorney David Gorberg, whose firm specializes in lemon law cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, said he's employed banner plane advertising for at least the past five years because of the audience it garners.

High Exposure usually flies the 1-800-MY-LEMON banner on weekends from Cape May to Atlantic City, Gorberg said. The lemon law banner features a man driving a lemon as cash blows out of his hand.

"There's not a day that goes by when someone doesn't tell us, 'Hey, we saw the banner while we were sitting on the beach,'" Gorberg said. "It's a great way of getting our name and our phone number in front of thousands of beach goers, and also providing brand recognition."

Click here to view the entire lemon law air banner article.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Summer Rain Causes Lemon Car Pain

With the heavy rain we experienced yesterday, our lemon law firm was inundated, or better yet, flooded with calls from Pennsylvania and New Jersey consumers requesting free lemon law help for car water leaks. So we decided to address this possible lemon law condition.

For most people, heavy summer rain results in congested rush hour roadways and perhaps increased travel time. However, for some unlucky car owners, driving in heavy rain means having to deal with annoying water leaks. Rainwater dripping steadily down from the bottom of the dash and causing water damage to the carpet and underlying pad. The water leak is not only aggravating, but if allowed to persist, can turn into a hazardous mold condition.

At 1-800-MY-LEMON we have discovered that water leaks are usually caused by 2 problems..defective seals and/or defective drains.

1. Seals – Window seals and weatherstripping are designed to keep interior air in and the outside air out. A hissing or whistle condition is a sign that the seal or weatherstripping is damaged. Inspect the windows for missing or damaged seals. Specifically, lumps or other imperfections may be preventing a seal and letting water in. There are 2 ways to check if the seal is working properly:

a. Chalk – Rub chalk on the surface of the weather strip. When you close the door, chalk will transfer from the strip to the door on areas that are sealed properly.

b. Dollar – Place a dollar bill in between the door and the car. Shut the door and then try and pull the dollar out. If your car is properly sealed, you will not be able to pull the dollar out.

2. Drains – Cars are made to channel water to places that are designed as drains. You may not realize it, but water flows all over the inside of a car body. Water can run inside the C pillars, the inside of doors, and through the cowl vents. Therefore it is important that you inspect your car for debris that can block the drains. This is especially true in cowling shields.

Needless to say, it is very important to service your car for any leaks at the dealer. By following the above you may be able to isolate the auto water leak and inform the dealer as to the location. Should the dealer fail to repair the leak, you should contact a lemon law firm, such as 1-800-MY-LEMON (1-800-695-3666) to obtain a refund or new car under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law or New Jersey Lemon Law.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

GM shares nearly double from historic low

Shares of General Motors yesterday reached levels that nearly doubled their value from half-century lows set earlier this month.

GM shares closed at $14.58 a share, up 26 cents, or 1.82 percent. Shares of GM had traded as high as $16.43, or up almost $1.75 a share, in earlier trading today. Earlier this month, GM's stock price had fallen to as low as $8.81 a share.

The rise in GM's stock, seems to have been caused by two factors: Bill Gate's entry into the automotive business world through his purchase of 5% of AutoNation Inc, the largest dealership group in the United States; and GM's disclosure that it's global sales totaled 4.5 million vehicles in the first six months of this year, with rapid growth overseas.

Clearly, the rumors of GM's demise, or the suggestion of the need to file bankruptcy is over exaggeration. One has to wonder whether GM's stock has finally hit bottom and is now on the road to recovery. Only time will tell, however at 1-800-MY-LEMON , Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's largest lemon law firm, we noticed a continued support of the company by our Pennsylvania and New Jersey clients and a strong desire to remain a GM owner even after filing a Pennsylvania lemon law or New Jersey lemon law claim.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Bill Gates Buys Stake in AutoNation


Each day we are faced with pessimistic news regarding the sales of new and used cars. Dealerships are stuck with inventory they can't sell and manufacturers are trying to cope with rapidly declining sales. With all this gloomy news it's hard to be optimistic. So is the auto business glass half empty or possibly half filled?

Bill Gates seems to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and must be thinking that the auto business glass is half filled. According to the SEC Mr. Gates just purchased a 5% stake in the dealership chain AutoNation Inc. The stake makes Gates AutoNation's third-largest shareholder, according to Bloomberg News.

According to Automotive News, AutoNation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the largest dealership group in the United States with 321 franchises, selling U.S, Asian and European cars with retail sales of 328,963 mew cars in 2007.

In betting on auto dealerships, Gates joins fellow technology pioneer Michael Dell. Dell, the founder of Dell Computers, announced plans in May to team with former Sonic Automotive President Jeffrey Rachor to start a joint dealership venture.

Monday, July 21, 2008

NHTSA Investigates engine stalling in 2007-08 Hyundai Elantras

The National Highway Transportation Saftey Advisory Board (NHTSA) said on its Web site today that it has opened a preliminary investigation (action number PE08044) into complaints of engine stalling in low-mileage 2007-08 Hyundai Elantras.

The agency has received complaints, including one reported crash with an injury. Fuel pump module failure is the suspected cause. About 167,000 Hundai Elantras are currently on the road.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Lemon Law Mascot?

It's the weekend, the temperature is over 90, so we thought we would share some humor with our readers.

A New Jersey lemon law client, Wendy S., sent us a picture of a robotic mannequin, named "Leminem", dancing to a rap song. The picture was taken at a mall on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Our client thought it would be a prefect mascot for our lemon law firm and wondered if we could have it dance to our famous 1-800-MY-LEMON jingle.

We all had a good laugh over this picture, and thank Wendy S. for sending it to us. Have a great weekend and stay cool.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Toyota Offers to Buy Back Rusty Tacomas

Toyota has announced that it is buying back 1995-2000 Tacoma pickup trucks with badly rusted frames. The buy back program that covers 813,000 trucks may cost Toyota as much as 100 million dollars. In addition to the buy back offer, Toyota is also extending the warranty on those frames to 15 years with unlimited mileage.

If a truck qualifies for a buy back Toyota will will pay 1.5 times the suggested retail price for a vehicle in excellent condition as calculated by Kelley Blue Book.

Owners of badly rusted Toyota Tacoma pick up trucks are instructed to return to the selling dealer for a free inspection. Tacoma owners who paid to have a rusty frame repaired and still own the vehicle can ask for compensation by calling Toyota at (888) 270-9371.

1-800-MY-LEMON has represented many Pennsylvania and New Jersey clients for rusted frames with their lemon cars. Should your vehicle or truck have rust and the manufacturer fails to repair the damage give us a call. In most cases we are able to get compensation due to the damage.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Congress moves to bar mandatory dealer-consumer arbitration


Each year 1-800-MY-LEMON represents consumers for claims against dealerships for fraud, such as non disclosed prior sale damage. Unfortunately many consumers are not able to pursue these claims in court due to binding arbitration agreements. Specifically, at the time of purchase of the car, the dealership has the consumer sign away his or her rights to pursue any and all claims in court. Many times the consumer is not aware that he or she is signing away rights. As a result of the binding arbitration agreement, the consumer is compelled to litigate his or her claim in a private arbitration favoring the dealerships.

Fortunately Congress has recognized this problem and is taking steps to correct the misuse of binding arbitration agreements by dealerships. According to the Automotive News, a congressional panel today approved a bill that would prohibit auto dealers from forcing customers into binding arbitration to settle disputes. The chief sponsor of the bill is Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., who chairs the subcommittee on commercial and administrative law.

The voice vote by a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee appeared to be along party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. Based on the partisan split, the bill will most likely not become law this year. However, the subcommittee action could prepare a path toward enactment next year, should the Democrats win the White House and increase their majorities in Congress in the November elections, as many forecasts suggest.

The measure is part of a broader push in Congress to eliminate requirements for mandatory binding arbitration from all kinds of business transactions.

1-800-MY-LEMON, Pennsylvania and New Jersey's Lemon Law attorneys, supports this bill and congratulates Rep. Linda Sanchez for sponsoring the legislation, and protecting consumers rights.

Buying A Used Car - Follow These FTC Tips to Avoid A Lemon

Buying a used car this summer? Follow these tips from the Federal Trade Commission to avoid a lemon car.

Before you start shopping for a used car, do some homework. It may save you serious money. Consider driving habits, what the car will be used for, and your budget. Research models, options, costs, repair records, safety tests, and mileage through libraries, book stores, and web sites.

Cash or Credit?
Once you’ve settled on a particular car, you have two payment options: paying in full or financing over time. Financing increases the total cost of the car because you’re also paying for the cost of credit, including interest and other loan costs. You also must consider how much money you can put down, the monthly payment, the loan term, and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Rates usually are higher and loan periods shorter on used cars than on new ones. Dealers and lenders offer a variety of loan terms. Shop around and help your teenager negotiate the best possible deal. Be cautious about financing offers for first-time buyers. They can require a big down payment and a high APR. To get a lower rate, you may decide to cosign the loan for your teen. If money is tight, you might consider paying cash for a less expensive car than you first had in mind.

Dealer or Private Sale?
The Federal Trade Commission’s Used Car Rule requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale. The Buyers Guide gives a great deal of information, including:

whether the vehicle is being sold "as is" or with a warranty;

what percentage of the repair costs a dealer will pay under the warranty;

the fact that spoken promises are difficult to enforce; and

the major mechanical and electrical systems on the car, including some of the major problems you should look out for.
The Buyers Guide also tells you to:

get all promises in writing;

keep the Buyers Guide for reference after the sale; and

ask to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before the purchase.
Buying a car from a private individual is different from buying from a dealer. That’s because private sales generally aren’t covered by the Used Car Rule, or by "implied warranties" of state law. A private sale probably will be "as is" — you’ll have to pay for anything that goes wrong after the sale.

Before You Buy...
Whether you buy a used car from a dealer or an individual:

examine the car using an inspection checklist. You can find checklists in magazines and books and on Internet sites that deal with used cars;

test drive the car under varied road conditions — on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go-traffic;

ask for the car’s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop; and

hire a mechanic to inspect the car.

Other Costs to Consider
There’s more to buying a car than just paying for it. Other items to budget for include insurance, gas, maintenance and repairs. Here are some tips to help you save money:

Compare coverage and premiums with several insurance companies. Buy from a low-price, licensed insurer, or add your teen to your policy. Some companies offer discounts to students with good grades. Remind your teenager that it pays to drive safely and observe speed limits. Traffic violations can cost money in tickets and higher insurance premiums.

Pump your own gas and use the octane level your owner’s manual specifies.

Keep your car in safe driving condition. Following the vehicle’s maintenance schedule can help forestall costly repairs.

Look for a mechanic who is certified, well established, and communicates well about realistic repair options and costs. Find one who has done good work for someone you know.

If your used car turns out to be defective, contact a lemon law attorney, such as 1-800-MY-LEMON to assist in filing a claim against the manufacturer.

Friday, July 11, 2008

MyLemon On Philadelphia Radio Station, 98.1 WOGL


Thank you to everyone at Philadelphia radio station 98.1, WOGL, for the fantastic shout out to 1-800-MY-LEMON during the popular morning show.

Not only is our famous jingle popular with the younger set, but also with the older set as well!

Everyone at our lemon law firm enjoyed the spot, and most importantly, it allows your listeners to call Philadelphia's largest lemon law firm for free lemon law help.

CLICK HERE to listen to this fantastic lemon law radio spot.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Philadelphia Passes Used Car Lemon Law


Philadelphia has a new lemon law covering the sale of used cars. The Philadelphia Used Car Lemon Law, sponsored by Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, was signed by Mayor Nutter on July 2, 2008.

The law protects purchasers of used cars in Philadelphia by giving them the opportunity to have their used car inspected by a licensed mechanic with 72 hours of purchase. If a defect is discovered, the purchaser has the right to seek a full refund from the selling dealer.

The Philadelphia Used Car Lemon Law is a benefit to consumers since the Pennsylvania Lemon Law only covered the sale of new cars, and does not apply to used cars.

Congratulations to Mayor Nutter, Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, Lance Haver at the Consumer Affairs Office, and the City of Philadelphia, for giving used car buyers greater rights.

1-800-MY-LEMON, Philadelphia's largest lemon law firm, is thrilled with the passage of this new law!

Below is a summary of the Philadelphia Used Car Lemon Law:

1. A purchaser of a used vehicle may return the vehicle within 72 hours after purchase if it is:

a. Unable to pass safety or emission inspection; or

b. Is found by a certified inspection mechanic to have an undisclosed major structural defect. *mechanic must do so in writing.

2. Upon return of any such vehicle the dealer shall within 10 days either repair the vehicle at the dealers own expense; or refund all moneys paid for such vehicle.

3. Dealers must also provide a copy of any written warranty to the purchaser within fifteen (15) days of payment for the warranty, and shall perform the repairs set forth in the warranty promptly upon presentation of the warrantied vehicle for repair. At the time of purchase, the dealer shall disclose to the purchaser, in writing in large capital letters, whether the warranty is provided by the dealer, the manufacturer or a third party.

4. Office of Consumer Affairs will take complaints and determine their merit. L&I will thereafter issue citations and enforce. If you purchased a used car and feel the dealer is not upholding their responsibilities, contact the Philadelphia Office of Consumer Affairs at 215-686-7598

5. 1st offense is a Code Violation Notice (CVN). (accrues each day issue not rectified); Repeat offense may result in suspension or revocation of the dealer's Automobile Sales License and/or Business Privilege License.



photo credit

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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Kids Just Love The MyLemon Jingle

We just had to post this...2 young girls made a very cute, and funny, YouTube video of our famous 1-800-MY-LEMON jingle (apparently it's a very popular song with the younger set). Now, if we could just fit this into our lemon law TV commercials!

CLICK HERE to see the video.

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Monday, July 7, 2008

Lemon Law My Wife


Each year our law firm, 1-800-MY-LEMON, receives thousands of requests for lemon law help. The vast majority of the requests are for defective cars, however recently we received a very unusual, and extremely funny, request for help with a defective wife!

The letter was from Dr. Anthony, a retired doctor, and he wanted to know if our firm could assist him in filing a Pennsylvania lemon law claim for his wife, and obtain a full refund.

Unfortunately for the Doctor, and many others in his position, a full refund is not a possibility. The only laws we are aware of regarding the return of a wife or husband (better known as a divorce), results in a substantial early termination penalty in the form of child support, alimony, equitable distribution and of course attorney fees!

1-800-MY-LEMON wish the good doctor the best of luck and recommend him to seek the advice of a divorce attorney.

We thought our many readers would get a kick out of this letter and we have posted it to the blog.
Click here to read the letter.

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5 Lemon Law Mistakes To Avoid

Each year 1-800-MY-LEMON represents thousands of consumers seeking refunds for their defective lemon cars under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law & New Jersey Lemon Law statute.

While the lemon law can be viewed as straightforward, it is also technical, and many individuals fail to follow the proper steps in order to protect their rights.

1-800-MY-LEMON has prepared a list of 5 lemon law mistakes that consumers make prior to filing a lemon law claim. By avoiding these 5 lemon law mistakes, you will ensure that your lemon law claim proceeds most favorably to you.

1. Failing to obtain a written repair order.

The most important evidence in any lemon law claim are the repair orders documenting the defect. The law requires the vehicle be subject to repair for the defect, and the repair orders will validate your lemon law claim. Remember, a written document carries much more weight then your word. Therefore, never leave a dealership without obtaining a written repair order.

2. Failing to make sure your actual complaint is on the service report.

Always read the repair order before leaving the dealership, and verify that your actual complaint was properly documented. If you discover that your complaint was not documented, request the dealership, or service manager to change the repair order. Should they refuse to change the repair order, write down your actual complaint on the repair order next to your signature.

3. Trying to diagnose the defect or acting as your own mechanic.

Tell the service department the symptoms, and don't try to diagnose the problem yourself. For example, If you think you have a noise in the engine, or front tire, don’t specify the location. Tell the service department that you have a noise in the front of the car. If you tell them it’s a noise in the engine and later complain about a noise coming from the front tire, it might be the same problem, but you have now made it two separate problems.

4. Continuing to take the vehicle in for repair, after the 3rd attempt, and not calling a lemon law attorney.

The Pennsylvania and New Jersey Lemon Law gives the dealer 3 repair attempts. After three repair attempts the manufacturer may be responsible for buying the car back from you. Therefore the best course of action is to seek the advice of a experienced lemon law attorney such as 1-800-MY-LEMON.

5. Trying to handle the claim yourself, or calling the manufacturer directly.

The lemon law encourages you to hire a lemon law attorney. The law specifically requires payment of all attorney fees by the manufacturer. An experienced lemon law attorney can successfully contact the manufacturer and obtain compensation for your lemon law claim. Finally, should the manufacturer refuse to compensate you for your lemon law claim, the attorney can file a law suit seeking damages for your lemon law claim. Why go it alone, when you can have an expert on your side, and best of all, completely free to you.

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Saturday, July 5, 2008

In The Market for A Used Car - Follow Advice to Avoid Buying a Lemon Car


In the market for used car? The following is a list of recommendations from the Lemon Law Attorneys at
1-800-MY-LEMON, to ensure that you don't end up with a lemon car.

The Kelley Blue Book and N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides have been the standard for determining car values for years and now you can check prices online.

Next, check on the vehicle's history. If you have the vehicle identification number, you can use a service such as Carfax to purchase a history report on that vehicle. However, the report will only show what has been reported to insurance companies or government agencies. If the vehicle was in an accident, for example, and this was not reported, that information will not appear on the report.

Always inspect the car thoroughly in order to see signs of damage or fraud. This is especially true regarding the mileage shown on the odometer. Cars with low mileage may have had their odometer rolled back. A quick check can show if the odometer reflects the accurate mileage. For example if a car's odometer shows 4,000 miles but the pedal pads are worn, one can assume that the mileage shown is incorrect.

A valuable source of information are the contents in the glove compartment. Many times the original paperwork for the car, such as prior sales orders or repair orders, are left in the glove compartment. Look at the mileage on these documents and compare to the odometer.

Another clue to discover problems is to check the tire wheels or rims for marks from wheel weights. The more marks, the more often the tires have been balanced, indicating age. Another method to check for fraud is to turn the key on with the engine off. Always compare the warning lights you see, to the owners manual. If any of the warning lights do not work or display, then someone may have tampered with the vehicle to hide a problem.

Finally, and most important, have the car thoroughly examined by an auto expert who is ASE certified. If the dealer or salesperson refuses to let you have the vehicle inspected, walk from the deal. Chances are the dealer is hiding something from you.

The above are just a few methods you can use to protect yourself from buying a used lemon car.

Photo credit

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Friday, July 4, 2008

Lemon Law Air Banner - Flying Over The NJ Beaches


Back by popular demand, the 1-800-MY-LEMON air banner! The banner, which flys during the summer months from Cape May to LBI, produces hundreds of phone calls to our firm, and most importantly, lots of visibility for our free lemon law services. It is by far our most successful advertisement, and has become a local favorite at the Jersey Shore. So, next time you are at the Jersey beach, look up in the sky and you will see the only lemon law firm with it's own air banner.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

1-800-MY-LEMON Proud Sponsor of The Longport, NJ July 4th Mile Run


1-800-MY-LEMON is proud to announce the sponsorship of The 2008 Longport, New Jersey July 4th Mile Run. Several employees from our firm, including lemon law attorney David J.Gorberg, will participate in this annual event, which benefits the Longport Fire Department.

1-800-MY-LEMON has provided New Jersey lemon law representation to many New Jersey consumers and the firm is proud of it's ongoing commitment to the local communities.

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Court TV Interviews David J. Gorberg & Associates


Court TV put together a fantastic news article about Bruce Springsteen's longtime drummer, Max Weinberg, being sold a 93k lemon.

Mr. Weinberg, who is also the bandleader on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," filed a lemon law lawsuit against a car dealer who promised the musician a vehicle in "suburb condition" (sic), but allegedly sold him a lemon with a leaky transmission, a rusty and greasy underbody, and a bent and welded front frame.

Court TV interviewed David J. Gorberg & Associates, on how to protect yourself from buying a lemon.

To read more about the story click here.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

New Lemon Law Billboard in Philadelphia




Just a quick note to all Philadelphia drivers on 76 (Schuylkill Expressway). Keep a look out for our new lemon law billboard at the Wharton Ave exit. It's not hard to miss...bright yellow, with the famous "1-800-MY-LEMON" on it.

Our high visibility “1-800-MY-LEMON” phone number provides Pennsylvania and New Jersey motorists with an instant “lemon law line” to call and get free legal help for their “lemon” vehicle.

Many thanks to Steen Outdoor for securing the board for us. Have a great July 4th and safe driving!