Sunday, January 20, 2013

Proposed FTC rule uses a lemon car, critics claim

Proposed FTC rule uses a lemon car, critics claim

Herb white tree, NBC News contribution

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is in the process of updating their car rule used - and some prominent consumer advocates are not happy with the proposed changes.

"The FTC really, it blew", said Rosemary Shahan, founder and President of consumers for auto reliability and safety (cars). "That has not addressed a real problem and the proposed rule changes to do in this industry."

Shahan and other consumer advocates want to require the FTC to learn more about the buying must be offered on every used cars for sale.

Right this window must tell now sticker potential buyers if the vehicle with a warranty or sold "as" is. It also advises potential buyers have the car by an independent mechanic before you buy, and even lists the major mechanical systems that are checked to be checked.

Under rules proposed the revisions of buying would also purchaser of the vehicle history through a federal database check and show the address of a FTC Web site (not yet created), which report history information about the vehicle had rates.

Consumer groups and law enforcement agencies in many States ask for more. They want the used car rule require dealers significant vehicle history disclose information if they have it.

Mentioned in comments to the FTC on behalf of the Attorney General in 40 States, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) current buying "archaic" and "limited value" for the used car buyers.

"We think that this is a lost opportunity," said the NAAG Bill broke. "When it comes to a used vehicle, nothing is more important for a consumer as its history know." It was previously destroyed, flooded, or a Lemon Law repurchase? "

Dealer and the FTC agree
Car dealers against buying add more information. They say it's designed to do one thing: they make it clear whether the retailer offers any kind of warranty on the vehicle.

"(Es war, SEHR EFFEKTIV, denn er Hat Informationen, dass 1) (a used car is important in the buying decision of the consumer and 2) the dealer knows and controls," said Bill Underriner, Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), in a statement to NBC News.

NADA says, information about the history of the vehicle, which traders have is often incomplete, out of date or inaccurate. For this reason Underriner wrote, "it helps not consumer demand to reveal dealer about a vehicle, which may not be available dealer or may not display properly."

In its opinion on the Commission said that requirement to report damages, defects or title history would be costly national independent Automobile Dealers Association (which represents used car dealers) and "cause chaos in the industry."

Traders say the issue may be confusing being referred to when it comes to a vehicle of the past as "Title branding" - information about title of the vehicle, if the fraud law was bought back by an insurance company or by the manufacturer after a lemon.

States use not all of the same language, if you title brands. Alaska, for example, only the term "Reconstructed," "Rescue" during Maryland used has "Reconditioned" "Reconstruction" and "Conversion".

The FTC is a siding at this time with the dealers. Told Commission staff members who wrote the proposed new language, she don't think that with vehicle information history on the buyer's Guide is practical or necessary.

"It sounds really simple in concept. If they know a serious problem, say, you people. But if you try, a regulation, can indicate what they say, and under what circumstances, it is not as easy as it sounds, '' said Steve Baker, Director of the Midwest Regional Office of the FTC.

Baker said that the Commission believes, that its task is "not a traders leave early promoting car buyers" but do their own homework and have inspected the car before they buy it.

Critics believe that the Federal Trade Commission is short-sighted position.

"The FTC could one to take big step forward, to used car sales more transparent and fair, form," said John van Alst, a lawyer with the national consumer law Center. "The best dealer as usual, continuation of the activity can all too often to car dealers consumer fraud leads."

The FTC is the comments on the proposed amendments to the used car rule until Feb. 11 Acceptance.

The bottom line:
No matter how much disclosure is given or needed it will always remain to protect. It is your responsibility to look for before you buy any used vehicle for hidden damage and possible problems.

You need to 1) check the history of the car and 2) let it by an independent expert before you sign the contract. No matter from what the friendly seller says don't assume, that you can bring this vehicle back, if there is a problem. Oral representations do not count.

Check the national motor vehicle title information system. NMVTIS has reports of cars with branded titles. It is still not completed, but it is a good resource. You should check also a commercial service such as CarFax and AutoCheck.

Keep in mind: these databases have not always on the up to date or complete information about a particular vehicle.

That's why the independent audit is crucial. Mechanics find problems that will not show up in even the best vehicle history report, such as worn brakes or lack of maintenance. They may be hidden signs of flood damage or crash site, that make this vehicle and reduce their value.

If you are shopping online and the vehicle away, consider services such as InspectMyRide and Carchex.

Remember that hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Superstorm Sandy were flooded. Some make it to the market for used cars. The auto editors of consumer reports warn that car flooded "inherently insecure and unreliable" even if it seems to be OK.

As a consumer reporter, I hear much complaints about used cars. In almost all cases, the buyer is char, because he or she don't take the time to check the history and make a small amount of money, the vehicle before you have to spend such a significant purchase. Make sure that you do not buy problems someone else.

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