Financial Trend Forecaster

Steps to ensure you are Protected

Unfortunately, once you begin to suspect that you have a lemon it is almost too late to protect yourself.

The best offense is a strong defense. Document everything clearly right from the start.  Use our Repair Log right from the start. Print it out and keep it with your owners manual.

Be sure to record every repair attempt. The important thing is to show how many attempts were made to repair the same defect. Be sure that if you take it in for the same problem that it is recorded identically on each invoice so they can't claim that it was a different problem.

Document everything! Including any notes, who you talked to, what each party said, and dates and times. Give them your complaints in writing and keep a copy for yourself.

Get a copy of the work order when you drop the car off and a copy of the invoice when you pick it up.

Just because a repair is made under Warrantee you are still entitled to get  a copy of the work order (and invoice). Demand a copy if necessary and if the dealer won't give you one, be sure to document that too. The dealer may claim that you are not entitled to an Invoice because there were no charges (you were not invoiced for any repairs). But you need to prove repair attempts! The final Invoice shows what was or was not repaired. So you need it!

Be sure that the invoice includes the date, time in, and odometer reading.

As well as the date and time you picked up the car. In most States you are covered by the Lemon Law kicks in after a certain number of days in the repair shop. So you need to keep track of that too.

Also keep track of the amount of time you have to wait for assistance if the car breaks down and you have to call a tow truck.  And whether or not you had to rent a car, and your general overall feelings. Remember emotional distress of dealing with a defective vehicle is part of your case if you need to go to arbitration or court.

Lemon Laws for Individual States

More Lemon Law Articles:

• According to the law, "What is  a Lemon"? and "Is your Car a Lemon"?
• What about Lawyers? Do You need one to handle your lemon case?
• Can other vehicles like Motor Homes and Motorcycles be considered a lemon too?
• How to Protect Yourself- Keeping a Repair log
• Download a Free Repair Log

Disclaimer:

At Financial Trend Forecaster we are not registered investment advisors and do not provide any individualized advice. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance and future accuracy and profitable results cannot be guaranteed.