Understanding Consumer Law

How to Use this Resource

We hope the articles below help you understand your rights as a consumer. You can scroll through the titles, or sort by Practice Area or Topic. You can also use the search feature to locate information by keyword.

Flitter Milz represents people with a variety of problems involving consumer credit and collections. If you have a particular question or believe your consumer rights have been violated, Contact Us for a no cost consultation.

Car Repossession

How Do You Get Your Car Back After Repossession?

You don’t park your car in front of your house anymore.

It’s been a few months since you were able to make a payment and you’re worried about repo men showing up in the middle of the night.

What you didn’t anticipate is the repossession firm showing up where you work. Suddenly, you have no car, no way to get back home, no way to get anywhere.

This can be a devastating situation, but it’s not a hopeless one. Even though your car has been repossessed, it doesn’t mean you can’t get it back.

Continue reading How Do You Get Your Car Back After Repossession? →

What do Auto Lenders check on your Credit Report?

When you apply for an auto loan, lenders will perform a credit check on you. Your credit affects whether or not you’ll be approved for the loan, and the interest rate for the loan. The interest rate and terms of the loan have a major impact on how much you will end up paying overall, so it’s important that you know where your credit stands BEFORE you apply for an auto loan. When you apply, lenders will look at the following components of your credit file.

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Tips on Purchasing a Car

The decision to purchase a new vehicle is exciting. Whether it’s your first car purchase or not, the freedom of mobility and independence is invaluable. You can go anywhere, whenever you like.

But cars are expensive. Buying a vehicle that suits your needs and your budget can be a challenge. Often, the vehicle that you would like to drive may not be the one that you can afford. Become an educated buyer.

Buying a car is a two step process

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8 Things To Do When Buying a Car

Before any major purchase, it’s important to do some research to make sure you stay within your budget and get the most for your money… and cars are no exception. A new vehicle is a large expense and requires some planning. This is especially true if you choose to secure an auto loan to make it more affordable. Here are some steps you should take before you finance an auto loan.

1) Request your credit reports and score

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Do I Still Owe Money After My Car was Repossessed?

If you’re going through financial hardship or a difficult life event, it can be challenging to keep up with your car loan payments. Your vehicle is collateral, or your pledge to a lender that you’ll repay the loan. If you default on the terms of your loan agreement, the lender may choose to repossess your vehicle. They’re not required to contact you before the repossession.

If your car was recently repossessed, you may be wondering what happens next. Do you still owe the payments that you missed on your loan? Do you still owe the full balance after your car is sold?

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How Do I Get My Repossessed Car Back in Pennsylvania?

Vehicle repossession is inconvenient and worrisome, but it is possible to get your car back.  After the repossession agent comes, the lender is to send the borrower a repossession notice, frequently called a Notice of Intent to Sell Property.  This notice will inform the borrower of terms to get the vehicle back.  Sometimes the lender will demand a full loan payoff, while other times, past due payments may be accepted.  This notice informs the borrower of the vehicle’s location, the cost of repossession and any storage charges.  The borrower usually has 30 days to arrange for retrieval of any personal property from the repo lot.

Continue reading How Do I Get My Repossessed Car Back in Pennsylvania? →

How do I Get a Better Auto Loan?

Shopping for a new vehicle can be overwhelming on its own without even considering the auto loan application process. But if you don’t take the time to research and compare auto loans, you may end up with a bad deal.

Review your Credit Reports

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Before you begin to shop around for the best deal, check your credit report. Your overall credit will give you a general idea of what interest rates to expect. You should also consider your budget and how much you can afford to spend each month on vehicle loan payments. It’s important to make a purchase that you can afford. If you fall behind on loan payments, your vehicle may be at risk for repossession. A vehicle repossession negatively affects your credit for up to seven years. You should also keep in mind that shorter term loans will mean that you pay higher monthly payments, but less over the course of the loan.

Evaluate your credit score

When you apply for an auto loan, your credit score will take a slight hit. The credit bureaus will treat several loan applications made within a short time frame as a single application. If you were to receive credit denials from several potential lenders, your credit report could be impacted negatively and your credit score may drop.

Seek Legal Advice

Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm that represents victims of vehicle repossession.  If a borrower defaults on a bad auto loan and the vehicle is repossessed, Flitter Milz will evaluate whether the lender violated the borrower’s consumer rights.  If your vehicle has been repossessed in the past six years, Contact Us for a free evaluation.

How Your Credit Affects Vehicle Financing

Before applying for any new line of credit, it’s good practice to check your credit report and credit score. Auto loans are no exception. A credit check will give you a good idea of where you stand and what type of interest rates you can expect. It’s also important that you verify that all of your information is correct and dispute any inaccuracies that may be bringing down your score.

However, credit scores that fall in the non-prime (620-679) and subprime (550-619) ranges may not necessarily indicate that you aren’t eligible for a reasonable interest rate. Lenders often use different tiers according to their own business needs to assess creditworthiness.

Lenders also frequently place more weight on credit history that is specific to auto loans. Timely auto loan payments in your credit history are more important than whether or not you make credit card payments on time. Always shop around to compare rates before signing an auto loan agreement.

Seek Legal Advice

Flitter Milz is a consumer protection law firm that pursues matters against lenders, debt collectors and the credit bureaus.  If a lender wrongfully repossesses a vehicle, a debt collector is abusive or the credit bureaus report information inaccurately, the consumer may have a lawsuit to pursue. For a no cost legal evaluation, Contact Us .

How to Finance a Vehicle with Bad Credit

Purchasing a new vehicle is a major decision, especially when you need to secure a loan in order to do so. Not only are you shopping for a car, you’re also shopping for the best interest rate and loan agreement terms. This process can be even more difficult if you have poor credit.

Check your credit before the purchase

A negative credit history can make it more difficult to find an agreement with reasonable interest rates and can also make it more challenging to get your application approved. It’s important to prepare and research ahead of time before you make a decision to ensure that you choose the best option for your situation. You may run the risk of a vehicle repossession when the loan agreement terms present challenges to your finances.

The vehicle is collateral to the lender

The vehicle is considered collateral in a loan agreement. As the borrower pledges repayment of the loan, collateral is a form of security for the lender. If a borrower fails to make payments under the loan agreement, the lender has the right to repossess the vehicle. A repossession will further harm your credit and negatively impact your history for up to seven and a half years.

Shop for the loan that is right for you.

When you need to secure a loan for the purchase of your new vehicle, take steps to make sure you get the loan that is right for you.  If you  enter a loan agreement with unfavorable terms, you may not be able to make loan payments in full and on time.  When the terms of the loan have been broken, the lender may take steps to repossess your vehicle.

Seek Legal Advice

Flitter Milz is knowledgeable about the laws governing repossession of cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and RVs.  If your vehicle has been repossessed, Contact Us.  We will review the details of your case at no cost, and evaluate whether your consumer rights were violated.