Looking For A Used Car?

Start By Doing Some Homework.

What You Learn Now May Save You Serious Money Later (Part 2)

Used cars are sold through a variety of outlets: franchise and independent dealers, rental car companies, leasing companies and used car superstores. You can even buy a used car on the Internet. Ask friends, relatives and co-workers for recommendations. You may want to call the S C Department of Consumer Affairs to find out if any unresolved complaints are on file about a particular dealer.

Some dealers are attracting customers with “no-haggle” prices, “factory certified” used cars and better warranties. Consider the dealer’s reputation when you evaluate these ads.

You may not be able to tell from looking at the car that there is anything wrong with it. Taking it for a test drive may help you find some problems. The best way to discover any problems is to take the car to a mechanic you know and trust to examine the car and tell you what problems may arise. This person may also look to see if the odometer, the gauge, which shows how many miles the car has been driven, has been changed. If you find any problems that need repair make sure the salesperson puts in writing that he will have it fixed.

Dealers are not required by law to give used car buyers a three-day right to cancel. The right to return the car in a few days for a refund exists only if the dealer grants this privilege to buyers. Dealers may describe the right to cancel as a “cooling-off” period. Before you purchase from a dealer, ask about the return policy, get it in writing and read it carefully.

The FTC Used Car Rule requires dealers to post a Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale. This includes light-duty vans, light-duty trucks, demonstrators and program cars. Demonstrators are new cars that have not been owned, leased, or used as rentals, but have been driven by dealer staff. Program cars are low-mileage, current-model-year vehicles returned from short-term leases or rentals. Buyers Guide must tell you:

• 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;
• that spoken promises are difficult to enforce;
• to get all promises in writing;
• to keep the Buyers Guide for references after the sale;
• the major mechanical and electrical systems on the car, including some of the major problems you should look out for; and
• to ask to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before you buy.

When you buy a used car from a dealer, get the original Buyers Guide that was posted in the vehicle, or a copy. The Guide must reflect any negotiated changes in warranty coverage. It also becomes part of your sales contract and overrides any contrary provisions. For example, if the Buyers Guide says the car comes with a warranty and the contract says the car is sold “as is” the dealer must give you the warranty described in the Guide.

IDENTITY THEFT FORUM TO BE AIRED ON SCETV ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006 AT 7:00 P.M.

Every fifteen minutes 200 people become victims of Identity Theft. You could become the next victim.

• Has anyone taken over your name?
• Do you know who has access to privileged and personal information about you and your family?
• Do you know how to reduce unwanted intrusion into your privacy?

If you do not have the answers to these questions and want to learn how to protect yourself and your family against the fastest growing white collar crime in AMERICA, watch WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOUR GOOD NAME–SCETV FORUM: IDENTITY THEFT, airing statewide on your local SCETV channel, Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 7:00 P. M.

The discussion will focus on how consumers can be proactive in minimizing the damage if someone steals their identity, along with discussion of recommended legislation to protect consumers against identity theft. The forum will also feature victims of identity theft.

South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Now Offers Tele-Tips Service 24 Hours A Day/ 7 Days A Week

The goal is to continue to make receiving helpful information easy, fast, and accessible.

The Tele-Tips topics include:

• how to file a consumer complaint,
• debt collection,
• purchase of vehicles and
• fraud.

Consumers can access the Tele-Tips by dialing

• (803) 734-4215 or
• 1-888-734-4215 (toll-free in SC)

and following the prompts. It is available 24 hours a day, & 7 days a week.

This is another example of the Department’s use of technology to meet the increasing demands of the citizens of this state.

For more information on the Department of other consumer protection issues contact the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, 3600 Forest Drive, Suite 300, Columbia, South Carolina 29204 or you can call us at (803) 734-4200 or 1-800-922-1594(toll-free in SC) or visit our Website at www.scconsumer.gov .

LOOKING FOR A USED CAR?

Before You Buy A Used Car:

Whether you buy a car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car:

• Examine the car yourself using an inspection checklist. You can find a checklist in many of the magazine articles, books and Internet sites that deal with buying a used car.
• Test drive the car under varied road conditions–on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic.
• Ask for the car’s maintenance record. If the owner doesn’t have copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where most the work was done. They may share their files with you.
• Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car’s history.
• Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIFESMARTS STATE COMPETITION

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs hosted the 2006 LifeSmarts State Competition on Friday, March 3, 2006 at the Lutheran Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina Teams from Darlington-Trinity Titans, Columbia-Lower Richland Superstars, and Hartsville-Lady Red Foxes played with “spirit” and “excitement”. Six teams from across the state qualified to participate in the competition. LifeSmarts is a national educational competition, which tests and provides students “key” learning consumer skills in grades 9 through 12. Lucas McFadden of WIS-TV was Question Master for the competition.

Trinity Titans from Trinity Collegiate School in Darlington survived the challenge to become state champions and will represent South Carolina in the National LifeSmarts Competition which will be April 22-25, 2006 in Philadelphia, PA.

Championship teams from across the country will travel to represent their states, where students coaches, and state coordinators, experience days of intense competition, network, and walk away with an array of valuable prizes.

“We live in a country where teens spend billions, so a program like this can give students a head start in learning to manage their finances and other life skills,” said Sherry Gore King, S.C. LifeSmarts Coordinator.

For more information regarding the LifeSmarts program, contact Sherry Gore King at 803-734-4195 or 1-800-922-1594(Toll-free in SC) or king@dca.state.sc.us or visit the National Consumers League Website at www.lifesmarts.org.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CELL PHONES AND THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) has received several inquiries from consumers concerning e-mails that are being widely circulated claiming that cell phone numbers will soon be accessible to telemarketers if consumers do not register their cell phone numbers on the National DO NOT CALL (DNC) Registry. The SCDCA is issuing this advisory to give consumers the FACTS.

The Federal Trade Commission reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mail circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National DO NOT CALL (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.

The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:

• Cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing, calls on your cell phone.
• There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
• The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
• There is only one DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
• The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
• While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.

In addition, according to the industry:

• Your number would not be included in a wireless 411 directory unless you wanted it to be(i.e. you will have to “opt-in”); and
• The wireless 411 directory would not be available in a printed, electronic, or Internet list for telemarketers. In other words, a list of numbers on the wireless 411 directory would not be made available to telemarketers.

The SCDCA continues to work to protect consumers from inequities in the marketplace through advocacy, mediation, enforcement and education. For information on other consumer protection issues contact the Department at 3600 Forest Drive, Suite 300, Columbia,South Carolina 29250 or toll-free 1-800-922-1594 or 1-803-734-4200 or visit our website at www.scconsumer.gov and click on Live Help.

TIPS FOR SHOPPING BY PHONE, MAIL OR ONLINE (PART 2)

Contacts For Resolving Problems

If you have other problems with your purchases, try to resolve your dispute with the company. If that doesn’t work, the following resources may be helpful:

• South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
• The Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

Write:

D M A Mail Order Action Line

111 19th Street, N. W., Suite 1100

Washington, D. C. 20036-3603

• Postal Inspectors. Call your local post office and ask for the Inspector-in-Charge.

Getting More Information

The S C Department of Consumer Affairs works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

To file a conplaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit scconsumer.gov or call toll free 1-800-922-1594 (toll-free in SC) or 803-734-4200.