Lehto's Law "Transcript" - Most Common Consumer Complaints

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
07/17/2015 at 17:30 • Filed to: None

My most recent podcast/video of Lehto’s Law went up on Thursday and, as often happens, more than a few people told me they’d really like the podcast to be in written form. Fine: Here’s a writeup of the podcast. We’ve now come full circle.

The topic was the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I hear at my office everyday. I have an office with a phone and I foolishly put my phone number on my website, virtually inviting people to call me with complaints. Seems obvious now, but hindsight is cliche’ cliche’ . I don’t use a script when I do the podcast (does that surprise anyone ?) so this is simply a writeup of the topics covered.

The #1 complaint I hear is from people who have bought a used car AS-IS and now the car has exploded, inploded, caught fire, crumbled, discombobulated or some such. What can they do? Short answer? Almost always: NOTHING. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for some time. Yes, if you know what you are getting into and price accordingly, an as-is sale can work out. But if you trusted the used car salesperson to simply be selling you a dependable car at a good price? Not so much. Sorry, an attorney in Michigan can almost never help you here.

Number Two: The new car that might be a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Brand new car been in the shop 4 times in the first year or 30 days? We might have a winner. This is what I do and I like these calls. Gather up your papers (purchase/lease agreement and all repair orders) and we can talk. If you have a good case I might be able to get the manufacturer to buy your car back or replace it - and they’ll pay my fees on your behalf. Everyone wins!

Third on the list: What about the other stuff? Lemon laws don’t cover RVs, personal water craft, motorcycles,boats and so on. That’s where the Federal Lemon Law (the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Act) comes in. If it’s a consumer product that came with a warranyt, this law covers you. Similar to the lemon law, it allows for you to be able to demand a replacement or a refund - and your attorney fees from the manufacturer.

Next? The mythical !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! To Break Any Contract. This is not something that is real but I do get this call every week or so. No, you do not have the right to break any contract for three days, no questions asked.

Finally, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I have written about this extensively, inspired by how many calls I get on the topic. No, not all mechanics are bad but there are a few bad apples out there. And yes, sometimes consumers expect too much from their mechanics. What? I can’t get these brakes resurfaced when I’ve ground them all the way through? My advice on this one is preventive in nature: Try to find a good mechanic in the first place. Ask around. Word of mouth is what makes or breaks a good mechanic or shop. And when you find one, tell all your friends. Can you sue a mechanic over a faulty repair? Yes, but it’s easier (and better) to find a good one in the first place and avoid the hasssle.

There you go. The Lehto’s Law Episode 40 Summary. Didn’t take me as long as I thought to write it. Now I’ll probably have to do one every week. (He grumbled under his breath.)

Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Hear my podcast on iTunes: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 23 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! He wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

DISCUSSION (55)

jd85 > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:40

I have mixed opinions on making this a transcript. It’s nice of you to do for people who can’t listen to it at work, but ..... I also don’t think the people who were dicks about it should get a transcript (most people were not dicks about it). To spite or not to spite, that is the question.

SteveLehto > jd85
07/17/2015 at 17:44

I CAN’T WIN!

Just kidding. I think the key (in the future) will be for me to do a write up of some sort that accompanies the pod/videocast. As you may have noticed from all the linkage in the piece, I have covered all of this before to varying degrees. And that is often the case. The difference with the podcast is that I can do it more conversationally and emphasize things a little differently.

Thanks for the note. By next week I’ll probably have changed my mind entirely on all of the above).

Future next gen S2000 owner > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:46

Next? The mythical 3-Day Right To Break Any Contract. This is not something that is real but I do get this call every week or so. No, you do not have the right to break any contract for three days, no questions asked.

This varies state to state though, correct? There is no overreaching federal law? When I sold cars in Hawaii, I was told (by the dealership where I worked) there was a 5 day period.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:46

How about more info on the Chrysler Turbine?

SteveLehto > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/17/2015 at 17:47

The closest I’ve heard of is the one in CA where they are required to offer to SELL you the right to do so. But I have yet to see a universal law in any state that applies to all contracts.

SteveLehto > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/17/2015 at 17:48

What do you want to know? I wrote a whole book on them.

skeffles > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:54

I would like to thank you for providing this in transcript form, it is very helpful to me. I have a hearing condition that can make listening to podcasts a tricky thing these days, so being able to read it is great help and lets me manage my health a little better. Thank you for doing so.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:54

Did Jay Leno ever let you take his for a spin?

TheCraigy > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:55

AKA “I am at work and I cannot listen to audio.”

I put it on anyway and think of it as a CLE but without the credit.

Adam Panzica > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:58

That’s typically how Mr. DeMuro does his videos.

SteveLehto > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/17/2015 at 17:58

Yes, he let me drive it.

Kinja'd!!!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:59

Nice! That must have been incredibly satisfying for you

That and the gullwing are the two best things he owns.

Adam Panzica > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 17:59

An example from MA: http://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-r…

When they do exist in a state, they’re generally very limited to specific situations. But yeah, it’s definitely not a federal thing, it’s a state thing.

SteveLehto > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/17/2015 at 18:00

Hard to pick a winner from such a huge collection. The whole visit was priceless.

SteveLehto > Adam Panzica
07/17/2015 at 18:02

Yes, MICH has one: the Home Solicitation Sales Act. Very specific - but people are always calling me about used cars they bought two days earlier.

Thanks for the note.

lx470 > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:02

Thanks for the write up. I would not have listened to the podcast but I enjoy reading what you have to say.

As Long as There is Beer I'm There. > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:02

Sometimes your write baller lawyer things and I’m like “Yea”

and then sometimes you drop these “...I wrote a book on that” bombs and I’ve literally clapped out loud at work.

Mr. Lehto. I love your style.

SteveLehto > As Long as There is Beer I'm There.
07/17/2015 at 18:03

Thanks for the note. I appreciate it.

Adam Panzica > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:04

Oh hey, apparently Edmund’s wrote a whole article on it (was trying to see if any state had one): http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/unw…

There apparently is a federal rule for door-to-door sales, but definitely not automobiles.

As Long as There is Beer I'm There. > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:06

Thanks for being the word of Law, Reason, and Lawful Reasoning.

And For basically doing what we all wish we were doing... which is sitting here reminiscing about every detail of the turbine car.

liam > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:16

Thank you. I can skim read faster than I can listen :-) Either format - I enjoy your material, and am looking forward to hopefully winning a copy of your new book on twitter :-)

OrangeGello > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:19

Thanks for the transcript form! I read your columns during the day at work and streaming is a no-no on the company networks. Besides, we need to be reading more anyways.

DoYouEvenShift > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:29

Always look forward to your posts Steve. Keep up the good work.

fishingWithFredo > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 18:58

The upholstery on my 72 Plymouth Duster smells musty. Who should I sue?

SteveLehto > fishingWithFredo
07/17/2015 at 19:01

That is the 6th Most Common Complaint I hear.

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 19:13

A wise man once told me to get everything in writing ...

andrewsalaxar > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 19:19

How long should someone hold onto original sales paperwork?

SteveLehto > andrewsalaxar
07/17/2015 at 19:29

At least as long as you own the product.

revarthurbelling > liam
07/17/2015 at 19:37

This. I’m the same way with videos. Unless it’s a movie or a tv show I’m watching, I can’t listen to most home-produced videos.

segofl > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 19:55

When Saturn was in business they had a 30 day 1,500 mile money back guarantee. For any reason.

SteveLehto > segofl
07/17/2015 at 20:09

That was contractual though, not by law. How did that work out for them?

greyedpheonix > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 20:32

thanks for the write-up, I have terrible internet being shared between 4 people so it would’ve taken quiote a bit longer than the podcast to pre-load everything before listening.

Duke of Kent > Adam Panzica
07/17/2015 at 20:37

Of course, Mr. Demuro also owns a yellow original Hummer and a 25-year-old car with the steering wheel on the wrong side which he drives backwards through drive-through lines, so I’m not sure he should be held up as a positive example of anything. ;-)

I kid. I kid. I enjoy Doug’s articles and videos but couldn’t resist the cheap shot.

AeroStang > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 20:38

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet! Thank you! I bet downloading that podcast and listening to it would have taken longer than a minute and half, like it did to read this! Any links I should click to support your revenue stream? I don’t want these to take away revenue if it is more so profitable to do videos.

SteveLehto > AeroStang
07/17/2015 at 20:42

Revenue stream? All I ask is that you read and enjoy the piece. Thanks!

AeroStang > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 20:44

Quite literally, my pleasure. I may make you my second twitterer I follow. I’ll have to break my cap of one, but it may be worth it.

SteveLehto > AeroStang
07/17/2015 at 20:51

Now, THAT would make it worthwhile!

imgonnamakeyouloveme > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 21:18

“more than a few people told me they’d really like the podcast to be in written form.”

Hooray! The squeaky wheels have been greased!

Steve in Manhattan > SteveLehto
07/17/2015 at 22:12

One source of a good mechanic is The Mechanix Files at cartalk.com. Punch in your ZIP code, and you get mechanics that Click and Clack’s users have had a good experience with.

slaw > skeffles
07/17/2015 at 22:39

I second this appreciation. Steve, I think there are quite a few of us who would love to be able to watch/listen to your podcast (and not have to make you do extra work!), but for one reason or another are physically unable to. Thanks again for doing this!

ramajastang > Adam Panzica
07/17/2015 at 23:09

Yeah I did door to door sales for an electricity “biller” for a short time (like 3 weeks because I had been laid off a couple months earlier and needed something to have some income until I could get back into a better job) and when we made a sale we always included a cancel form in the back of the welcome book but we just mentioned it casually like “and here’s your welcome pack with all the info about our service and some forms and a cancel form and blah blah blah blah blah”... I wound up quitting because I didn’t like being deceptive just to make a sale which was pretty much the standard.

Maxaxle > SteveLehto
07/18/2015 at 00:33

Kinja'd!!!

“Owls confirmed for common customer complaint.”

-Someone who didn’t listen to the podcast, watch the video, or read this article.

smartsunknown > SteveLehto
07/18/2015 at 02:57

I like reading your posts, but your knowledge of Michigan law is most helpful to Michiganians. Varying state laws make giving specific legal advice tricky. Is there a limit to the number of states that a lone attorney may bar and practice in? Has there ever been an attorney with the memory and ability to practice in 20, 30, 40+ states? I imagine that memorizing laws from 20+ states, and not mixing them up, would be difficult (seems like you’d have to be some sort of super lawyer, e.g., have a photographic memory or be a speed reader). What do you think?

Whitesmoke > SteveLehto
07/18/2015 at 06:38

You are correct Steve - you can’t win. But just think, if everybody agreed with everybody else your “day job” would cease to exist. Feel better already, don’t you? And to think I came here to post a strongly worded complaint about no mime and/or hand puppet version of your podcast.

SteveLehto > smartsunknown
07/18/2015 at 07:13

I have often wondered about that (the most-licensed lawyer) but I do not know.

The thing is that law comes from a few different places and much of it overlaps. Common law, for instance. Fraud in one state will look a lot like fraud in another state. And statutes are often similar. The lemon laws of all 50 states look a lot alike as well, with the primary difference being the number of days down or repair attempts required.

If it’s a scam in MICH, it’s likely a scam in another state. Think about it and then do a quick google search of the idea where you are. Or, call a local attorney. As noted, we have telephones and know how to use them.

SteveLehto > Whitesmoke
07/18/2015 at 07:15

The only other version I will consider is the Aldis lamp, in Morse Code.

Resolute Blue > imgonnamakeyouloveme
07/18/2015 at 08:12

Obligatory:

Kinja'd!!!

Whitesmoke > SteveLehto
07/18/2015 at 08:22

—- -.-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91_jym…

Cebu > SteveLehto
07/18/2015 at 10:35

What’s the story behind the low-flying owls sign?

SteveLehto > Cebu
07/18/2015 at 10:45

It’s a real sign. The locals noticed that a lot of owls were being hit by cars in one stretch of road. They figured if people would just slow down a little at night it might help. I don’t know if it is helping since they apparently put the sign up recently.

JW > smartsunknown
07/18/2015 at 14:19

“Is there a limit to the number of states that a lone attorney may bar and practice in?”

When I took bar prep in 2006, the instructor for one of the classes said he had passed the bar for 40-s0me states — he was a semi-retired law professor who travelled the country teaching prep. He said only one state so far had refused to let him take the bar, on the grounds he wouldn’t actually be practicing there.

denube > TheCraigy
07/18/2015 at 16:45

Or somebody might have a hearing impediment. Hearing aids don’t fix the problem, all they do is amplify sounds to hopefully give someone a chance at making out what was being said, but they don’t work as well as we would all hope.

staghounds > SteveLehto
07/20/2015 at 13:12

People would complain even if they bought from this advert-

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

CAVEAT EMPTOR - the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

This vehicle will be sold ‘’AS-IS’’. No guaranty or warranty of any kind. As this is essentially offered as ‘’wholesale’’ to the public and has not been inspected or reconditioned, as such the vehicle may not be test driven as there may be safety issues. If you are knowledgeable and will to accept the risk as a professional car buyer would, this potentially represents a high value transaction. If you would prefer a vehicle that has been through our reconditioning process, we have a wide selection of vehicles on www.kinneymotors.com.

All used vehicles are offered for sale as-is unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to change. Kinney Motors Ltd is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. Prices do not include sales tax (based on registration address), registration, title fees, and $291 documentation fee. All finance offers are subject to credit approval.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > SteveLehto
10/02/2015 at 16:31

Hey Steve! I’m a little behind on Jalopnik articles so you might have covered this by some random chance or I’ve missed it already!

Here’s my question: You’re a lawyer specializing in lemon law (is lemon law lawyer acceptable?), you protect consumers from defective goods. Have you ever been criticized or been made to look like the bad guy? Example: “This guy gets his paychecks from the auto manufacturers! He’s clearly in the business to just make money off of them!”

SteveLehto > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
10/02/2015 at 17:16

I hear it all the time. Primarily from attorneys who work for the car companies.