AG Ferguson, Rep. Hackney partner to expand protections for used … – atg.wa.gov
5 min readBetween January 2021 and July 2022, 557 Washingtonians filed complaints to the Attorney General’s Office regarding used car sales — an average of approximately one complaint per day
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that he is partnering with Rep. David Hackney, D-Tukwila, on legislation to create an unwaivable warranty for used car purchases. Current Washington law affords consumers few consumer protecti.......
Between January 2021 and July 2022, 557 Washingtonians filed grievances to the Lawyer Widespread’s Office relating to used automotive gross sales — A imply Of roughly one grievance per day
OLYMPIA — Lawyer Widespread Bob Ferguson introduced That He is partnering with Rep. David Hackney, D-Tukwila, on legal guidelines to create an unwaivable guarantee for used automotive buys. Current Washington regulation affords consumers few shopper shieldions for used automotives that break down shortly after buy — typically referred to as “lemons” — As in contrast with new automotive buys. This disparity disproportionately impacts communities of colour And dealing Washington househpreviouss.
Ferguson’s and Hackney’s proposal shields Washington used automotive consumers. When used automotives break down or malfunction shortly after buy, Washingtonians Might have The biggest to a full refund, or the supplier should cowl A lot of The prices of mechanical restores.
The Used Motor Automobiles Categorical Warranties Act, HB 1184, will cowl cars on a sliding scale Counting on the Quantity of miles That are on the odometer at buy. For event, cars with 40,000 miles or much less Might have 90 days or 3,750 miles of cowlage relying which number the automotive buyr hits first. Between 40,000 to 79,999 miles the cowlage Is restricted to 60 days or 2,500 miles. Between 80,000 to 124,999 miles the cowlage Is restricted to 30 days or 1,250 miles. Automobiles with over 125,000 miles would Have not any guarantee shieldions.
Consumers Might have their out-of-pocket funds capped at $200 for restore prices if their car breaks down shortly after buy.
Between January 2021 and July 2022, 557 Washingtonians filed grievances to the Lawyer Widespread’s Office in the direction of used automotive sellers — A imply Of roughly one grievance per day. One Washington shopper wrote: “The car Isn’t pretty shielded and has primary factors. Please assist me recuperate my peace. I simply want them to do what’s proper.”
Further shopper grievances Might be found On this report from the Lawyer Widespread’s Office.
“That is Amongst The numerous prime grievances my office receives from consumers,” Ferguson said. “It is time To restore this regulation and shield Washingtonians.”
“It solely takes driving on I-5 at rush hour To know What number of Washingtonians are out on the roads on A daily basis — commuting to work, dropping their youngsters At school, making a run to the grocery retailer, going to A doctor’s appointment And a lot extra,” Rep. Hackney said. “People Rely upon their automotives and deserve greater than falling prey to mismain practices, main them to unknowingly waive their shopper shieldions. By strengthening these shieldions and clarifying the regulation, We’d assist Make constructive that Washington consumers are dealt with extra pretty when buying for a used automotive.”
Information report conagencyed Need to shield used automotive consumers
KIRO reporter Jesse Jones first coated The want for this regulation in a Might 2022 report that highmilded the story of a used automotive buyr who paid Higher than $13,700 for a sedan that wanted An additional $3,900 in mechanical work.
Definitely one of many few shopper shieldions for used automotives in current regulation — the implied guarantee of merchantability — presents restricted shieldions to consumers who Know it. Consumers report circumstances of automotive sellers requiring them to waive their shieldions beneath this implied guarantee. Inside the KIRO story, The particular person interviewed said this waiver was in a stack of papers he signed when he purchased the car however he Did not see the wording on the doc as he signed it.
The invoice applies to automotives That are Decrease than 20 years previous and have Decrease than 125,000 miles. The mannequin new regulation requires auto sellers To present The identical restricted guarantee. Dealers can’t ask consumers to waive this guarantee.
If an auto supplier can’t repair the automotive after three makes an try, It is going to refund The worth of The acquisition minus a small mileage payment. Further, if a used automotive is out of service for An complete of 45 days then the auto supplier additionally should refund The worth of The acquisition.
Any auto sellers who violate the new regulation face penalties beneath the state Consumer Safety Act of As a lot as $7,500 per violation.
By passing this legal guidelines, Washington Can be a part of Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico and Ny among states with comparable authorized shieldions for used automotive buys.
Completely different consumers’ used automotive grievances to the Lawyer Widespread’s Office
The subsequent is a sampling of grievances submitted to the Lawyer Widespread’s Office:
A automotive buyr in Olympia purchased a car in March 2022 To assist her handle having two jobs and two youngsters. In her grievance, she reported that the automotive wanted most of its fluids changed by July 2022 and would “spit out gasoline.” Finally, the automotive broke down in early July 2022 and wanted an engine alternative. She ended her grievance by writing, “I can’t understand why [the supplier] would promote a automotive off the lot like this to A woman with two youngsters. I took the automotive An excellent deal of events To purpose To restore issues on the automotive, not as quickly as did work to it. My largest grievance is being how a lot I’ve additionally put aside into this automotive making an try To Search out out what was incorrect, simply to be left with nothing.”
A automotive buyr in Richland had factors with an overheating engine in July 2022 and the look at engine mild Approaching within two days of his truck buy. The buyr left the truck with the supplier as a Outcome of he Did not really paymentl shielded having his spouse or youngsters in it. After ready a number of days for restores, he acquired the car again Neverthemuch less the look at engine mild was nonethemuch less on and the car all of a sudden turned off, leaving his househprevious stranded. He wrote, “The car Isn’t pretty shielded and has primary factors. Please assist me recuperate my peace. I simply want them to do what’s proper.”
A automotive buyr in Wenatchee complained that in July 2022 the car had factors with spark plugs They typically spent roughly $3,000 in restores. The client wrote, “I owe $18,000 on the automotive nonethemuch less and it’s blown after 3 months … My guarantee for the automotive gained’t cowl the work to be carried out.” The client wrote the supplier “gained’t assist me out And that i’m at a full loss.”
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