GM, Chrysler say slashing dealerships necessary

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By KEN THOMAS and TOM RAUM

 
WASHINGTON -The chiefs of General Motors  and Chrysler told Congress on Wednesday they have too many dealers to support their slimmed down operations and sacrifices must be shared as they fight to overcome bankruptcy and survive. They acknowledged that slashing dealerships is causing pain in communities around the country.
 
GM is aiming for "fewer, stronger brands as well as fewer, stronger dealers," GM President Fritz Henderson said in testimony prepared for the Senate Commerce Committee. "These are tough times for everyone in the GM family."
 
Chrysler President James Press told the panel in prepared remarks: "Poor performing dealers cost us customers...If they don't sell cars, we don't either."
 
Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., suggested both companies were abandoning customers and dealers, some of whose families have been in the business for decades.
 
"I don't believe that companies should be allowed to take taxpayer funds for a bailout and then leave local dealers and their customers to fend for themselves with no real plan, no real notice and no real help," Rockefeller told the automakers. "That is just plain wrong."
 
Those dealers "are looking into a black hole right now," while companies seem to be implying "that the dealers themselves are responsible for the companies' problems," Rockefeller said.
More than 2,700 dealerships are in line to lose their franchise. Two small-town dealers invited to appear before the committee spoke of the anguish ahead.
 
Russell Whatley, a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealer in Mineral Wells, Texas, said his grandfather opened the business in 1919. "A 90-year investment is just gone," he said, "and neither my family nor my employees have any say about it."
 
Peter Lopez, a GM and Chrysler dealer in Spencer, W.Va., said in his prepared testimony: "I have met every financial obligation put forth by Chrysler and GM." Now, he said, "they want to shut me down."
 
"I'm a taxpayer," he said, "and they're (automakers) getting taxpayer dollars. It just doesn't add up."
 
The executives of the struggling companies said there are too many dealers, with many often competing with each other for sales. They suggested many of the dealerships date to the 1940s and 1950s, when motorists lived farther apart and Detroit automakers led the world in sales.
 
After hemorrhaging customers for decades and losing market share to foreign competitors, the two automakers said their companies need to scale back all their operations to become leaner and to hopefully return to profitability.
 
Chrysler is expected to emerge from bankruptcy protection within the next few days. General Motors filed for Chapter 11 protection on Monday and its officials said they hope to be able to emerge as a new company in 60-90 days.
 
Lawmakers contend the dealership closings will put thousands of people out of work and offer few savings to GM or Chrysler, which have received billions in federal aid as they attempt to restructure and return to profitability. The industry, in response, says taxpayers' investment is best protected by shedding unprofitable operations and strengthening the bottom line as fast as possible.
 
"It's not our place to change your decision," Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told the auto executives. "But it is our place...to make sure that everyone is treated as well as can be in these circumstances."
 
Chrysler LLC has identified 789 dealerships it plans to close next week, about a quarter of the company's dealership network. Its plan has drawn fire from lawmakers because dealers received only three weeks' notice.
 
General Motors told 1,100 dealerships it does not plan to renew their franchise agreements in late 2010 and expects to shed an additional 900 dealerships through attrition and by selling or discontinuing its Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn brands.
 
Chrysler dealers have only until June 9 to close down. "That termination date is needed to ensure that our new dealership structure will be firmly in place at or about the time the new company is formed with Fiat, something understandably important to Fiat," Press said.
Chrysler says its departing dealerships have resold or redistributed about 90 percent of their inventory and parts through a company program. But dealers being let go want the Obama administration to give them more time.
 
"We have an eight-month supply of vehicles and only three weeks to clear them out," Whatley told the committee.
 
GM said the dealers it's not renewing are being given until October 2010 to close.
 
Meanwhile, a group of Republicans distressed by the Obama administration's temporary nationalization of GM is proposing that congressional approval be required before money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program is used to buy a stake in a company.
 
The lawmakers complained that Congress had no opportunity to review the Obama administration's decision to take a 60 percent ownership of GM.
 
"General Motors needed a real bankruptcy, not a political bankruptcy," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.
 
"We end up owning 60 percent of the stock and not a single vote was cast on that plan," said Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb. Johanns said the amendment, which they hope to consider Thursday, would apply to any money provided after May 29.
 
The third Detroit automaker, Ford Motor  Corp., has not filed for bankruptcy protection and has not taken any federal bailout money. It has also not announced widespread dealership closings.
 
Car dealers are a potent political force, contributing more than $9 million to federal candidates for the 2008 elections.
--
Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this report.

Appeals Court Halts Chrysler Sale

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By BREE FOWLER

 
NEW YORK (June 3) - A federal appeals court late Tuesday halted Chrysler's sale of the bulk of its assets to Italy's Fiat pending an appeal by a trio of Indiana state pension and construction funds.
 
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear arguments in the case Friday afternoon in New York, according to the Indiana treasurer's office. Chrysler LLC had hoped to close the sale by the end of week, pending regulatory approval.
 
"We are pleased the Court of Appeals has agreed to hear our arguments," Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock said in a statement. "As we have stated from the beginning, Indiana retirees and Indiana taxpayers have suffered losses because of unprecedented and illegal acts of the federal government."
Chrysler has maintained that the deal with Fiat Group SpA is its only hope of avoiding selling itself off piece by piece. If the sale doesn't close by June 15, Fiat has the option of pulling out of the deal.
 
But the funds, which include the Indiana State Police Pension Fund, the Indiana Teacher's Retirement Fund, and the state's Major Moves Construction Fund, claimed that the deal as structured unfairly favors the interests of the company's unsecured stakeholders ahead of those of secured debtholders such as themselves.
 
They also challenged the constitutionality of the federal Treasury Department's use of Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, funds to supply Chrysler's bankruptcy protection financing.
 
Late Sunday, U.S. Judge Arthur Gonzalez, the bankruptcy judge overseeing Chrysler's case, issued a ruling approving the sale following three marathon days of testimony and arguments. Gonzalez also ruled that the funds do not have standing to challenge the use of TARP money because they will receive their fair share of the $2 billion set aside for secured debtholders, which is more than they would have received if Chrysler had liquidated.
 
Under the terms of the agreement, a United Auto Workers union retiree health care trust will receive a 55 percent stake in the new company, while Fiat will get a 20 percent stake that can increase to 35 percent. The remaining 10 percent of the company will be owned by the U.S. and Canadian governments.
 
In the days leading up to Chrysler's Chapter 11 filing, the automaker struck a deal with the majority of secured lenders to give them $2 billion in cash, or 29 cents on the dollar, to erase the $6.9 billion in debt. But some of the debtholders balked and the automaker was forced to file for bankruptcy protection on April 30.
 
The Indiana funds hold $42.5 million, or about 1 percent, of Chrysler's total $6.9 billion in secured debt. They bought the debt in July 2008 for 43 cents on the dollar.
 
Separately on Wednesday, a hearing on Chrysler's request to terminate the franchises of 789, or about 25 percent, of its dealers as part of its restructuring plan was pushed back by a day to Thursday.
 
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

GM prepares for bankruptcy protection announcement

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DETROIT - With the clock ticking on June 1 government deadline to restructure, General Motors Corp. worked feverishly Sunday to shore up its global businesses to clear the way for a speedy reorganization in bankruptcy court.

A majority of the Detroit automaker's unsecured bondholders announced they had accepted a deal viewed as crucial to reorganization, and Germany agreed to loan $2 billion to GM's German unit, Opel, as part of its acquisition by a Canadian auto parts supplier.

The moves don't change much for GM, but shore it up for a bankruptcy protection filing, said Rebecca Lindland, an auto analyst for the consulting firm IHS Global Insight.

"The more agreements GM has with its interests, the better the bankruptcy is going to go," she said. "It's not a game changer at all."

GM, part of American life for more than 100 years and once the country's largest employer, is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection before the markets open Monday. It would be the largest industrial bankruptcy in U.S. history, and the fourth-largest overall.

In addition, a GM bankruptcy would be unprecedented as the federal government would pump billions more into the company, and take a 72.5 percent interest in the automaker.

On Sunday a group of large, institutional bondholders, representing 54 percent of GM bondholders, agreed to exchange their unsecured bonds for a 10 percent stake in a newly restructured company, plus warrants to purchase a greater share later. They had balked at an earlier offer, that gave them 10 percent of the company without the warrants.

The Treasury, which has been guiding the Detroit automaker toward a rescue plan, notified the company Sunday the response was sufficient to move forward with a pre-packaged bankruptcy filing. In a previous exchange offer, the Treasury demanded participation of 90 percent of bondholders, representing unsecured debt of $24 billion.

Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson has scheduled a news conference Monday morning in New York. President Barack Obama is also expected to give a speech addressing the Detroit automaker's future shortly before noon. Henderson's conference is expected to follow the president's remarks.

GM already has received about $20 billion in government loans and could get $30 billion more to make it through what is expected to be a 60- to 90-day reorganization in bankruptcy court.

Beyond the bankruptcy announcement Monday, GM is expected to reveal 14 plants it intends to close and name the buyer of its Hummer division.

In Germany on Sunday, the government agreed to loan GM's Opel unit $2.1 billion, a move necessary for Magna International Inc. to acquire the company.

The Canadian auto parts supplier Magna will take a 20 percent stake in Opel and Russian-owned Sberbank will take a 35 percent, giving the two businesses a majority. GM retains 35 percent of Opel, with the remaining 10 percent going to employees.

The German funds are available to Opel immediately, as it attempts to shield itself from cuts if GM files for bankruptcy protection. Opel employs 25,000 people in Germany, nearly half of GM Europe's work force. Under the deal, four factories in Germany would stay open saving jobs.

But jobs in other European countries may not be safe, Lindland said.

"As those (German) jobs are becoming protected, other jobs in other parts of Europe are put at risk," she said.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was traveling to China, followed the developments closely. The Treasury on Thursday offered bondholders 10 percent of a newly formed GM's stock, plus warrants to buy 15 percent more to erase the debt. Last week, GM withdrew an offer of 10 percent equity after only 15 percent of the thousands of bondholders signed up.

The current 54 percent acceptance represents only $14.6 billion, but by lining up support in advance of a bankruptcy protection filing, GM is likely to find it easier to persuade a judge to apply terms of the sweetened offer to the rest of its unsecured debt.

It could also help the automaker get through the court process more quickly, said Robert Gordon, head of the corporate restructuring and bankruptcy group at Clark Hill PLC in Detroit.

"The more consensus you have, the more likely it is you'll be able to move through the bankruptcy process in an expeditious fashion with less resistance," Gordon said.

The company made a huge stride toward restructuring Friday when the United Auto Workers union agreed to a cost-cutting deal.

GM's fate and the federal government's intervention was scrutinized on several Sunday morning talk shows.

"I think the government auto bailout was a big mistake," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on CNN's "State of the Union" program. "We could have let these companies go through the bankruptcy process much earlier...without all of the additional government money, and ended up in the same place."

In a typical Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, the company files a plan of reorganization that must be voted on by creditors. In each class of creditors, the plan would have to be approved by holders of two-thirds of the claims and a majority of the number of individual creditors who vote.

But the GM case is anything but ordinary, and it appears the company will sell some or all of its assets to a new entity that would become the new GM, rather than submit a plan to reorganize the old company.

Under a so-called Section 363 sale, the prospective buyer and seller present a fully negotiated asset purchase agreement for approval by the court.

Creditors still can lodge objections, but GM could avoid the drawn-out fights between competing creditors, such as bondholders and workers, that often occur.

Chrysler LLC, which filed for bankruptcy protection April 30, chose a similar path. A judge heard three days of testimony and arguments last week over the sale of most of Chrysler's assets to Italian carmaker Fiat Group SpA.

U.S. Judge Arthur Gonzalez is expected to approve the sale Monday, pushing Chrysler closer to its goal of a speedy exit from bankruptcy protection. But an appeal is likely from three Indiana state pension and construction funds, which invested in Chrysler debt and say the deal isn't fair. That may force Chrysler to further postpone the deal's closing.

GM's stock tumbled to the lowest price in the company's 100-year history on Friday, closing at just 75 cents after trading as low as 74 cents. In a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, the shares would become virtually worthless.

___

AP Business Writer Harry R. Weber in Atlanta and Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report.

Bankruptcy Near, a New GM Emerging

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DETROIT (May 30) - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.S. and rid itself of the biggest.
As GM's board began two days of meetings Friday to make a final decision on the company's fate, its main union overwhelmingly approved dramatic labor cost cuts. Germany's finance minister said a plan was approved for Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. to rescue GM's European Opel unit. And a deal to sell GM's rugged but inefficient Hummer brand also appeared on the horizon.
The moves provided more clues about what a restructured GM might look like ahead of the expected Chapter 11 filing Monday. Taxpayers will eventually own nearly three-quarters of a leaner GM, with a total government commitment of nearly $50 billion.
GM has yet to confirm it will seek bankruptcy protection but scheduled a news conference for Monday in New York.
With the government's backing and nearly $20 billion in U.S. loans so far, the company has made more dramatic changes in just a few days than it has in decades.
"It's been coming to a head for a very long time," said Aaron Bragman, an analyst for the consulting firm IHS Global Insight. "But in just the past few months we've really seen steps being taken to completely and dramatically change the face of American auto manufacturing."
GM said it plans to reopen a shuttered U.S. factory to build subcompact cars. The retooled factory would be able to build 160,000 cars a year and create 1,200 jobs, offsetting some of the 21,000 that will be lost when GM closes 14 factories by the end of next year.
GM's stock tumbled to the lowest price in the company's 100-year history, closing at just 75 cents after trading as low as 74 cents. The government plan for GM revealed Thursday would make the shares virtually worthless.
The United Auto Workers' reluctant but overwhelming ratification of concessions will save GM $1.3 billion per year and bring its labor costs down to those of its Japanese competitors. The new UAW deal freezes wages, ends bonuses and eliminates some noncompetitive work rules.
The changes, plus others that will be worked out in court, will shrink GM and position it to be among the world's most competitive automakers if it can emerge from bankruptcy protection and survive the global auto sales slump, Bragman said.
"They've eliminated their legacy costs. They've already invested in new product that's coming. They have the ear of the government unlike any time in their history, and the government has said basically 'we are going to help you survive and thrive,'" Bragman said.
GM is banking on more demand for smaller cars previously shunned by Americans. The government decided earlier this month to raise fuel economy standards for the entire U.S. fleet by 2016.
The new standards were one of the biggest factors in GM's announcement to build subcompacts in the U.S. rather than in China, said a person familiar with GM's plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the plans.
Chrysler LLC, already in bankruptcy protection, is banking on the same thing. It wants to sell all its assets to Fiat Group SpA so the Italian automaker can start building its sophisticated small cars on this side of the ocean.
The strategy is still a big gamble. Americans have opted for bigger cars and trucks, with the exception of last summer, when gas topped $4 per gallon. GM and Chrysler hope people will spend more for better-equipped subcompacts with more luxurious interiors and performance that rivals the best luxury sedans.
Smaller costs after bankruptcy should help the companies make money even though compact cars carry far smaller profit margins than pricey SUVs. But there remains a risk that gas prices will remain low and the cars won't sell, blowing up the automakers' new business models.
The UAW deal moves billions in retiree health care costs off GM's books, giving a union-run retiree health care trust 17.5 percent ownership of a post-bankruptcy GM. The trust will take on health care costs for retirees next year. Higher health care costs alone account for a $1,500-per-car cost gap between GM and Japanese vehicles.
But just cutting labor costs won't be enough to save the company. It also has been working to streamline its engineering and design, as well as standardize many parts so they can go into multiple models.
"They've already made huge progress," said Laurie Harbour-Felax, president of a consulting company that studies competitive cost differences between automakers. "The problem is you can't see that because revenue died, because nobody's buying cars."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-05-29 18:00:37

Douglas McIntyre

Chrysler has said it will close 789 of its dealers, which is about 25 percent of the entire network. The cost of maintaining the delivery network and marketing for so many locations is not feasible now that the No. 3 US car company sells so few vehicles, in some months a mere 40 percent of what it sold last year. The shuttering of the dealers will cost the economy thousands of jobs and may hurt the firm's sales by eliminating locations that handle sales and service for parts of the current Chrysler customer base.

Now, Chrysler is hinting that if it cannot close a deal to sell a large part of its assets to Fiat, it may not be able to keep any dealers at all. Chrysler executive warns in a statement that, "If the sale to Fiat is not approved by the Bankruptcy Court, the stark reality is all 3,181 dealers will face elimination."'

The action seems improbably because Chrysler could not operate without a dealer network. The statement may even be a prod to hasten the bankruptcy court's activity and Fiat's work to finalize a deal.

But the statement is, at the very least, an indication that Chrysler's future as a viable operating company may be in jeopardy. and that the government's Chapter 11 plan is flawed.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

GMAC: Government to get into car loan business

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Douglas McIntyre

The government figures that if car loans are scarce, car buyers will stay on the sidelines. To remedy this it will inject $7 billion into GMAC Financial Services, which finances GM (GM) and Chrysler auto loans. Based on the company's needs it could get an additional $7 billion.

Whether the government is right in its assessment of the car loan industry is hard to tell. Scores of banks also provide lending for the industry. No one knows for certain whether these banks would take up the slack if GMAC disappeared.

As the government hedges its bets to keep money flowing to car buyers, the question is whether access to credit will help revive the industry. Americans have become wary about taking on debt of any kind, even under attractive terms.

According to Bloomberg, "With GM facing possible bankruptcy following Chrysler's filing, the companies want a lender offering lower rates and flexible terms for borrowers to compete with Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp."

Taxpayers should be concerned that the federal government is putting money into yet one more company where the return is uncertain. If the auto industry does not recover to the level of sales that it had four years ago, GMAC may have trouble making money. The only benefit to taxpayers is that they can get car loans that they do not want.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

 

By Drew Johnson

 
Chrysler's Chapter 11 bankruptcy is already having an impact on the automaker's resale values, but those unlucky enough to be stuck with a Chrysler-made lemon are suffering even worse. Despite lemon laws intended to protect consumers, those with defective Chrysler products are getting nothing as the automaker fights through bankruptcy court.

Lemon laws are intended to protect consumers from vehicles that are inherently flawed - typically defined as vehicles that can't be repaired after four attempts or have been out of service for more than 30-days during a warranty period - but Chrysler hasn't been holding up its end of the deal since its April 30th bankruptcy filing. Any lemon claims against Chrysler must now go through bankruptcy court, with several of the automaker's already cut lemon checks bouncing.

Lemon law attorney Alex Simanovsky told the Los Angeles Times he has "a stack of six or seven checks" in his drawer right now from Chrysler that have bounced. Lemon law settlements can range from as little as $2,000 all the way up to the value of a new car -- $40,000 or more in some cases.

Despite the obvious problem, Chrysler says it isn't doing anything to remedy the situation. "This is a complex process and there are a lot of issues being discussed," Chrysler spokesman Mike Palese told the LA Times. "This could be one of those issues that comes up in the course of the bankruptcy, but I can't say that we have any plans to present it at this time."

Simanovsky says Chrysler lemon owners will be "lucky to get pennies on the dollar." In some cases, consumers have already returned their Chrysler product but have received nothing back, leaving them without a car or the money to purchase a new one.

Chrysler Ignores Lemon Laws While in Bankruptcy

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Of the many hurdles involved with Chrysler's bankruptcy, lemon law repayments have so far taken a backseat, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Buyers with defective vehicles that are still under warranty can't get cash settlements. If they have them, the checks bounce.

This has created a brewing consumer-confidence problem for Chrysler at exactly the wrong time. Most state lemon laws give car buyers the right to lodge complaints if a vehicle cannot be fixed. For instance, in California, if a defect cannot be repaired after four attempts (or two, if the malfunction could endanger lives), the owner can ask for a cash payment or for the automaker to buy back the vehicle. If an automaker refuses, the individual can sue.

Now, buyers who have put the lemon law to use are standing in line behind the rest of Chrysler's unsecured creditors. Chrysler has acknowledged the problem but has not asked for permission to pay the debts. For now, owners of lemon Chryslers can appeal to the bankruptcy judge, but lawyers involved with lemon law suits do not seem optimistic about the prospect of full settlements.

This means former Chrysler owners could be holding checks ranging from $2,000 cash payments to $40,000 buybacks that are at best worth pennies on the dollar and at worst worth nothing.

 

Chrysler Allegedly Bouncing Lemon Law Checks

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Posted: May. 19, 2009 11:05 a.m.

 

If Americans weren't already reluctant to buy from an automaker in bankruptcy protection, this won't help.

The Los Angeles Times reports, "Chrysler's bankruptcy is throwing a wrench into California's lemon law, which is intended to make it easier for consumers to get refunds for defective vehicles. As the automaker's bankruptcy grinds away, settlement checks from Chrysler to unhappy car buyers are bouncing and complaints are stymied in and out of court."

According to the Times, California's lemon law, like those of most states, allows consumers to return vehicles for a full refund under certain circumstances. In California, the manufacture is allowed four attempts to repair a defect - or two, if the defect is considered life-threatening.  If the defect still exists after that, the manufacturer must buy the car back.  The law also requires automakers to buy back a car that has been out of service for 30 days during its warranty period, due to a covered defect. 

In California, Autoblog reports, "settlement checks for Chrysler vehicles that have already been agreed upon as defective are apparently bouncing, costing already irked consumers additional time and money."  Some buyers have attempted to take the company to court, but Chrysler's bankrupt status complicates that process.  Autoblog notes, "Chrysler is telling customers with lemon law claims to get in line - by filing a claim with the courts, in effect joining the automakers other unsecured creditors seeking payment. In that scenario, however, defective car owners aren't expected to see much more than 'pennies on the dollar.'"

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.

Understanding The Texas Lemon Law

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By:  Terry Dunn

 

Contrary to what its name suggests, the Texas Lemon Law is not a legislation that deals with the buying and selling of fruits or rule against its bright color.

It does not even come close.

Rather it involves the right of American consumers, who buy vehicles, used or brand new, cars or trucks, to return defective products and ask for a refund.

Along with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Uniform Commercial Code, the Texas Lemon Law or Lemon Law in general protects the rights of American citizens to quality products that would give them value for their money.

In general, the Lemon Law requires car manufacturers and not car dealers to refund the money a consumer has paid for if a car is found to be a "lemon." The definition of a "lemon car" is of course different with every state depending on what the state legislation says. Usually, states differ in their definition of what a "lemon" car is and the period of warranty that is given to the consumer.

The Texas Lemon Law, for one, allows for four repair attempts or 30 days out of service for defects that are not so life-threatening. For serious product defects that pose a serious safety hazard such as problems in the steering wheel or in the brake, the Texas Lemon Law allows for only two repair attempts. If after the stated number of repair attempts, the defects have not been fixed, then a car will considered a "lemon" and therefore eligible for refund. The repair attempts under the Texas Lemon Law should of course happen within a period of two years or 24,000 miles whichever comes first for the four attempts. A period of one year or 12,000 miles is given to defects that affect the safety of the car.

Similar to other state laws, the Texas Lemon Law also requires consumers to have their cars fixed in authorized service centers and to make no unauthorized modification or alterations in the car. This is done to avoid questions that will be raised by manufacturer as they are accorded the right to investigate and challenge the claim. If the defect has been found to be caused by neglect, abuse and alterations not sanctioned by the manufacturer then no refunds will be given.

Consumers, under the Texas Lemon Law, are also asked to put their complaint into writing, stating the defects of the car. This is especially needed if it is stated in the vehicle's manual. Supporting documents should be kept in hand such as receipt of the purchase, which would state when the car was bought, repair receipts as well as diagnosis of the problem.

In addition to refunding the money, the Texas Lemon Law may also invoke the manufacturer to pay for incidental costs that the consumer has incurred due to the defect in question such as towing services and even rental of car while the "lemon" is still in the repair shop. Refunds will also not be given in full. Under the Texas Lemon Law, the purchase price will be lessened by the equivalent amount of the mileage that the owner has used the car.

While most companies have good arbitration programs which they use to cut down legal costs just in case the complaint goes to court, there are some car manufacturers who will remain firm that the defect was not there when you bought the car. If this happens, complainants are encouraged to seek legal counsel

.

About The Author Terry Dunn is webmaster of http://www.Lemon-Law-Explained.com - an informational resource that explains what Lemon Laws are and how they can help you.






 
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