Consumer Alert
Military consumers: The FTC wants to hear from you
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Recently, the White House announced some initiatives the Administration is undertaking to improve the lives of the military and veteran communities. The FTC participates in several of these efforts, including the VSAFE task force that’s working to help veterans and their families avoid scams and other deceptive practices.
Some of those deceptive practices relate to the car-buying process. Over the past few years, the FTC has highlighted some of the challenges and confusion you might face in buying and financing a car — including figuring out charges for add-on items after the initial price negotiation — that can lead to paying more than you expected.
How does that relate to the military and veteran communities? Well, military consumers’ reports to the FTC put auto-related reports in that group’s top ten issues (along with identity theft).
Because the FTC is always interested in hearing about the experiences of servicemembers, veterans, and military families, especially when it relates to such a vital purchase, we’re asking you to share your story. What has your experience been when buying a vehicle? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.
Thank you for all your information I work with our PD and Senior services to pass on all the info
Again thank you
Richard
In reply to Thank you for all your… by richard dziewit
Yes ma'am thank you
I am a disabled Veteran and am constantly solicited by mail and phone.
The state of wyoming has a policy of selling citizens information at all levels of government. Veterans and especially us DISABLED VETERANS are choice targets!
The Veterans Administration does the very same along with the Veterans Groups.
IT MUST STOP!!!
In reply to I am a disabled Veteran and… by M DV
this is not true
I have had several emails from Amazon about returning a belt bag I ordered months ago. Thosr emails have a DO NOT REPLY attachment at the bottom of the screen.
I DID RETURN the item and an Amazon advocate confirmed their receipt of it by a "chat" online. is this a scam?
My late husband (Navy) and I (Navy) have never had any difficulty buying a car. However, for the most part we being retired never came up that we were military until we had the sticker on the car, but once that was removed we still never had a problem --we bought from reputable dealers.
I served in the British Army what is my classification?
Hello I'm really looking forward to buying the right car that's for me I haven't purchased a vehicle just yet I'm really trying to stay in a budget bc I haven't seen any funding to be able to manage or maintain a vehicle yet also if there is a vehicle that would be reasonable and in my price range I'll be so happy to maintain it I'm really trying hard to stay away from scammers websites and doing a lot of research so scammers can't scam or steal anything else from me it's very hard putting self on track time and efforts is worth not getting scammed
great idea.
I've had the add on scam when buying a used car. the dealer tried to add on services that had already been done on the car by previously. eg. paint sealant that had already been applied and they had no intention on re applying the coating if that was even possible. extra manufacturer insurance.
Apartment office provided my rent/ utilities bills on Nov 30. Demanding full payment the next day! What about some time to be able to budget and or pay ?
Bob Hopcraft (husband). We paid cash for a 2014 Chevy p/u truck. We were treated with respect and dignity, by Burien Chevrolet in Burien WA
About one month later we received a letter of denial to finance the p/u??? Burien Chevrolet said it was the highest credit score they'd ever seen when they checked out credit report. Did NOT appreciate the denial.
My car unfortunately is a tote the note AS is ok due to my recent financial bind I am unable to pay the full car note and the balance is 2000.00 originally 16,000.00 I really want the balance charged off due to repairs and my current financial difficulties
My father was receiving aid and attendance from the VA. The Judge in Hancock County In ordered me and my husband to give four woman those benefits including the back pay. He circumvented these benefits.
Is this a scam of a program I had my father signed up for? I even used Anna Howard a certified VA benefit lawyer. She said, this Judge circumvented the benefits and that is not allowed.
I am beginning to believe this is some kind of scam of a program. This has to be a deceptive program. The VA sends aid and attendance money but fails to say the Veteran is not allowed to use any of the money not even allowed to pay for his funeral with the back pay.