The Lemon Laws are there to protect you but the one thing you normally don't want to have to do is actually use them, because that means you've gone and bought yourself a 'bad one'. You don't normally count the odd squeaks and rattles because they're just fair wear and tear, but if you are suffering from major vehicle defects, such as with the engine, drive axle, brakes, steering or radiator, then you will want to start keeping a paper trail because you've probably landed yourself with a lemon.
As always in these situations, check your warranty first. Don't attack the manufacturer right away but give them an opportunity to put things right, and give them adequate time to do so - some defects can take 3 or 4 attempts to put right.
If you are experiencing major problems with your car, however, the most important thing you can do is keep all receipts and records concerning your vehicle. Be sure you have a copy of the car guarantee in a safe place. Keep all receipts concerning repairs that have been made to your vehicle. You might also want to consider keeping a log or notebook that contains all of this relevant information, including the number of days as a running tally that it was kept in the shop for a related problem. Start to research the Lemon Law in your state.
You may also want to research whether any 'service bulletins' have been issued for your make and model of car (this can be accomplished with a simple Google search). Do your homework, copy any information you find and put it in your notebook. Keep logs, as you may need this information later on in the event that you need to file a claim under your state's Lemon Law.
Dealers are required to give you a written car warranty under which they must repair, free of charge, any problems that occur in those parts that are covered. In some cases, the dealer may have the option to reimburse you for the reasonable cost of repairs but check your car warranty to see if this applies to you.
However, whilst that's fine for relatively minor cases, if your car needs major repair work then start researching the Lemon Law statutes in your state. Certain problems during the car guarantee period, such as noises and the odd rattle, usually don't constitute a defect, but a major problem will usually be in breach of the Lemon Law. Keep notes of the dates of all the repair work to your car and especially how long your vehicle was off the road being repaired. Keep the receipts for the repairs in a safe place.
If you think you might be driving a lemon, gather up all of your paperwork. Become familiar with your state's Lemon Law statute. Compile a list of Lemon Law attorneys. Check with the Attorney General's office in your state for more information on the certain statutes.
Take the time to put together all the necessary paperwork. Take the car service contract with you and be sure to have each and every work order performed on your car, as well as any service bulletins issued that may relate to the problem or defects you're having. Your will find that your individual state Lemon Law will include a list of records that you must have to proceed with an action. You should take with you any reports or correspondence you've received from the dealer concerning the repairs.
It all makes for a lot of paperwork, but, as with all legal matters, the devil is in the detail and you can never keep enough details to ensure a successful Lemon Law action.
In the movie, there wasn't just one promise made, there were many. And as the movie progressed, I realized that there are often consequences to not keeping one's word. The damage doesn't just occur to oneself but also to the people who suffer loss from the broken word or promise.
If someone promises something and does not follow through, then the individual who was counting on and put their faith in that person's word learns mistrust. That lack of trust may extend beyond the person who broke the promise towards others as well. Following this logic, the health and structure of a society could be affected.
Therefore, the lack of integrity is a double-edged sword. It cuts both the giver and the receiver. The giver of the promise will no longer be trusted and can no longer trade or work with the betrayed based on the strength of that person's word. Both parties have lost. If the ripples of betrayal extend beyond the two people, many people can be affected.
In the case of a personal relationship, the cost of a broken word is more than just the loss of trust, it includes the inflicting of deep hurt on the person who was mislead. For example, the vows of marriage are supposed to be sacred. The personal and emotional cost for breaking them can be devastating for both parties. If there are others involved, such as children, it can wreak havoc on them as well. Their lives will be disrupted by the break up of the family or at the very least the ensuing cloud of mistrust that exists between the leaders of the household.
In business, a person's word has to be good. If you cannot keep true to your word, you cannot be trusted and when that happens, how can you continue to conduct commerce? Credit lines will be cut and personal contacts, which are so valuable in the business world, can be lost. Integrity is important at every level and in every aspect of society. Without integrity the very fabric of a system, unit or society can begin to crumble. Without integrity, what is a human being? A person loses everything through lack of integrity. He loses even respect for himself in the end. When the truth of it dawns on him, he may even begin to believe himself to be worthless.
The solution is to cultivate integrity. Strive to be a good and truthful person.
In fact, integrity is something that has been taught throughout history. It is hinted at everywhere, when you tune into it. Even in modern times the founder of a meditation practice called Falun Dafa, teaches Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. He must think integrity is important. In fact, one can find the idea and importance of integrity emphasized in many religious teachings throughout every age of man. Don't the noblest of people hold the idea of integrity as dear?
Integrity is more than just an idea. It is a practical and necessary character trait in order to have any lasting success in this world. True, some can achieve success through a serious lack of integrity, morals and ethics. However, it is like a house built on shifting sand, bound to fall sooner or later.
And if the fall or payment for lack of integrity doesn't happen in this life, perhaps the payment manifests in a bad way in the next life. Whether you believe in reincarnation or in going to heaven upon death, or that you transcend and survive death in any way shape or form, it seems that it would be hardly worth rejecting integrity in the present.
Even for a person who believes that nothing happens upon death, that life simply ends, the practical aspects of integrity in everyday life are evident. There are rewards in business and personal relationships for acting with integrity, loss of status and pain await those who overlook this virtue. Wouldn't it be a good idea to cultivate integrity in our daily lives and actions right now?
If we each work on our personal integrity as individuals, we can collectively begin to build a better world and a better society for our children and ourselves. Isn't that worth striving for?
Both Charles Stubbs & David Snape are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Charles Stubbs has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Mens Health and Lemon Law. The Lemon Laws are there to protect you but to make sure of a successful outcome you need to do your homework. We've put together a full package for you at