First, it was the guarantee on the stereo system. Next, the windshield wiper motor died on a rainy day. Then the power windows began controlling themselves. Each time, the dealer said that one of the computer chips inside the car had shorted out.



Driving your car down the road today, a sudden downpour occurred. Your convertible top wouldn't go up. You pulled over and had to pull the top up manually. In the meantime, both you and your car got soaked. You head back to the dealership for another round of car service contract essential work.

The news is no different. The exact same part replaced under the warranty is to blame. That computer chip is faulty, again. Using the car service contract protection, they fix it for a fourth time.

Another three days pass; you're driving home at night. You're cruising down the interstate when the whole electrical system dies. You have no headlights, no instrument panel lights, and no radio. You pull over as quickly as possible and bang your head against the steering wheel. You give up on the car service contract. It's time to use the lemon law.

The next day, you are back at the dealer. They say that it looks like the same computer chip is to blame. They offer to replace it again under the warranty, but you stop them. Replacing the chip hasn't worked; there must be something else. You offer your car to them. You strongly suggest that they find the real problem and fix it.

You threaten to use the lemon law if you have to, and you notice that the service manager's eyebrows raise. Good, now that you have his attention, you grab your car guarantee papers and leave. You hope your car's defects will be fixed. You head home to do some research on finding a lemon law attorney.

Sure, the car warranty covered the work every time; but who's paying to have you take time off from work as you drive back and forth to the dealer twice a week? You'd like to think that the rules would cover that expense. You've kept all your receipts. You have a detailed journal of all your appointments and all the problems you've encountered. You know what your car warranty covers. You are certain that filing a lemon law case will not be hard.

Finding an honest lemon law lawyer is the tougher challenge. How can you tell by their ads whether or not they are good? A huge ad may just mean a huge fee. One of the best ways is to consult your family attorney. Attorneys are so specialized these days that one might work only on manufacturing defects, while another knows more about shoddy repairs.

But it's actually easier than you might think. To find a specialist attorney contact your state's attorney general's office. They have up-to-date information on honest, hardworking lemon law attorneys who can get the job done.