E-NEWSLETTER

May 2012 - Feature

Facts, Anyone?

Stories about dealer practices that harm consumers are prevalent, but the facts seem to be difficult to come by.

April 2012 - Feature

Show of Force

The nation’s chief enforcement agency singled out five dealers for deceptive advertising in March. The magazine’s resident legal wiz weighs in.

April 2012 - Feature

Contractually Obligated

Bending the rules in the name of customer satisfaction isn’t a viable defense in court. The magazine’s newest compliance expert explains how even a slight adjustment can have serious consequences.

March 2012 - Feature

Vegas Musings

The magazine’s resident legal wiz reports on what he saw and heard at the industry’s annual get-together last month, including reports of dealer investigations being conducted by the Federal Trade Commission.

March 2012 - Cover Story

Updating F&I

Connecting F&I to the digital world was the talk at the annual dealer and lender conventions last month, and opinions varied on what the F&I office of the future will look like.

February 2012 - Feature

10 Predictions for 2012

The magazine’s legal wiz shines up his crystal ball to offer his predictions on how the CFPB and the FTC will flex their regulatory muscles in 2012.

February 2012 - Feature

Reading the Tea Leaves

The industry has been waiting for signs on how the CFPB would approach anything auto. The magazine’s resident legal wiz says the agency has finally tipped its hand.

January 2012 - Feature

Tracking F&I Performance

The magazine’s reader survey reveals that average profit per new vehicle retailed still hovers around $800, and that F&I managers are averaging approximately two products per deal.

January 2012 - Feature

A New Game Plan

Dealers have done well to defend themselves against the oncoming blitz of new regulations, but the magazine’s newest compliance expert says there are a few downs left to play.

January 2012 - Feature

The Case of the Missing Cosigner

The magazine’s resident legal wiz says a reader was right to be suspicious of a buyer whose cosigner only existed on paper. Read on for more details.

December 2011 - Feature

Arbitrary Enforcement

A landmark Supreme Court decision has helped to clarify the enforceability of arbitration agreements, but several key questions remain.

December 2011 - Feature

Just the Facts, Ma’am

After sitting through three roundtables’ worth of tired anecdotes from consumer advocates, the magazine’s legal expert hopes the FTC will keep its word and rely on empirical data before instituting new regulations.

November 2011 - Feature

Documenting Doc Fees

Before you roll your next customer, you may want to read what the magazine’s resident legal wiz has to say about doc fees and how they can be defended in court.

October 2011 - Feature

Mobile Tools Migrating Into Sales and F&I Processes

The pace of mobile technology adoption is quickening, and companies are lining up to help dealers transition to a mobile marketplace. Here’s a breakdown of seven solutions that are available now or will be in the near future.

October 2011 - Feature

A Tale of Two Agencies

Do you know who your regulator is? The answer may not be as clear-cut as you think. The magazine’s legal wiz weighs in.

October 2011 - Cover Story

Setting the Pace

Meet the seven finalists for F&I Dealer of the Year, the winner of which will be profiled in the magazine’s November issue.

September 2011 - Feature

4 Social Media Pitfalls to Avoid

The social media sphere offers great opportunities to market your store, but there are several legal traps inherent to this type of viral marketing. Compliance expert reviews four of them in this digital marketing primer.

September 2011 - Feature

4 Ways to Reenergize Your Pitch

Have you ever wondered why your performance levels lag? The magazine’s resident expert knows the answer, and offers a remedy for keeping you on your game.

September 2011 - Feature

Spotting by the Book

The magazine’s legal wiz shares a textbook case on what not to do when spot delivering a vehicle.

August 2011 - Feature

To Charge or Not to Charge

Can you charge a customer’s down payment to a credit card? The magazine’s legal wiz says the answer has more to do with economics than the law of the land.

July 2011 - Feature

More Questions than Answers as CFPB Gets Set to Go Live

The leadership may still be up for grabs at the CFPB, but the newly formed consumer watchdog agency will hit the ground running on July 21.

June 2011 - Feature

Dealers Guide to Compliance

Before you select your next compliance software tool, read this primer on connecting technology to your dealership’s compliance processes.

June 2011 - Feature

Social Policymaking Is Not the Solution

Can the FTC balance what consumer advocates want and what industry reps say is needed? The magazine’s legal wiz says that time will tell.

May 2011 - Feature

5 Steps to Compliance

Building a compliance program doesn’t necessarily require a big investment, but it does take a commitment. Expert lays out a plan for improving your dealership’s level of compliance.

May 2011 - Feature

Impressions From Detroit

Thanks in part to recycled anecdotes from consumer advocates, the industry fared better than expected at the FTC’s first roundtable discussion.

May 2011 - Cover Story

Checks and Balances

As the finance director and compliance officer for three stores, Charlene Burch-Heinzig has helped keep her group on the road to success.

April 2011 - Feature

The FTC Hits the Road

March 2011 - Feature

Spot Deliveries: Pitch the Bathwater, Not the Baby

There still is room in auto retail for spot deliveries, but a balance between the needs of dealers and consumer advocates must be struck.

February 2011 - Feature

Pay Plan Reboot

January 2011 - Feature

The Hunt for Noncompliant Dealers

The FTC has been poking around at some dealerships in recent months. What is the agency looking for? The magazine’s legal expert weighs in.

January 2011 - Feature

First Line of Defense

Karina Grile worked overtime to get Voss Auto Network’s stores in line with the industry’s newest rule — one that experts say could be a blessing in disguise.

December 2010 - Feature

The Exception is the Rule

F&I’s legal wiz serves up a nice reminder of two federal rules coming down the pike in January. Are you ready?

November 2010 - Feature

Navigating Healthcare Reform

October 2010 - Feature

Is That Legal?

August 2010 - Feature

A Dealer’s Guide to Digital Compliance

August 2010 - Feature

Lost in Translation

June 2010 - Feature

A Bona-Fide Defense

April 2010 - Feature

Truncation Redux

March 2010 - Feature

New Credit Rules Decoded

March 2010 - Feature

Connecting the Dots

February 2010 - Feature

Time to Uphold Our Job Requirement

February 2010 - Feature

Raising the Odds

February 2010 - Feature

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

January 2010 - Feature

Draining the Water From the Moat

December 2009 - Feature

Rebooting the Robocall Rule

December 2009 - Feature

Legislative Battle Far From Over

September 2009 - Feature

A Dealer’s Guide to Compliant Paperwork

August 2009 - Feature

A Difference of Opinion

July 2009 - Feature

4 Threats to F&I

June 2009 - Feature

Legislators in Need of Cooling-Off Period