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Fraudulent Car Loan Companies Charged by FTC

Scam artists are always looking for new ways to pull the wool over people’s eyes. One such case is a new fraud scheme that’s targeting car owners who are having troubles with car loans. It’s very similar to a scheme that was running rampant during the peak of the housing crisis where a company would offer assistance to struggling homeowners in securing a modification on their loan. They would collect up front fees from the unknowing victim and run with the money.

An article posted on the Huffington Post shows that the FTC is starting to target these fraud companies. The agency has filed charges with two California companies. The charges allege that the companies, Hope for Car Owners and Auto Debt Consulting, have been tricking troubled car owners with problematic practices. They charged up front fees on service they did not provide, refused to give any refunds, all of which went against the services they advertised and even guaranteed. These charges represent the first case the FTC has brought against companies that offer car loan modifications.

Businesses like this are what give loan modification companies such a bad name. It never ceases to amaze me just what people do to take advantage of those who are desperate for help in hard financial times. Many people are just starting to get back on the right track of paying back car loans with a rebounding economy. The last thing they need is someone looking to steal their hard earned cash. To make sure the decisions you make when times are rough, the FTC has a page dealing with auto loan scams worth checking out.

Be assured that Approved Loan Store is one of the legitimate companies looking to help you drive away in the car you want. We love working with people with bad credit. Go online and fill out an application to see how the process works for yourself. Also make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see the latest in news and trends from the auto industry.

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Paul Ryan Budget Would Cancel Loans to Auto Industry

In the midst of the partisan bickering in Washington D.C. over the budget recently, the auto industry has been put on the chopping block by Paul Ryan’s Republican-backed budget.

Right now, there is a loan program in place for green energy efforts called the Advanced Technology Manufacturing Program. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush back in 2007, and part of the $25 billion program includes $16 billion which would go towards modifying auto factories. In Ryan’s proposal “The Path to Prosperity,” he was highly critical of President Obama over green initiatives, apparently forgetting that President Bush had signed it into law, and he claimed it “blocks proven domestic energy sources while spending recklessly on uncompetitive alternatives.”

Now, there should be debate over government spending in this country, and both Democrats and Republicans need to be willing to compromise. However, it is unfair of Paul Ryan to pin this program on President Obama and label it as “spending recklessly.” Alternative energy sources are the future, and we need car manufacturers making hybrid and electric cars now. If hybrid and electric cars start selling now, we will get early adapters in the next few years, and by the time we need to switch completely to hybrid or electric cars, America will be ready. Manufacturing fuel-efficient cars should not be a partisan issue; it should be common sense.

Looking for a new or more fuel-efficient car? Fill out Approved Loan Store’s car loan application here, and keep up with the latest new and trends from the auto industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

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Poll: Auto Bailouts More Popular Than Bank Bailouts

With U.S. auto sales on the rise, a new poll is showing that Americans are much more supportive of the government bailout of the auto industry now than when the bailout happened in 2009.

The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive, one of the country’s foremost market research firms. Respondents were asked two questions. The first question was, “Regardless of whether you support or oppose these government bailouts, do you think the ones that the government has done have helped or hurt the economy?” and the second question was, “How much would you support or oppose the U.S. government using taxpayers’ money to bail out these sectors that are suffering from the economic recession?”

To the first question, 45 percent thought that the bailout of the car manufacturers helped the economy, compared to 23 percent who felt the same about the banks and 15 percent for insurance companies. Only 29 percent of respondents thought the car manufacturers bailout hurt the economy. To the second question, 69 percent of respondents in 2009 said they were opposed to using taxpayer money to bail out car manufacturers, and in 2012, 70 percent said they opposed it.

It might not seem like there was much of a change in how people responded to the second question. A little over two-thirds of the American public is still opposed to an auto bailout . Still, considering that there was an auto bailout only 3 years ago, I think it is interesting that the percentage held steady, especially when compared to public opinion on insurance company and bank bailouts. Insurance company bailouts went from 77 percent opposition to 86 percent opposition, and bank bailouts went from 65 percent opposition to 84 percent opposition.

Whether you supported or opposed the auto industry bailouts, it can’t be denied that the U.S. auto industry has made a comeback with higher sales, better cars, and better deals. Take advantage of this time in the auto industry and get into a new car today! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news from the auto and loan industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

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New Fuel Standard Predicted to Help Auto Industry

The news has been coming out recently about how much consumers are looking to getting more fuel efficient cars in an effort to deal with the rise in gas prices. Many hybrid classes have benefited not only from the resurgence of the auto industry such as the Ford Focus. It’s clear that the pump is what is really on people’s minds these days when looking to invest in buying a car.

A new report from Citi Investment Research and Analysis, along with Ceres, is predicting that the new fuel standards being enforced by federal regulations is going to be a massive benefit for the auto industry. The new 54.5 MPG standard is expected to increase the industry as a whole by 5.3 percent into 2020, bringing it up to $4.76 billion. The major auto makers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) are looking to see improvements of around 4 percent.

Carol Lee Rawn is the transportation director of Ceres, and she sees that this new standard of fuel efficiency in cars is definitely going to help the industry. She says that, “Automakers who invest in more efficient vehicles are investing wisely. Given the volatility of gas prices – and the likelihood that they’ll head through the roof again – it’s clear that customers want better fuel economy and delivering it means a better bottom line for the industry.”

Regardless of your credit, Approved Loan Store is wanting to make sure you get the fuel efficient car you want. Fill out an application today and see how we can help you. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook, to see all the latest trends in the industry. If you’re still not convinced, check out our Youtube page to see our satisfied customers.

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No Credit No Longer Problem For Lending

If you’re one of the many people that suffers from having some bad marks on your credit report, well, there’s a silver lining in the clouds for you. Just a few years ago with the economy in the state it was in, having bad credit and attempting to get a credit card was a fool’s errand. That seems to have turned around lately, however.

An article from Fox Business quotes a new report from the Equifax credit bureau. According to the report, lenders are starting to look to the sub-prime borrowers to help spur the economy. The number of credit that was given in the previous year to consumers grew more than 10% to $782 billion. This includes everything from credit cards to mortgages and especially auto loans.

This is a huge shift from where things were when the recession was at its peak. Banks avoided lending to the sub prime market. They made it so that the only people getting the loans were only the most credit-worthy. Amy Crews Cutts, the senior VP and chief economist for Equifax, commented, “Banks want to lend because that’s where they make money.”

It’s a great time to be in the market for a car, no matter what your credit situation is. The market is looking to help lend to these people, auto loans included. Approved Loan Store loves bad credit and wants to work with you to help you find the car you need. Go online to fill out the auto loan application and see how we can help you. Make sure to check out and like our Facebook page to see the latest news in the industry. Also, follow us on Twitter, and watch our customer testimonials on YouTube.

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Approved Loan Store Helps Customers Avoid “Sin” of Car Buying

NBC news affiliate WPTZ recently published a story about the 7 “sins” or pitfalls that consumers make while shopping for a car. The usual pitfalls were included like not doing research before going to the dealership and picking a new car that isn’t as nice over a used model of a better car.

The third “sin” of car buying, though, was one that Approved Loan Store understands very well. Not knowing your financial status (including your credit score) before going into a dealership is one of the biggest mistakes a consumer can make when shopping for a car. If your credit score is below par, you could wind up getting rejected several times and getting unnecessary inquiries put on your credit report. The article recommends applying online through a service like Approved Loan Store so you can get more information about your available options. They also noted that these services expedite the process and lead to a better and more informed decision.

No matter what your credit situation, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used car today! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up to date on the latest auto news by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter. Also, check out our YouTube channel and watch video testimonials by real Approved Loan Store customers!

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High Auto Sales Predicted for March

Will March be the best month yet this year for American automakers? U.S. auto sales have continued to surprise even the most optimistic analysts, and now, it is expected that March sales will make the beginning of 2012 the best quarter in four years.

The Fiscal Times attributes the soaring auto sales to two factors. First, the economy is improving. It might not always seem like it, but the economy is improving slowly but surely. Second, car buyers are having an easier time finding financing. Part of that is due to services like Approved Loan Store which help people with poor credit and good credit alike get into a car.

Car ownership is an important part of economic recovery. Rising car sales are not only a sign that people have money to spend, it also shows that people are taking steps to avoid future problems. Car ownership has a strong correlation with less dependance on public assistance because employees are not dependent on public transportation and are not limited to employment options close to bus lines or subways. The fact that people are choosing car ownership is very encouraging to both U.S. automakers and Americans hoping for economic recovery.

Will you be shopping for a new or used vehicle in March? Make your search easier by applying through Approved Loan Store here, and make sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter to keep up with the latest auto news and trends.

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Survey: Car Ownership Leads to Less Public Assistance, Welfare

A recent survey of low-income Americans showed that car ownership can be the difference between a continued struggle or getting off of public assistance altogether.

The survey was conducted from 2007 to 2010 and included 445 loan recipients who were on public assistance. Of those recipients, a shocking 82 percent got off of welfare, accounting for $18.2 million in savings. Even more shocking, the program cost less than half of what was saved in public assistance money.

For millions of Americans, a car is essential to work. Public transit is not always available, or if it is available, it has been scaled back with bus or train lines closing or running on a limited schedule. When a family goes through a financial crisis and does not have access to a car, getting back to a normal life is an uphill battle. This study shows that if more people with no credit or damaged credit can get into a car, everyone benefits. The car buyers can rebuild their credit and open themselves up to more job opportunities, and less people will need to rely on public assistance.

Approved Loan Store is here to help. Good credit or bad credit, we want to help you get into a new or used vehicle. Fill out our auto loan application here, and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date on the latest auto loan news.

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Men or Women: Who are the Better Car Shoppers?

Cars and cars culture have long been considered a man’s world. Whether or not that is a sexist viewpoint is up for debate, but the stereotype of a car nut is a rough-and-tumble man. A recent study, however, is shaking up the notion of gender and car knowledge.

According to the study, more than two-thirds of women paid to get a third-party inspection on an out-of-state lease transfer compared to only 54.5 percent of men. Women buyers were also more likely to ask the right questions about the car including safety performance, the ownership and incident history, and how the car will function under specific conditions. Their male counterparts were much more interested in the aesthetics of the car, its engine performance, the vehicle’s technology, and its driving performance as a whole.

What is really interesting about the study, though, is the implications for future women car shoppers. When the study was broken down based on age, there were significantly more women ages 21 to 30 getting a third-party inspection than men. 42.3 percent of men, less than half, got a third-party inspection while 78.2 percent of women opted to get the inspection. This means that young women are being smarter, being more careful, and overall being more practical than men their own age.

No matter what your age, gender, or credit, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a great new or used vehicle. Fill out our car loan application here, and like us on Facebook to see testimonials by real Approved Loan Store customers. Also, make sure to follow us on Twitter to get the latest news and updates from Approved Loan Store.

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Volvo’s Pedestrian Airbags Stun Geneva Motor Show

Car safety technology has advanced dramatically in recent years with every kind of protection put into place for the driver. In a bold new move, however, Volvo is looking beyond just the safety of the driver and passengers and creating new safety features for pedestrians.

The Volvo V40’s pedestrian airbag was unveiled this week at the Geneva Motor Show. A video of the airbag in action has gone viral, and people already want to know when pedestrian airbags will be coming to the United States. In the video demonstration, the Volvo V40 collides with a crash dummy which falls onto the hood of the car. When the airbags deploy, the hood tilts back and slows the crash dummy’s speed towards the windshield, and the U-shaped airbag cushions the crash dummy and prevents them from flying through the windshield without completely blocking the driver’s view.

Sadly, it seems that Europeans will be getting Volvo’s pedestrian airbags long before we do, though I’m sure that American-made automakers are already working on their own versions. Still, the Volvo V40 demonstration is a fun look into the future of cars, and hopefully it will inspire more inventors to dream and come up with the next big thing in car technology.

Looking for a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our car loan application here, and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date on the latest auto news.