Car dealership discriminating service based upon age?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Car dealership discriminating service based upon age?
I am 19 years old and recently purchased a new car from a dealership. Before I purchased the car, they explained their service and warranty plans to me, which explicitly stated that I would receive a rental or loaner car while my car was being serviced. I purchased the car, and the first time I went in for service I signed a rental agreement and received my loaner car. For my next appointment, I was told I could just leave my car at the dealership overnight and I would be provided with a rental. When I came in, I was told I was too young to receive the rental and was sent home.
Asked on September 1, 2011 under Personal Injury, Minnesota
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Generally discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfavorably because of their race, skin color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or age. People who fit into one of these categories are referred to as "members of a protected class". However, when is comes to discriminating on the basis of age, some explanation is in order. It is not illegal to discriminate against someone for being "too young". In fact, the anti-age discrimination laws do not protect anyone under 40 and typically in a workplace setting (i.e. employment). The purpose of these laws is to protect people from discrimination on the basis of being "too old". In other words, being 19 year old does not put you into a protected class. Therefore, discrimination laws do not apply to you..... at least just yet.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.