What If the Manufacturer Denied My New Hampshire Lemon Law Claim?
What to do when a manufacturer denies a New Hampshire lemon-law claim — common defenses, the Arbitration Board, and the CPA per se violation for defying a Board decision.
A manufacturer denial is not the end of a New Hampshire claim — you have the fast, state-run Arbitration Board, and a manufacturer that later defies a Board decision commits a per se CPA violation. Denials usually rest on a handful of defenses.
Common denial reasons
- “Defect doesn’t substantially impair use, value, or safety.”
- “Caused by abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification.”
- “Attempts weren’t at the same dealer” without good cause.
- “Not enough attempts” or “outside the protected period.”
- “No problem found.”
How to respond
- Get the denial in writing.
- Assemble your documentation — same-dealer repair orders and the 30-business-day count.
- File with the Arbitration Board — a hearing in 40 days, decision in 30; present your full case (appeal is narrow).
- Pull TSBs and recalls — they undercut “abuse”/“no problem found” and support a CPA theory.
- If the manufacturer defies a favorable Board decision, pursue the CPA — that’s a per se violation with double-to-treble damages and mandatory fees.
The CPA deterrent
Because ignoring a Board decision is a per se CPA violation — exposing the manufacturer to treble damages and mandatory fees — manufacturers have a strong incentive to comply rather than stonewall.
Bottom line
A denial is common and rebuttable. Document the defect with same-dealer repair orders, file with the Arbitration Board, and remember that defying a Board decision triggers CPA treble damages. Get a free case review.
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