FOUR car dealerships based in Indiana have been forced to pay out $370,000 in settlements after charging hidden fees.
Motorists across the state have been found to be victims of numerous deceptive practices – including odometer fraud – and are now due refunds.
According to a report by WishTV, the settlements are part of Attorney General Todd Rokita efforts to protect Indiana buyers by ensuring they have access to the right information when making significant purchases.
Back in December, Rokita initiated a series of legal actions targeting car dealerships across the state that had been accused of engaging in deceptive business practices.
He said: “Buying a car is one of the two biggest purchases most people make.
“As part of our mission to protect consumers, we want to ensure Hoosiers can make informed choices based on true and accurate information.
“We have no tolerance for dealers who engage in deceptive sales practices that hurt both consumers and the reputations of honest dealers.”
Then, in January, Rokita’s office was able to secure settlements with four auto dealers; Flexible Auto Sales, Zoom Auto Sales, US Auto Finance, and Nissan of Warsaw.
Flexible Auto Sales allegedly engaged in odometer fraud by tampering with and reducing vehicle mileages, with the company forced to pay $101,077 in restitution to car buyers.
The dealership’s owner is also barred from owning, operating, or managing a car dealership in the future, while the dealership has since closed operations.
Zoom Auto Sales reached an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) after it failed to disclose to customers that some of its vehicles had “rebuilt” titles.
As part of the settlement, the dealership will pay $13,575 in restitution.
US Auto Finance also entered into an AVC after advertising specific car prices, but then raising those prices significantly for buyers who chose to finance their vehicles.
Prior to the settlement, US Auto Finance refunded $240,759 to 110 overcharged consumers.
And finally, Nissan of Warsaw agreed to an AVC after sending out misleading prize mailings that falsely represented customers winning prizes.
As part of the agreement, Nissan of Warsaw paid a $17,250 civil penalty.
Anyone who believes they were the victims of wrongful business practices are encouraged to file complaints with the Attorney General, via this website.
It comes as drivers in New York City have been warned of a new traffic plan that could cost them $250 tickets for illegal parking.
The city is moving to implement 150 cameras to capture drivers who violate the law instantaneously.
Lawmakers are pushing for a $35 million plan to reduce congestion and improve traffic safety for the city’s residents and transportation officials, according to The Gothamist.
Specifically, it would target drivers who double park or park illegally on city streets.
Assemblymember Steven Raga, along with a group of Democrats, is pushing for the traffic project to be green-lit.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance. 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership. 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank. 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.Source: Kelley Blue Book
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