Problems with a Car Dealer? The FTC is Listening.
Have you experienced problems when buying, financing or leasing a car through an auto dealer? The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to hear from you.
Have you experienced problems when buying, financing or leasing a car through an auto dealer? The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to hear from you. The FTC recently received authority to better address auto dealer practices that affect consumers, and is seeking comments from the public regarding problems they’ve had in buying, financing, or leasing new or used vehicles through auto dealers. Some possible issues you may have experienced:
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Products or fees that you did not want or never discussed that were added to your sales agreement
- Dealer efforts to change the terms of the sale or loan after the car is purchased
- Used vehicles with serious defects that were not disclosed prior to purchase
- Attempts to repossess a car unfairly (when you were not in default or putting you or your family’s safety at risk)
In 2011, the FTC will hold a series of roundtables around the nation to look at these issues, with the first one scheduled for April 12, 2011 at the Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan.
To inform their efforts, the FTC would like to hear from people regarding problems related to auto dealers. Submit your comments online at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/motorvehicleroundtables1
Although the notice indicates comments should be submitted to the FTC by March 28, 2011, online comments submitted during the ensuing months as the roundtables occur
will likely be considered as well. The upcoming roundtable sessions will include panel discussions with representatives from the auto industry as well as consumer advocates. The public is welcome to attend as observers. For more information, visit: https://www.ftc.gov/opa/index.shtml