Bridgewater Car Dealership Will Pay To Settle Allegations With NJ

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A car dealership company, which has 15 locations around New Jersey including in Bridgewater and Somerville, was among three businesses that recently reached a settlement with the state over alleged consumer protection violations, authorities announced Friday.

Acting Attorney Matthew Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs said that separate settlements totaling nearly $400,000 have been reached with three car dealerships, including Open Road Auto Group.

See the settlement with Open Road Auto Group here.

The other two settlements were reached with Lynnes and Glen Motors Inc.

Prosecutors said Open Road Auto Group agreed to a $300,000 settlement to resolve an investigation into allegations that included:

• Failing to disclose prior accident history
• Using deceptive advertising
• Failing to honor vehicle warranties

Under the terms of the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance entered with the Division, Open Road Auto Group, among other things, agreed to:

• Disclose the total cost, the down payment, trade-in or rebate, if any, plus the total scheduled periodic payments in the advertisement of installment sales of motor vehicles;
• Include a statement that “prices include all costs to be paid by consumer, except for licensing costs, registration fees, and taxes,” in the advertisement of new or used motor vehicles;
• Disclose in the advertisement that a motor vehicle had been previously damaged and that substantial repair or body work has been performed on it when such prior repair or body work is known or should have been known;
• Refrain from charging customers for work done or parts supplied in excess of any estimate, without oral or written consent from the customer;
• Accurately disclose the purchase price of any dealer-installed options;
• Refrain from misrepresenting to consumers that aftermarket merchandise such as service contracts and window etch are mandatory;
• Itemize all aftermarket merchandise on leases, sales documents and contracts;
• Refrain from charging consumers separately for a “destination charge” on any advertised motor vehicle when the cost is already included in the advertised price; and
• Provide consumers with an opportunity to review all lease documents prior to signing.

Open Road Auto Group also agreed to provide a $100 service credit coupon towards service, maintenance, or repair for all consumers who purchased a vehicle in 2017 and were charged a wash and detail fee.

Additionally, the company will enter binding arbitration through the Division’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Unit to resolve all pending complaints from affected consumers and any additional consumer complaints received by the Division for a period of three years.

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