$50K Penalty for North Jersey Car Dealerships With 'Unconscionable' Practices

The owners of two North Jersey car dealerships have settled a four-count complaint brought by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and will pay $50,000 in penalties and fees, Acting Attorney General John Hoffman announced.

State Superior Court in Sussex County filed a four-count complaint alleging JDN AA, LLC, also known as Newton Audi and Newton Volkswagen, committed “unconscionable commercial practices, did not disclose required information in advertisements, and did not pay required Used Car Lemon Law fees.”

As part of the settlement JDN AA will pay $31,655.95 in civil penalties, with the remaining amount reimbursing the state for legal and investigative costs.

Also under the settlement, JDN AA has agreed to:

• not add or charge for after sale item[s] without the consumer’s written authorization;
• not represent to consumers that the purchase of an after sale item is mandatory when, in fact, it is not
• identify, in writing, any and all after sale items, whether provided to consumers at no additional charge orpurchased by consumers;
• provide a written document containing a clear statement of cost for an after sale item[s], and obtain theconsumers’ written acknowledgment to purchase such after sale item[s], for any after sale item[s] purchased bya consumer;
• provide consumers with an opportunity to review all sales documents prior to signing;
• not require consumers to execute any blank or incomplete sales documents;
• provide consumers with complete copies of all signed sales documents;
• include the statement that “price(s) include(s) all costs to be paid by consumer, except for licensing costs, registration fees, and taxes,” in advertisements;
• honor all terms of a negotiated deal concerning the sale of a used motor vehicle; and
• not sell a motor vehicle without possession of the title to the motor vehicle.