Delco Car Dealer Sold Lemons, Didn't Provide Title Documentation: AG

LANSDOWNE, PA — A Delaware County used car dealer has been sued by state authorities after officials said the business did not disclose issues with vehicles sold as-is and failed to provide proper title documentation.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said her office is suing Lasdowne's Real McKoy Auto Sales LLC and its owner Ervin McKoy. The suit alleges the dealer repeatedly violated automotive and consumer protection laws, and seeks to prohibit further sales in Pennsylvania.

The AG's office said numerous consumers alleged that vehicles that they purchased either broke down, or were deemed unsafe to drive, only days after they purchased them from Real McKoy.

One customer paid more than $5,000 dollars for a used car only to have it overheat the next day due to a poorly repaired hole in the engine, the AG's office said. Another person paid more than $3,000 for a vehicle, but cannot register her car because they never received proper title documentation, according to the AG's office.

"This dealership continues to break consumer protection laws and take advantage of buyers who rely on vehicles to complete their everyday errands like picking up groceries, going to doctors appointments, and getting to and from work," Henry said. "Pennsylvanians are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars for a vehicle they can rely on; they should not be left stranded shortly after the purchase."

The new lawsuit asserts that the dealership engaged in unfair and deceptive acts and practices in violation of the Consumer Protection Law. The lawsuit requests the following relief from the court:

• A permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from engaging in business involving the sale of motor vehicles in Pennsylvania;
• Payment of restitution to all people who have suffered losses as a result of the defendants’ conduct; and
• Payment of civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law and $3,000 for each violation involving a consumer 60 or older.

The Office of Attorney General previously sued Real McKoy and McKoy in 2016 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas alleging that they were selling used vehicles without appropriate vehicle dealer and salesperson licenses. The litigation was resolved in 2017 through entry of a consent judgment that required Real McKoy and its owner to comply with the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

Consumers who feel they were victimized by Real McKoy Auto are encouraged to file a complaint online here or contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov.