Schneiderman
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced an order on Monday against multiple car dealerships for allegedly persistent deceptive, fraudulent and illegal business practices in the financing and sale of automobiles.
Giuffre Mazda, Giuffre Mitsubishi, Giuffre Kia, Giuffre Hyundai and Jon Giuffre, the owner of the Bay Ridge auto dealerships, allegedly duped 46 victims into purchasing cars after the terms of the financing and sales were misrepresented.
Under the terms of an order signed by Kings County Supreme Court Judge Bernard J. Graham, the businesses must pay $510,000, including $294,500 in restitution to the 46 victims and $215,500 in costs and civil penalties.
"This order is a victory for consumers who were ripped off by Giuffre car dealerships," Schneiderman said.
"The deceptive conduct led consumers to sign contracts which did not reflect the negotiated sale terms, frequently including unwanted aftermarket add-ons. Some of these transactions led to repossessions and ruined credit, as the consumers found themselves owing more than they ever would have knowingly agreed to pay."
Schneiderman's office filed a lawsuit against the defendants after receiving complaints from multiple consumers about the dealerships. Giuffre allegedly engaged in multiple deceptive practices, including using high pressure sales tactics to get consumers to sign blank contracts, adding the costs of unwanted aftermarket items into financing and contract agreements, misrepresenting the terms of the financing and sale during negotiations and publishing misleading advertisements in the form of deceptive contest promotions.