SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) — Rairdon’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Kirkland has agreed to pay $74,435 to resolve allegations of deceptive advertising practices, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently announced.
The dealership allegedly sent thousands of promotional mailers that mimicked official recall notices. The 7,025 mailers were designed to look just like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall notifications.
These mailers, however, were entirely promotional. The mailers notified recipients of possible recalls to their vehicles and offered to buy the vehicles. The dealership failed to clearly disclose that the offer was independent from any recall notification.
“I will not tolerate a business driving sales by using scare tactics to dupe consumers into thinking their car has a safety problem,” Ferguson said. “Advertising needs to be clear and honest. When ads mislead consumers, my office will take action to hold violators accountable.”
Actions like the ones Rairdon’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Kirkland allegedly engaged in can mislead consumers and violate the state Consumer Protection Act, Ferguson's office said.
The dealership will pay $35,125 in civil penalties, and $39,210 in costs and fees to resolve the allegations.