BROOKLYN — New York state Attorney General Barbara Underwood has reached a settlement agreement with a Brooklyn Honda dealer for more than $423,000 to resolve allegations the dealership targeted non-English speaking customers on which to use deceptive practices.
According to the Attorney General's Office, several complaints lead to an investigation into Bay Ridge Honda who allegedly used fraudulent sales tactics on customers who did not speak English, with most speaking Mandarin and Cantonese. The attorney general alleges sales and lease contracts were negotiated in Chinese with documents only written in English that had costly marked-up items and different terms.
“We have zero tolerance for unscrupulous businesses that prey on immigrant communities and non-English speakers,” Underwood said in a statement. “This office will continue to protect the rights of all New Yorkers of all backgrounds.”
Also, according to the Attorney General's Office, the dealership promised false refinancing of customer's loans.
The consent order includes the dealership refunding $269,525 to 47 customers who were affected and it will pay $153,648 in fees and penalties as well as the costs to the state. The dealership must also provide sales and lending documents in every language in which it conducts business, the Attorney General's Office said.