The JF Motors household of dealerships—which incorporates Luxurious Automotive Membership on Northern Boulevard–has been charged by the DCWP with bilking clients through bogus charges.

Nov. 8, 2021 By Christian Murray

Two used-car auto dealerships—one based mostly in Woodside and the opposite in Brooklyn—have been accused by the NYC Division of Shopper and Employee Safety (DCWP) of illegally bilking patrons out of 1000’s of {dollars} and face the lack of their dealership licenses and hefty fines.

JF Motors, which is headquartered at 60-20 Northern Boulevard, and Kings Autoshow, which operates two Brooklyn places, allegedly marketed their autos at highly-competitive costs solely to cost shoppers 1000’s greater than marketed by bogus charges.

For instance, JF Motors, which operates Automania and Luxurious Automotive Membership, marketed a 2017 Honda Civic for an “web particular value” of $15,795, then added unlawful charges—bringing the money value to $23,780, in keeping with the criticism.

DCWP is charging the JF Motors household of dealerships with greater than 9,000 violations and seeks greater than $100,000 in restitution for 9 shoppers. The company additionally seeks civil penalties, and the revocation of its dealership licenses.

In its case towards Kings Autoshow, which operates two Brooklyn Mitsubishi places, DCWP is charging the corporate with greater than greater than 7,000 violations and searching for greater than $50,000 in restitution for 34 shoppers, civil penalties, and revocation of each of its licenses.

“These dealerships repeatedly victimized their clients and violated client safety legal guidelines,” mentioned DCWP Commissioner Peter A. Hatch in an announcement. “We’re taking motion to a put a cease to their exploitative practices, get hold of restitution for the shoppers they harmed, and to revoke their licenses so they can’t do that once more.”

JF Motors’ dealerships, in keeping with the criticism, charged shoppers numerous bogus charges above the marketed value.

The corporate additionally marketed its autos as “Licensed Pre-owned” by the Nationwide Unbiased Vehicle Sellers Affiliation (NIADA), when primarily they weren’t, in keeping with the criticism.

The corporate then charged an unlawful obligatory “certification charge,” a apply in violation of client safety legal guidelines. In some circumstances, the bogus certification charge was $3,000 or extra– despite the fact that the autos weren’t actually licensed.

The “licensed pre-owned” designation additionally allowed the dealerships to hike the unique gross sales value, in keeping with the criticism, since a CPO car typical sells for about $1,000 greater than the identical mannequin with no certification.

CPO autos are required to undergo a 125-point inspection by a certified mechanic. Moreover, patrons of CPO autos obtain a 10-year/100,000 guarantee and are given a car historical past report.

The JF Motors dealerships, nevertheless, didn’t make repairs when autos broke down—usually with points that ought to have been found in the course of the 125-point inspection, in keeping with the criticism.

Moreover, the JF Motors dealerships required some shoppers to buy “car service contracts” regardless of the 10-year guarantee that’s supposed to come back with a licensed pre owned car. The contracts usually equated to greater than $3,000 on prime of the marketed gross sales value.

There have been additionally circumstances of random bogus charges, in keeping with the criticism. Some have been charged for tire and wheel insurance coverage or theft deterrent programs. They weren’t itemized on the gross sales contract—simply added to the value.

One purchaser found he was charged $1,979 for a theft deterrent system that was by no means requested or put in, in keeping with the criticism.

The circumstances shall be heard by the Metropolis’s Workplace of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), which can make a dedication.

JF Motors and Kings Autoshow couldn’t be reached for remark.

DCWP encourages New Yorkers who need to purchase a used automotive to learn the Used Automotive Shopper Invoice of Rights, which dealerships are required to put up and provides to every client earlier than they signal a gross sales contract.

The Invoice of Rights have to be offered to the patron within the language during which the contract was negotiated if the interpretation is on the market on DCWP’s web site

Exhibit from DCWA criticism filed once more JF Motors

One Remark