Certified (CPO) safety battle is on! Help stop car dealer fraud and protest the FTC’s consent decree!
The Federal Trade Commission is now doubling down on their terrible position that dealers should be allowed to advertise that CPO (“Certified”) cars are “safe,” “have been repaired for safety issues,” and “have been subject to a rigorous inspection” WITHOUT actually getting safety recall repairs done, if they merely add a blanket disclaimer that the cars MAY have an open safety recall and a copy of some info. about the recall. This is despite all the opposition from members of consumer / safety groups across the country, and auto safety champions on the Hill.
Now they are proposing to allow CarMax — the largest retailer of used cars in the country — and two other dealership groups to get away with this incredibly dangerous false advertising. Needless to say, this will mean a lot of hapless car buyers will be tricked into buying cars they are led to believe are safe, but actually have lethal safety defects.
Here’s the FTC’s proposed consent order with CarMax — see esp. page 4, A (2) —
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/161214carmaxacco.pdf
Please weigh in and comment. Comments are due next Tues. Jan. 17. Your input is extremely important. Even though the FTC appears to be bent on allowing this type of dangerous fraud, your comments help build the record, which in the end will help consumers win this battle where it is now headed — to the courts.
Here’s where to file public comment:
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/public-comments/initiative-684
If you would also like to also file your comment regarding the similarly horrible proposed consent agreements with Asbury and West-Herr, here are the links:
Asbury:
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/public-comments/initiative-687
West-Herr:
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/public-comments/initiative-689
More background info / FTC’s announcement, related documents:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/12/carmax-two-other-dealers-settle-ftc-charges-they-touted
New York Times report:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/16/business/buyer-beware-certified-used-cars-under-recall.html?_r=0