Attorney General Files Suit Against Used Car Dealership Accused of Rolling Back Odometers
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against a fourth Columbus, Ohio used car dealership accused of rolling back odometers and selling salvaged vehicles without telling customers. The latest lawsuit was filed against Ohio Mega Group, LLC in Whitehall, Ohio. The attorney general’s office reported that it had received seventeen (17) complaints concerning the dealership prior to filing a lawsuit.
Accusations against the Whitehall, Ohio car dealership
The dealership is accused of violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (“CSPA”) and the Odometer Rollback and Disclosure Act. The specific allegations against the dealership include:
- Concealing the rebuilt or salvage status of vehicles to purchasers;
- Engaging in odometer tampering;
- Failing to obtain a surety bond in an amount not less than $25,000;
- Failing to promptly file titles within thirty (30) days of sale;
- Falsifying odometers by rolling them back to give the vehicles greater resale value;
- Selling a used motor vehicle from a location that was not their place of business; and
- Withholding accurate odometer readings.
The Ohio Attorney General is seeking to recover money for customers who purchased vehicles from the dealership and hold them accountable for violations of the CSPA and the Odometer Rollback and Disclosure Act. The lawsuit would also prevent the owner of the dealership from operating as a car dealer in the future.
Violations of the CSPA
The Consumer Sales Practices Act is a piece of legislation that protects consumers from unfair, misleading, or unconscionable business practices. In mentioned above, consumers were misled as to the quality of the vehicles they were purchasing. Rolling back odometers to increase the value of vehicles is illegal in all 50 states across the United States. It is a form of consumer fraud that deceives the customer into thinking that the vehicle is more valuable than it actually is.
If you have purchased a vehicle that has a rolled-back odometer, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General or a lawsuit against the company that sold you the vehicle, or both.
How can I check for odometer fraud?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you can ask to see the title of the vehicle and compare the mileage on it with the vehicle’s odometer. When the mileage notation seems obscured or is not easy to read, that should be a red flag that there’s a problem.
You can also check the tires to determine if odometer fraud has occurred. Vehicles that have less than 20,000 miles on them should have the original tires.
Further, you can compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage shown on the vehicle’s maintenance or inspection records.
Lastly, you can request a vehicle history report to check for discrepancies with the odometer. When the seller does not have a vehicle history report, you can order one online by looking up the Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”).
Talk to a Dayton, Ohio Consumer Fraud Attorney Today
If you have been the victim of consumer fraud, call the Dayton, Ohio consumer sales practices act attorneys at Kohl & Cook Law Firm, LLC. We can help you recover the costs of the defective product you purchased and potentially recover noneconomic damages as well. Call today to learn more!
Source:
dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/09/13/whitehall-used-car-dealership-sued-by-ohio-ag-for-odometer-fraud-more/70846298007/
