Alaska Sues Southcentral Car Dealers
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- Created on Friday, 11 August 2023 15:07
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By James Brooks
Alaska Beacon’
The Alaska Department of Law sued a chain of Southcentral Alaska car dealerships for false advertising on Wednesday, claiming in a 21-page legal complaint that Swickard Auto Group car dealerships were “advertising the sale of vehicles that Swickard did not actually possess, advertising interest rates that were not available, and failing to honor advertised prices.”
The complaint, filed in Anchorage Superior Court, seeks $25,000 for each violation of Alaska’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act and an injunction barring Swickard from using deceptive practices.
“Buying a car is already a stressful process and an important decision for consumers,” said Attorney General Taylor in a written statement. “We will not allow car dealerships to engage in illegal advertising and sales practices that make purchasing a car even more difficult for consumers. Nor will we allow unscrupulous dealerships to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors.”
The suit followed a series of complaints against the chain, which operates in Anchorage and Palmer, selling Chevrolet, Buick, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen cars.
One complaint was filed by a state investigator who tried to buy an advertised car, only to be told that the company didn’t have it and it only listed the vehicle in order to attract customers.
Online court records did not list an attorney for Swickard.
Kerry Myers, Swickard Auto Group’s director of marketing and social engagement, said in a written statement that the situation is “a misunderstanding between us and the Attorney General’s office” and noted that the lawsuit covers only three complaints out of more than 50,000 customers in Alaska. She said the firm looks forward to discussions with the Department of Law and looks forward to fixing any misunderstandings.
--https://alaskabeacon.com/james-brooks
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