The Kansas Attorney General takes action against Chad Franklin Suzuki. This comes four months after a Call For Action investigation into the dealership and it's advertisements.
The Attorney General filed a lawsuit for violations of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. While it was filed in Kansas, there is good news for the six-hundred plus consumers who took part in this Suzuki deal. Some victims live as far away as California.
You couldn't miss the ads, or the offer. You could drive a Suzuki free for life or just pay a small monthly fee. The ads aired over and over on the radio and television.
"They ran almost 10-thousand of these ads and spent almost a million dollars on this ad campaign," Kansas Attorney General Steve Six said. It's an ad campaign that Call For Action raised questions about in April.
"This was a very deceptive ad campaign," Six added. "We have at least 650 people enticed by these ads and ended up buying cars," Six said.
Customers like Rich Milburn are now stuck with a car worth less than the purchase price. "The car is worth about two-thirds of what we owe on it," Milburn said.
But Milburn is optimistic, now that a lawsuit has been filed. "It's nice to know they finally took action," Milburn added. He went on to say, "I hope people who have had their financial lives ruined get some compensation for having that happen."
The Kansas Attorney General is working with the dealership's insurance company to get consumers that compensation. It doesn't matter which side of the state line you live on. "Whether they are Missouri residents or not because it happened in Kansas, we will seek restitution and releases for them as well," Six said.
The lawsuit calls for Chad Franklin Suzuki to notify lenders, so this doesn't impact the credit of customers. The suit also wants the business to stop advertising and stop selling cars until full restitution is made. "One of the remedies I'm seeking is to shut down the dealership. It's gone through some tough times so it's exact status you'll have to ask them about," Six said.
On Monday we found the dealership still open for business. Once again nobody is answering questions. But the legal questions we exposed in April are finally getting attention. "It's good to hear they finally have done something," Milburn said.
The Missouri Attorney General has not returned our phone calls all day. But, remember Kansas will help victims no matter where you live.
Chad Franklin did not return our phone calls and his attorney is not commenting.
We also called Suzuki headquarters. They know about the lawsuit but won't comment pending legal action.
The Attorney General knows customers need action fast, and hopes to settle with the dealer's insurance company in less than six months.
