Car Dealers' Ads Are Deceptive

DALLAS Fourteen Houston-area car dealerships accused of deceptive trade practices have agreed to refund fees that were not disclosed in ads, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said.

The fees, amounting to $200 to $450 per sale, covered the price of coupons that consumers were required to buy, even though the coupon cost was not disclosed in the ad for the cars, Abbott said.

“The law requires dealers to sell vehicles at prices advertised. It does not allow for dealers to inflate that price by tacking on fees for coupons and passing this off as mandatory,” Abbott said.