Beware when car shopping for your next "great deal."-

 

The Maryland Attorney General's office has filed charges against a car dealership (not on the Eastern Shore) for unfair or deceptive trade practices:

Deceptively charging consumers a fee equal to an extra 2% of the vehicle sales price that Respondents misleadingly call a "sales commission" and claim is "optional," when the fee is not a commission to a salesperson and consumers were unaware of their option to not pay the fee.

Deceptively charging consumers more for their vehicles than the advertised price, including for significant charges for already installed equipment and dealer markup.

Financing the sale of added products, such as their "...Assurance" and "...Protection Plan," in an unlawful manner.

Deceptively packing consumer vehicle sales transactions with unwanted equipment and products; and

Failing to disclose and itemize all goods and services that consumers are paying for when they purchase a new vehicle, and the cost of those services and products, as required under Maryland law.