The state attorney general is suing a used car dealer in Connecticut for allegedly failing to perform safety inspections and misleading customers.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a lawsuit against A Better Way Wholesale Autos, Inc. in Naugatuck. The wholesale used car dealership bills itself as the state’s “highest volume, lowest priced car dealership,” with more than 700 used vehicles in stock. The company also claims to offer “financial solutions for all credit levels” and extended warranties available for purchase, according to its website.
Tong’s office has been investigating the business since 2021, following numerous consumer complaints, according to a news release.
Among the complaints are reports that vehicles were not inspected before sale and that some had defective engines, transmissions, suspensions and other major components that failed shortly after sale, sometimes making the cars undriveable. . Other complaints cited undisclosed damage, accident histories and flood damage, Tong’s office said.
“A Better Way Wholesale Autos failed to complete or document critical safety inspections required by law. It seems that they sold damaged used cars and hid relevant information from consumers. Their egregious actions are a clear violation of state statutes that jeopardized the safety of their clients and others on the road. We gave A Better Way every opportunity to work with us to improve its conduct and do the right thing for its customers. They failed. “We are bringing this action today to hold them accountable for these deceptive practices,” Tong said.
In the lawsuit filed May 28, the attorney general filed four counts against A Better Way, including one count of unfairness in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and one count of deception. The lawsuit alleges that the company offered used vehicles for sale that lacked necessary safety inspections and related documentation.
State statute requires a thorough safety inspection before any retail sale of used cars. Any unrepaired defects should be noted. Any vehicle sold “as is” must be prominently marked as such, and the purchase order, invoice, title, and transfer documents must be marked “not legally roadworthy.”
“While it is always wrong to mislead consumers about what they are purchasing, it is particularly egregious to do so when that misinformation puts those consumers and others on the road in physical danger,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “Comprehensive safety inspections are required for a reason, and we are hopeful that this action will prevent unsafe vehicles from being sold to unwitting consumers in the future.”
The lawsuit seeks restitution for consumers who purchased damaged cars for up to $5,000 per person in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. Additionally, the lawsuit seeks to ensure that A Better Way fully complies with state laws in the future, Tong’s office said in a news release.
A Better Way Wholesale Autos did not respond to a request for comment.
You can contact Stephen Underwood at sunderwood@courant.com
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