Wisconsin - FTC and WI-DOJ sue Auto Dealer Group under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Case Summary October 24, 2023 --The Federal Trade Commission or FTC and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a $1.1 million settlement with a group of Wisconsin auto dealers for allegedly charging customers illegal junk fees and unlawfully discriminating against American Indian customers. The complaint was pursued under the FTC Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act , and the Wisconsin Consumer Act alleging that the defendants deceived customers into paying junk fees by charging for additional "add-on" services and products without customers' consent. The complaint further alleges that the defendants misled customers into thinking the add-on services were mandatory. The defendants also engaged in unlawful discrimination by charging American Indian customers higher fees and financing costs. American Indian customers were charged junk fees at a higher rate than non-Latino White customers. On average Am