On October 24, the FTC and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced 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 action was brought under the FTC Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and the Wisconsin Consumer Act.
The complaint alleges 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.
