Additional business information
As of April 1, 2022:
The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Illinois are taking action against Napleton, a large, multistate auto dealer group based in Illinois, for sneaking illegal junk fees for unwanted “add-ons” onto customers’ bills and for discriminating against Black consumers by charging them more for financing. Napleton will pay $10 million to settle the lawsuit brought by the FTC and the State of Illinois, a record-setting monetary judgment for an FTC auto lending case.
The complaint against North American Automotive Services, Inc. (also known as Ed Napleton Automotive Group) alleges that eight of its dealerships and the general manager of two Illinois dealerships illegally tacked on junk fees for unwanted “add-on” products such as payment insurance and paint protection. The illegal junk fees cost consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
According to the complaint, the dealerships would often wait until the end of the hours-long negotiation process to sneak junk fees for add-on products and services into consumers’ purchase contracts, which often run as long as 60 pages. These junk fees were often added despite consumers specifically declining the add-ons or having confirmed prices that did not include the add-ons. In other cases, the consumers were falsely told the add-ons were free or were a requirement to purchase or finance their vehicle.
A survey cited in the complaint showed that 83 percent of buyers from the dealerships were charged junk fees for add-ons without authorization or as a result of deception. One consumer cited in the complaint reported that the dealership located in Arlington Heights, Ill., charged him for nearly $4,000 in add-on fees after he’d paid a similar amount in down payment.
The complaint also alleges that the Napleton dealerships discriminated against Black consumers in connection with financing vehicle purchases. Napleton employees had wide latitude to increase the cost of a consumer’s loan by increasing the amount paid in interest or adding add-ons to the final contract.
According to the complaint, Black customers at the dealerships were charged approximately $190 more in interest and paid $99 more for similar add-ons than similarly situated non-Latino White customers.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement with the FTC and the State of Illinois, $9.95 million of the $10 million judgment will be used to provide monetary relief to consumers, and $50,000 will be paid to the Illinois Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund.
The settlement will also the require the defendants to establish a comprehensive fair lending program that, among other components, will cap the additional interest markup they can charge consumers. The settlement also requires the defendants to charge consumers only with express, informed consent, and prohibits them from misrepresenting the cost or terms to buy, lease, or finance a car, or whether a fee or charge is optional.
The defendants in the case include:
Napleton’s North Palm Auto Park, Inc., also doing business as Napleton’s Northlake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (Lake Park, Fla.)
North Palm Motors, LLC, also doing business as Napleton’s Northlake Kia (North Palm Beach, Fla.)
LINK: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/04/ftc-takes-action-against-multistate-auto-dealer-napleton-sneaking-illegal-junk-fees-bills?utm_source=govdelivery
At-a-glance
Overview
Business Details
- Location of This Business
- 3701 Northlake Blvd, Lake Park, FL 33403-1629
- Headquarters
- 1 Oakbrook Terrace, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4485
- BBB File Opened:
- 7/19/2007
- Years in Business:
- 47
- Business Started:
- 1/1/1977
- Business Incorporated:
- 10/9/1991
- Accredited Since:
- 3/16/2011
- Licensing Information:
- This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.BBB records show a license number of 200906426 for this business, issued by Palm Beach Tax Collector
These agencies may include:
Palm Beach Tax Collector
PO Box 3715, 301 N. Oliver Ave, 3rd Flr
West Palm Beach FL 33402
https://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us
BBB records show a license number of MV0902297 for this business, issued by Florida Office of Financial RegulationThese agencies may include:
Florida Office of Financial Regulation
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
- Type of Entity:
- Corporation
- Alternate Business Name
- Napleton's Northalke AutoPark
- Napleton's Northlake Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
- Napleton's North Lake Dodge
- Business Management
- Ms. Kristen Napleton, Vice President
- Contact Information
Principal
- Ms. Kristen Napleton, Vice President
Customer Contact
- Mark Eddleman
- Ms. Kristen Napleton, Vice President
- Additional Contact Information
Fax Numbers
- (561) 625-4799Primary Fax
Phone Numbers
- (866) 258-6005Other Phone
- (877) 280-4929Other Phone
- (561) 625-4799
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