In Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Robert Plant sings, “If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, it’s just a spring clean for the May Queen.” More than a light dusting or even a major spring cleaning, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has our industry in the crosshairs, and it’s coming after some dealers with a vengeance. It is targeting dealers who have created allegedly deceptive and misleading advertising. Over the last few years, nearly 20 dealerships and groups have been penalized and sanctioned, with 10 lawsuits filed to date under the FTC’s current campaign.
The current scourge was officially announced in a press release on Jan. 9. Using language befitting a military operation, the FTC described the campaign as a “nationwide sweep focusing on the sale, financing, and leasing of motor vehicles.” It even has an official name: “Operation Steer Clear.” You can find the full story under the “News & Events” tab at FTC.gov.
Read the whole article on F&I Showroom here.
