ORLANDO,Fla. — Action 9 reveals how some used-car dealers keep violating state regulations and get away with it. Its investigation found that dealers caught cheating customers can pay a small fine and still keep all the victims' money.
David Becker never drove the Jeep Patriot off the lot but Luxury Cars and Financial in Winter Park kept his $4,000.
"Everything they told me thus far is a lie," said Becker.
He said he paid a refundable deposit for the vehicle so if it didn't pass an inspection he was to get the $4,000 back. But when it failed, the dealership kept his cash.
"We don't want this to happen to other people," Becker said.
Action 9's Todd Ulrich found it happened to many buyers who dealt with the same finance manager, Kenan Moussly.
Ulrich found Moussly at Luxury Cars.
"David Becker's $4,200?" Ulrich asked Moussly.
"I do not give you my consent. You cannot videotape without my consent," said Moussly.
"How can you keep the money, he doesn't have a car?" Ulrich asked Moussly.
Before moving to Luxury Cars, Moussly managed Universal Auto Plaza on West Colonial Drive. Action 9 obtained the state's customer complaint history there since last year. Eight separate times the Division of Motor Vehicles cited the dealership for deposit violations. Still, four customers didn't get their money back.
Latasha Taylor lost $6,000.
"It was a big blow to us because I'm not a rich person," she said.
Including all violations, DMV cited the dealer 12 separate times but only fined the dealer in eight cases. Each fine was $500.
Critics say its lax enforcement made it cheaper to pay fines than refund customers.
"There's knowledge among car dealers that it's highly unlikely they'll ever be held accountable for their wrongdoing," said attorney Taras Rudnitsky.
After Ulrich contacted DMV, Luxury Cars was cited for a violation then returned Becker's money.
"I was a victim," said Becker.
Luxury Motors refunded the money without admitting guilt.
Universal Auto paid its fines but maintained its innocence. It did say new management has changed how business is done.
WFTV
