TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Jacksonville used car dealership is being sued by the Florida Attorney General's office for alleged violations, including affixing GPS tracking devices to cars without the consumer knowledge, threatening its clients other violations of Florida's consumer protection laws.
The suit names Beach Boulevard Automotive Inc., Beach Boulevard Auto Finance Inc., John King Sr. and Barbara King as defendants accused of unfair and deceptive business practices. The lawsuit seeks restitution for harmed consumers, civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation, attorneys fees and costs, and injunctive relief.
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?According to some complaints, this business tracked consumers down using GPS devices and then repossessed vehicles even though consumers were current on payments,? said Attorney General Pam Bondi. ?Nearly 80 consumers filed complaints with our office, and our priority in this case is to return money to harmed consumers through restitution and to halt any fraudulent business practices.?
The complaint includes eight counts, including one that accuses the company of threatening customers with force or violence and using obscene and harassing language.
The remaining counts include requiring certain consumers to purchase credit life insurance as a condition of sale, tracking vehicles via GPS tracking devices without consumer knowledge or authorization, adding a pre-delivery inspection feed without disclosure, posting false reviews on the Internet, selling cars on installment contracts without a license and unlawfully prepossessing vehicles.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Better Business Bureau have also received complaints against Beach Boulevard Automotive.
"An investigation does not constitute proof of any violation of law," Beach Boulevard Automotive President John King said. "It also says in the letter from Pam Bondi, the news release, it says 'alleged violation.' An alleged violation means that they alleged it and they haven't proven it yet. And of course, we're going to have a court of law to do that."
