Terry Goddard Announces Settlement with Used Car Dealership

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 1, 2006) Attorney General Terry Goddard announced a $54,000 settlement with the owners of Prieto’s Auto Sales, a used car dealership with three locations in Phoenix.

The settlement requires Prieto’s Auto Sales to pay refunds to victims who filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office, plus attorneys’ fees and investigation costs.

According to court documents, Prieto’s consistently led consumers to believe that the dealership would finance the cost of its vehicles, often knowing that the customers would not qualify for a loan. In some instances, Prieto’s repossessed vehicles that were purchased by consumers who were denied credit and failed to return down payments. In other cases, the vehicles customers purchased had defects that made them inoperable soon after purchase. Prieto’s also did not honor its 15-day/500-mile warranty nor make repairs promised at the time the vehicles were purchased.

Under the settlement, Prieto’s agreed:

  • To not sell vehicles with any substantial defects.
  • To make promised repairs before a new owner takes possession of the vehicle.
  • To return down payments on vehicles when customers cannot obtain financing.
  • To comply with the Truth in Lending Act requirements.

Assistant Attorney General Nancy V. Anger handled this case.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General's Office has 23 satellite offices throughout the state with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General's Web site at www.azag.gov. Consumers are also encouraged to sign up on the Web site to receive consumer advisories from the Attorney General.