DOJ will indict Toyota and Lexus executives on new allegations of conspiracy to defraud consumers, misrepresentation and bait and switch?
By Sherri Jefferson From WN
DOJ will indict Toyota and Lexus executives on new allegations of conspiracy to defraud consumers, misrepresentation and bait and switch? by Sherri Jefferson
For the last decade, Toyota and Lexus have been plagued by criminal and civil liability for knowingly, intentionally, wantonly and maliciously placing defective automobiles into the stream of commerce.
Some of their defective devices include, but is not limited to, a defective throttle control system aka Electronic Throttle Control System with Intelligence and notably, damaged floor mats, which caused the accelerator to get jammed and to become inoperable. These defects have led to deaths.
Aside from the recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), both Toyota and Lexus continued to sell these vehicles to new consumers and denied repairs to car owners.
Executives employed by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. knew and had reason to know about these defects, but did nothing about them until challenged by NHTSA or faced with litigation.
In fact, over a period of several years Toyota [Lexus] continued to sell vehicles known to be defective while their Office of General Counsel defended against allegations of defects under the auspice of forcing families of deceased consumers to prove their cases. Later, after the DOJ charged Toyota, their executives admitted to misleading and defrauding consumers.
Recently, the judge of the United States District Court dismissed charges against Toyota and the Department of Justice accepted a $1.2 billion dollar payment, which stemmed from a 2014 case.
However, now Toyota [Lexus] has engaged in new acts, which warrant new charges.
Together, in concert with Toyota Motor Credit and Toyota Financial Services, Lexus is knowingly defrauding consumers with a “Build a Car” online scam. The site promotes the ability to build a car, which can be delivered to a nearby dealership for pick-up.
However, unlike BMW, both Toyota and Lexus knew or had reason to know that they do not offer a build a car platform.
Consumers spend hours at Lexus.com building their dream vehicle. Then, they are prompted to provide credit and financial information to Lexus. Thereafter, unbeknownst to the consumer, Lexus shares this information with Toyota Motor Credit. In turn, Toyota shares the information with local dealerships, without the knowledge, authorization or written consent of the consumer.
After spending hours building a car and providing personal and financial information, a dealership sales and marketing team contacts the consumer. However, they lure the consumers to their dealership to purchase a different vehicle than built online.
The independent dealerships tell the consumers that no such vehicle exists. Consumers are generally lured to purchase a more expensive vehicle – almost $10 – $15 thousand dollars more than the price quoted online by Lexus.com
Lexus is engaged in the classic case of “Bait and Switch.”
After conferring with CEO James Lentz’s office; Communicating with General Counsel Christopher Reynolds via Lydia Hervatin, Esq. and conversing with Toyota’s customer service executive officer, Amanda Martin-Palmay, neither the executive office nor the office of general counsel were able to answer or explain why Lexus is engaged in these practices.
In fact, throughout the 21-days of investigating these deceptive business practices, their departments actually ignored the underlying issue of the “build the car online” scam. The advantages of building a car online is to save time, avoid scams, and to purchase a vehicle from the comfort of home. Women who also balance home, school, community and work, generally benefit from this service. Has Lexus targeted this group?
Hopefully, the Department of Justice and the United States Senate Commerce Committee will secure answers to the following questions:
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives knew that the Lexus.com site falsely promotes a “build the car” platform of vehicles unavailable to consumers?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives knew that the Lexus.com site secures personal and financial information on behalf of Toyota Motor Credit to be disseminated to independent dealerships to lure perspective buyers?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives knew that the Lexus.com site “build a car online” is a tool for “bait and switch”?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives knew that the Lexus.com site is engaged in false advertisement?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the nature of the Lexus.com “build a car online” platform for consumers?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives fraudulently concealed the true nature of the Lexus.com “Build a Car Online” platform for consumers?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives engaged in deceptive conduct by misrepresenting to consumers that they could “build a car online”?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives have knowingly violated privacy laws by sharing personal and financial consumer information with independent dealerships?
Whether Toyota and Lexus executives are knowingly targeting women buyers under the false advertisement of “build a car online”?
Hopefully, the United States Department of Justice and the United States Senate Commerce Committee will secure answers to these questions. Further, consumers look forward to a returned indictment against Toyota [Lexus].
Sherri Jefferson www.SherriJefferson.com and the www.TheLawMobile.com
For more on this story go to: https://article.wn.com/view/2017/10/18/DOJ_will_indict_Toyota_and_Lexus_executives_on_new_allegatio/
