Almost half-a-million Quebecers could be eligible for a credit after a class action lawsuit settlement was approved by a Quebec judge over car dealerships that charged hidden fees.
In the suit, 220 Quebec new and used car dealers were accused of charging their customers nearly $300 million in hidden fees.
A settlement agreement involving 150 of those dealerships was approved by the Superior Court of Quebec on Oct. 8.
“They had bought vehicles, and they ended up paying more than had been announced to them prior to purchasing the vehicles in question,” said articling student Philippe Brault with Lambert Avocats.
The Automobile Protection Association’s George Iny said the hidden costs were bogus.
“Definitely illegal retailing practices,” he said… And it got out of hand. The regulators really weren’t able to do it. And it created this opportunity for a law firm to take a suit.”
…Iny said that the credit per client isn’t much, but the dealerships also have to pay legal fees and he estimates that to total around $5 million.