Medicine Hat car dealership has business licence suspended by AMVIC

“It’s very serious,” said Cathy Housdorff, Manager of Communications and Education with AMVIC, over the phone from Edmonton. “It contravenes a section of the Consumer Protection Act.”

The release says 21 registered vehicle seizure notices have been issued in relation to Autos R Less, of which nine vehicles were purchased by Alberta consumers.

The director’s order was issued on Friday, July 6.

“Once we start looking into something, we act very quickly,” said Housdorff.

Housdorff says the issue is serious for both the company and consumers.

“You don’t want to have your vehicle seized, and you don’t want to be paying for a vehicle that you no longer have,” she said. “It’s something, it’s full disclosure that, if there’s a lien on a vehicle, the consumer should know that.”

AMVIC is advising people who have purchased a vehicle from the dealership that has been repossessed should file a consumer complaint on amvic.org and seek independent legal advice.

Housdorff says anyone buying a vehicle should take several steps to protect themselves, including asking for an up-to-date vehicle history report, writing down the vehicle identification number on the car to allow a registry office to check the vehicle history, and be extra careful if you chose to buy a vehicle privately.

CHAT News phoned the business, but the person who answered the phone declined to comment.

The dealership’s licence will remain suspended until the AMVIC investigation has been completed and it can provide evidence that it is financially viable to operate with no risk to the consumer.

by Charles Lefebvre

Medicine Hat car dealership has business licence suspended by AMVIC

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