MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Two NY Dealers to Cease ‘Bogus’ Etch Sales

New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced that new-car dealerships in the Bronx and Westchester have agreed to end ‘fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal’ sales of a ‘bogus’ anti-theft product and offer restitution to at least 1,100 car buyers.

Tariq Kamal
Tariq KamalFormer Associate Publisher
Read Tariq's Posts
September 6, 2018
Two NY Dealers to Cease ‘Bogus’ Etch Sales

 

2 min to read


The New York attorney general’s office announced that dealerships in the Bronx and Westchester, N.Y., have agreed to end the fraudulent sale of an etch product and issue refunds to affected customers. Photo by iessi via Flickr

ALBANY, N.Y. — The directors of Victory Suzuki of the Bronx and Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont have agreed to a court order with the office of Barbara D. Underwood, attorney general of the State of New York. The order, which follows a December lawsuit that charged the dealership with “fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal” sales of a “bogus and unwanted” anti-theft product, enjoins the dealerships against said activity and calls for restitution to as many as 1,100 customers.

“This court order is a victory for New Yorkers who were ripped off by these car dealerships,” Underwood said. “The dealerships’ deceptive conduct led consumers to sign contracts that did not reflect the negotiated sale terms, frequently including unwanted aftermarket add-ons that they did not agree to. My office will continue to protect New York’s consumers and ensure that car dealerships comply with state law.”

The genesis of the lawsuit was a complaint filed by a customer who had been charged $1,995 for “Etch Guarantee” and didn’t recall agreeing to the purchase. A refund was issued to that customer following an official inquiry. Officials say the investigation that followed found hundreds of car buyers were similarly charged in amounts as low as $129 and as high as $3,998, adding that, in some cases, the etching of the unit’s VIN onto window glass was never performed.

In a statement announcing the court order, Underwood’s office announced that the crackdown on the practice of "jamming," or payment packing, launched by former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in 2015, has so far collected about $19 million in restitution and dealer fines on behalf of nearly 29,000 car buyers.

More F&I

F&IJanuary 7, 2026

Resistance to the Menu

In this video, Reese Dailey of the Automotive Training Academy by Assurant explains how to handle a customer who isn’t willing to listen to your pitch.

Read More →
two-vehicle rear-end collision
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJanuary 7, 2026

EV Collision Claims Spike

Third-quarter battery electric vehicle insurance claims were up 4% year-over-year. A new report says EV claims cost the most due to complex technology and limited after-market parts supply.

Read More →
TrainingDecember 10, 2025

Accountable Is as Accountable Does

Auto dealerships work better when all staffers own their duties.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&Iby StaffDecember 8, 2025

Remove the Warranty

Learn how you can show your F&I customers the unmistakable value of your offering.

Read More →
F&IDecember 3, 2025

The No. 1 Enemy of F&I Success

Instead of succumbing to it, keep your skills and knowledge sharp.

Read More →
F&Iby StaffNovember 17, 2025

F&I in the Gap

The office’s offerings can make the difference for cash-strapped consumers in an unpredictable market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&INovember 10, 2025

Singing a Gospel Song Backward

Crime and punishment in auto retail and how to avoid them

Read More →
F&INovember 5, 2025

One Bad Day

Trent White of the Automotive Training Academy by Assurant explains how to help customers see the high cost risk with even the most reliable vehicles.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellNovember 3, 2025

Q3 Auto Loans Reveal Stress

Data reflect growing finance activity on the extreme ends of credit risk scale

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&Iby Hannah MitchellOctober 29, 2025

The It Factor in F&I

What this valuable trait looks like in the day-to-day work of the sector

Read More →