Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Used Car Buyer’s Guide comment period extended; comment sought on Fair Packaging and Labeling rules, (Jan 22, 2015)
Organizations Mentioned:National Automobile Dealers Association
The FTC is extending its comment period for proposed changes to its Used Car Rule, and is also seeking comment on its Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) rules.
Based upon a request from the National Automobile Dealers Association, the FTC is extending through March 17, 2015, the public comment period for proposed changes to its Used Car Rule.
In December 2012, the FTC sought public comments on proposed changes to the Buyers Guide, a window sticker car dealers are required to display on used cars offered for sale. The Buyers Guide discloses whether the dealer is offering to sell a used car “as is” (without a warranty), or with a warranty.
In response to comments the Commission received, the agency now seeks comments on additional proposed changes to the Used Car Rule, including:
requiring dealers to indicate on the Buyers Guide whether they have obtained a vehicle history report and, if so, to provide a copy to consumers who request one;
revising the Buyers Guide statement describing an “As Is” sale;
moving boxes to the face of the Buyers Guide where dealers can indicate whether “non-dealer” warranties apply to a vehicle; and
placing a statement, in Spanish, on the face of the English-language Buyers Guide, advising Spanish-speaking consumers to ask for the Buyers Guide in Spanish if they cannot read it in English.
Separately, the FTC is seeking comment on proposed amendments to its Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) rules. In March 2014, the FTC sought public comment on the FPLA rules. In response to comments received, the Commission proposes amendments to the rules, including modernizing the place-of-business listing requirement to incorporate online resources and eliminating obsolete references to commodities advertised using the terms “cents off,” “introductory offer,” and “economy size.”
News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews