Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, FRANCHISING & DISTRIBUTION NEWS: FTC seeks public comment on car buying survey, (Dec 29, 2015)

By Jody Coultas, J.D.

Consumers are invited to comment on a proposed qualitative survey on their experiences in buying and financing automobiles at dealerships. The FTC will review the comments before seeking clearance for the survey from the Office of Management and Budget.

The FTC asks whether the survey, which will include consumer interviews and receipt of consumers’ purchase and finance documents, is necessary and useful. Consumers are also asked to comment on the accuracy of estimates of the burden on consumers surveyed, ways to enhance the quality of the information collected, and ways to minimize the burden of collecting information. The proposed survey will provide the FTC with insights into consumers’ understanding of the automobile purchasing and financing process.

Over the last four years, the FTC has filed more than 25 cases against dealerships, including a law enforcement sweep of 10 actions against auto dealers for deceptive advertising, and a federal-state effort that yielded more than 200 actions for fraud, deception, and other illegal practices.

Instructions for filing comments will appear in the Federal Register Notice, which will be published shortly. Comments must be received on or before 60 days after the notice appears in the Federal Register.

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