[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30546-30549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14138]



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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
[File No. 932-3340]


Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc., et al.; Proposed Consent Agreement With 
Analysis to Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed consent agreement.

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SUMMARY: In settlement of alleged violations of federal law prohibiting 
unfair and deceptive acts and practices and unfair methods of 
competition, this consent agreement, accepted subject to final 
Commission approval, would require, among other things, three 
corporations in Annandale, Virginia and Leesburg, Virginia and their 
President and CEO, individually and as an officer of the three 
corporations, in any advertisement to promote any extension of consumer 
credit, to cease and desist from misrepresenting the terms of financing 
the purchase of a vehicle, including whether there may be a balloon 
payment and the amount of any balloon payment. The order would also 
require the respondents, in any advertisement to promote any extension 
of consumer credit, to cease and desist from failing to state all terms 
required by Sections 226.24(b) and 226.24(c) of Regulation Z. The order 
would also require the respondents, in any advertisement to aid, 
promote or assist any consumer lease, to cease and desist from failing 
to state all terms required by Section 213.5(c) of Regulation M.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 8, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: FTC/Office of the Secretary, 
Room 159, 6th St. and Pa. Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carole Reynolds, FTC/S-4429, 
Washington, D.C. 20580. (202) 326-3230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46 and Section 2.34 of 
the Commission's Rules of Practice (16 CFR 2.34), notice is hereby 
given that the following consent agreement containing a consent order 
to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to 
final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record 
for a period of sixty (60) days. Public comment is invited. Such 
comments or views will be considered by the Commission and will be 
available for inspection and copying of its principal office in 
accordance with Section 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice (16 CFR 4.9(b)(6)(ii).

Agreement Containing Consent Order to Cease and Desist

    In The Matter of Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc.: John's Ford Inc. dba 
Jerry's Leesburg Ford; Jerry's Chevrolet Geo Oldsmobile, Inc.; 
corporations, and Jerry C. Cohen, individually and as an officer of 
the corporations.

[Docket No. 932-3340]

    The agreement herein, by and between Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc., 
John's Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford, and Jerry's Chevrolet Geo 
Oldsmobile, Inc., corporations, by their duly authorized officer, and 
Jerry C. Cohen, individually and as an officer of the corporations 
(hereinafter sometimes referred to as ``proposed respondents'' or 
``respondents''), and counsel for the Federal Trade Commission, is 
entered into in accordance with the Commission's Rule governing consent 
order procedures. In accordance therewith the parties hereby agree 
that:
    1. Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc. is a corporation organized, existing, 
and doing business under and by virtue of the laws of the State of 
Delaware, with its principal office and place of business located at 
6510 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Virginia 22003. Proposed 
respondent admits all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the draft 
complaint.
    2. John's Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford is a corporation 
organized, existing, and doing business under and by virtue of the laws 
of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with its principal office and place of 
business located at 847 East Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 22075. 
Proposed respondent admits all the jurisdictional facts set forth in 
the draft complaint.
    3. Jerry's Chevrolet Geo Oldsmobile, Inc., is a corporation 
organized, existing, and doing business under and by virtue of the laws 
of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with its principal office and place of 
business located at 325 East Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 22075. 
Proposed respondent admits all the jurisdictional facts set forth in 
the draft complaint.
    4. Jerry C. Cohen is an individual and an officer and director of 
the aforenamed corporate respondents. He formulates, directs and 
controls the acts and practices of the aforenamed corporate 
respondents, including the acts and practices hereinafter set forth. 
His business address is 6510 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Virginia 
22003. Proposed respondent admits all the jurisdictional facts set 
forth in the draft complaint.
    5. Proposed respondents waive:
    a. Any further procedural steps;
    b. The requirement that the Commission's decision contain a 
statement of findings of fact and conclusions of law;
    c. All rights to seek judicial review or otherwise to challenge or 
contest the validity of the order entered pursuant to this agreement; 
and
    d. All claims under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
    6. This agreement shall not become part of the public record of the 
proceeding unless and until it is accepted by the Commission. If this 
agreement is accepted by the Commission, it, together with the draft of 
the complaint contemplated thereby, will be placed on the public record 
for a period of sixty (60) days and information in respect thereto 
publicly released. The Commission thereafter may either withdraw its 
acceptance of this agreement and so notify the proposed respondents, in 
which event it will take such action as it may consider appropriate, or 
issue and serve its complaint (in such form as the circumstances may 
require) and decision, in disposition of the proceeding.
    7. This agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not 
constitute [[Page 30547]] an admission by proposed respondents that the 
law has been violated as alleged in the draft of the complaint or that 
the facts alleged in the draft complaint, other than the jurisdictional 
facts, are true.
    8. This agreement contemplates that, if it is accepted by the 
Commission, and if such acceptance is not subsequently withdrawn by the 
Commission's Rules, the Commission may, without further notice to the 
proposed respondents, (a) issue its complaint corresponding in form and 
substance with the draft of the complaint and its decision containing 
the following order to cease and desist in disposition of the 
proceeding and (b) make information public in respect thereto. When so 
entered, the order to cease and desist shall have the same force and 
effect and may be altered, modified, or set aside in the same manner 
and within the same time provided by statute for other orders. The 
order shall become final upon service. Delivery by the U.S. Postal 
Service of the complaint and decision containing the agreed-to order to 
proposed respondents' addresses as stated in this agreement shall 
constitute service. Proposed respondents waive any right they may have 
to any other manner of service. The complaint may be used in construing 
the terms of the order, and no agreement, understanding, 
representation, or interpretation not contained in the order or the 
agreement may be used to vary or contradict the terms of the order.
    9. Proposed respondents have read the proposed complaint and order 
contemplated hereby. Proposed respondents understand that once the 
order has been issued, they will be required to file one or more 
compliance reports showing that they have fully complied with the 
order. Proposed respondents further understand that they may be liable 
for civil penalties in the amount provided by law for each violation of 
the order after it becomes final.

Order

I

    It is ordered that respondent Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc., John's 
Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford, Jerry's Chevrolet Geo Oldsmobile 
Inc., corporations, their successors and assigns and their officers, 
and Jerry C. Cohen, individually and as an officer of the corporate 
respondents, and respondents' agents, representatives, and employees, 
directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or any other 
device, in connection with any advertisement to promote directly or 
indirectly any extension of consumer credit, as ``advertisement,'' and 
``consumer credit'' are defined in the TILA and Regulation Z, do 
forthwith cease and desist from:
    A. Misrepresenting in any manner, directly or by implication, the 
terms of financing the purchase of a vehicle, including but not limited 
to whether there may be a balloon payment and the amount of any balloon 
payment.
    B. Stating a rate of finance charge without stating the rate as an 
``annual percentage rate'' or the abbreviation ``APR,'' using that 
term, and failing to calculate the rate in accordance with Regulation 
Z. If the annual percentage rate may be increased after consummation, 
the advertisement shall state that fact. The advertisement shall not 
state any other rate, except that a simple annual rate or periodic rate 
that is applied to an unpaid balance may be stated in conjunction with, 
but not more conspicuously than, the annual percentage rate.

(Sections 144 and 107 of the TILA, 15 U.S.C. 1664 and 1606, and 
Sections 226.24(b) and 226.22 of Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.24(b) and 
226.22, as more fully set out in Sections 226.24(b) and 226.22 of 
the Federal Reserve Board's Official Staff Commentary to Regulation 
Z, 12 CFR 226.24(b) and 226.22, respectively.)

    C. Stating any number or amount of payment(s) required to repay the 
debt, without stating accurately, clearly and conspicuously, all of the 
terms required by Regulation Z, as follows:
    (1) The amount or percentage of the downpayment;
    (2) The terms of repayment, including the amount of any balloon 
payment, and
    (3) The annual percentage rate, using that term or the abbreviation 
``APR.'' If the annual percentage rate may be increased after 
consummation of the credit transaction, that fact must also be 
disclosed.

Section 144 of the TILA, 15 U.S.C. 1664, and Section 226.24(c) of 
Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.24(c), as more fully set out in Section 
226.24(c) of the Federal Reserve Board's Official Staff Commentary 
to Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.24(c).)

    D. Stating the amount or percentage of any downpayment, the number 
of payments or period of repayment, the amount of any payment, or the 
amount of any finance charge, without stating, clearly and 
conspicuously, all of the terms required by Regulation Z, as follows:
    (1) The amount or percentage of the downpayment;
    (2) The terms of repayment, and
    (3) The annual percentage rate, using that term or the abbreviation 
``APR.'' If the annual percentage rate may be increased after 
consummation of the credit transaction, that fact must also be 
disclosed.

(Section 144 of the TILA, 15 U.S.C. 1664, and Section 226.24(c) of 
Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.24(c).)

    E. Failing to state only those terms that actually are or will be 
arranged or offered by the creditor, in any advertisement for credit 
that states specific credit terms, as required by Regulation Z.

(Section 144 of the TILA, 15 U.S.C. 1664, and Section 226.24(a) of 
Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.24(a).)

    F. Failing to comply in any other respect with Regulation Z and the 
TILA.

(Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. 226, as amended, and the TILA, 15 U.S.C. 
1601-1667, as amended.)

II

    It is ordered that respondents Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc., John's 
Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford, Jerry's Chevrolet Geo Oldsmobile, 
Inc., corporations, their successors and assigns and their officers, 
and Jerry C. Cohen, individually and as an officer of the corporate 
respondents, and respondents' agents, representatives, and employees, 
directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or any other 
device, in connection with any advertisement to aid, promote or assist 
directly or indirectly any consumer lease, as ``advertisement,'' and 
``consumer lease'' are defined in the CLA and Regulation M, do 
forthwith cease and desist from:
    A. Stating the amount of any payment, the number of required 
payments, or that any or no downpayment or other payment is required at 
consummation of the lease, unless all of the following items are 
disclosed, clearly and conspicuously, as applicable, as required by 
Regulation M:
    (1) That the transaction advertised is a lease;
    (2) The total amount of any payment such as a security deposit or 
capitalized cost reduction required at the consummation of the lease, 
or that no such payments are required;
    (3) The number, amounts, due dates or periods of scheduled 
payments, and the total of such payments under the lease;
    (4) A statement of whether or not the lessee has the option to 
purchase the leased property and at what price and time (the method of 
determining the price may be substituted for disclosure of the price), 
and
    (5) A statement of the amount or method of determining the amount 
of [[Page 30548]] any liabilities the lease imposes upon the lessee at 
the end of the term and a statement that the lessee shall be liable for 
the difference, if any, between the estimated value of the leased 
property and its realized value at the end of the lease term, if the 
lessee has such liability.

(Section 184 of the CLA, 15 U.S.C. 1667c, and Section 213.5(c) of 
Regulation M, 12 CFR 213.5(c).)

    B. Stating that a specific lease of any property at specific 
amounts or terms is available unless the lessor usually and customarily 
leases or will lease such property at those amounts or terms, as 
required by Regulation M.

(Section 184 of the CLA, 15 U.S.C. 1667c, and Section 213.5(a) of 
Regulation M, 12 CFR 213.5(a).)

    C. Failing to comply in any other respect with Regulation M and the 
CLA.

(Regulation M, 12 CFR 213, and the CLA, 15 U.S.C. 1667-1667e, as 
amended.)

III

    It is further ordered that respondents, their successors and 
assigns shall distribute a copy of this order to any present or future 
officers, agents, representatives, and employees having responsibility 
with respect to the subject matter of this order and that respondents, 
their successors and assigns shall secure from each such person a 
signed statement acknowledging receipt of said order.

IV

    It is further ordered that respondents, their successors and 
assigns shall promptly notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days 
prior to any proposed change in the corporate entity such as 
dissolution, assignment, or sale resulting in the emergence of a 
successor corporation, the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries, or 
any other change in the corporation which may affect compliance 
obligations arising out of the order.

V

    It is further ordered that for five years after the date of service 
of this order respondents, their successors and assigns shall maintain 
and upon request make available all records that will demonstrate 
compliance with the requirements of this order.

VI

    It is further ordered that respondents, their successors and 
assigns shall, within sixty days (60) days of the date of service of 
this order, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting 
forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied with 
this order.
Analysis of Proposed Consent Order to Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission has accepted an agreement to a 
proposed consent order from respondents Jerry's Ford Sales, Inc., 
John's Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford, Jerry's Chevrolet Geo 
Oldsmobile, Inc., and Jerry C. Cohen, individually and as an officer of 
the corporations.\1\

    \1\ In this Analysis to Aid Public Comment, Jerry's Ford Sales, 
Inc. and John's Ford, Inc. dba Jerry's Leesburg Ford are referred to 
collectively as ``respondent Jerry's Ford.'' Jerry's Chevrolet Geo 
Oldsmobile, Inc. is referred to as ``respondent Jerry's Chevy.'' 
Jerry C. Cohen is referred to as ``respondent Cohen.''
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    The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for 
sixty (60) days for reception of comments by interested persons. 
Comments received during this period will become part of the public 
record. After sixty (60) days, the Commission will again review the 
agreement and the comments received and will decide whether it should 
withdraw from the agreement or make final the agreement's proposed 
order.
    The complaint alleges that respondents Jerry's Ford and Cohen have 
disseminated or caused to be disseminated advertisement that state an 
initial low monthly payment and in fine print, inter alia, state an 
initial number of payments and another amount variously described as 
``optional final payment,'' ``optional final price,'' of ``COP.'' The 
complaint alleges that these advertisements misrepresent that the 
remaining obligation is optional and fail to disclose that the 
financing to be signed at purchase requires the consumer to make a 
substantial balloon payment at the conclusion of the initial payments, 
which is a mandatory obligation, and have therefore engaged in an 
unfair and deceptive act or practice, in violation of Section 5(a) of 
the Federal Trade Commission Act. The complaint also alleges that these 
advertisements state an initial number and amount of payments required 
to repay the indebtedness and another amount variously described as 
``optional final payment,'' ``optional final price,'' or ``COP,'' but 
fail to accurately state the terms of repayment, by failing to disclose 
that the additional amount required is a final payment and by 
inaccurately stating that the final amount is optional when, in fact, 
it is mandatory based on the financing to be signed at purchase, in 
violation of the TILA and Section 226.24(c) of Regulation Z.
    The complaint also alleges that respondents Jerry's Ford and Cohen 
have disseminated or caused to be disseminated advertisements that 
state a rate of finance charge without stating that rate as an ``annual 
percentage rate,'' using that term or the abbreviation ``APR,'' and 
have failed to calculate that rate in accordance with Regulation Z, in 
violation of the TILA and Sections 226.22 and 226.24(b) of Regulation 
Z, and have also engaged in an unfair and deceptive act or practice, in 
violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act.
    The complaint also alleges that respondents Jerry's Chevy and Cohen 
have disseminated or caused to be disseminated advertisements that 
state an initial, low monthly payment and an initial number of payments 
but fail to disclose that the financing to be signed at purchase 
requires the consumer to make a substantial final balloon payment, and 
have therefore engaged in an unfair and deceptive act or practice, in 
violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. The complaint also alleges 
that these advertisements state an initial number and amount of 
payments required to repay the indebtedness, but fail to accurately 
state the terms of repayment, by failing to disclose the amount of the 
final balloon payment required at the end of the initial payments, 
based on the financing to be signed at purchase, in violation of the 
TILA and Section 226.24(c) of Regulation Z.
    The complaint also alleges that respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen have disseminated or caused to be disseminated 
advertisements that state the amount of percentage of any downpayment, 
the number of payments of period of repayment, or the amount of any 
payment, but fail to state all of the terms required by Regulation Z, 
as follows: The amount or percentage of the downpayment, the terms of 
repayment, and the annual percentage rate, using that term or the 
abbreviation ``APR,'' in violation of the TILA and Section 226.24(c) of 
Regulation Z.
    The complaint also alleges that respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen have disseminated or caused to be disseminated 
advertisements that state the amount of any payment, the number of 
required payments, or that any or no downpayment or other payment is 
required at consummation of the lease, but fail to state all of the 
terms required by Regulation M, as applicable and as follows: That the 
transaction advertised is a lease; the total amount of any payment such 
as a security deposit or capitalized cost reduction required at the 
consummation of the lease or that no such payments are required; the 
[[Page 30549]] number, amount, due dates or periods of scheduled 
payments, and the total of such payments under the lease; and a 
statement of whether or not the lessee has the option to purchase the 
leased property and at what price and time (the method of determining 
the price may be substituted for disclosure of the price), in violation 
of the CLA and Section 213.5(c) of Regulation M.
    The proposed order prohibits respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen, in any advertisement to promote any extension of 
consumer credit, from misrepresenting in any manner, directly or by 
implication, the terms of financing the purchase of a vehicle, 
including but not limited to whether there may be a balloon payment and 
the amount of any balloon payment.
    The proposed order also prohibits respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen, in any advertisement to promote any extension of 
consumer credit, from stating a rate of finance charge without stating 
the rate as an ``annual percentage rate,'' using that term or the 
abbreviation ``APR,'' and from failing to calculate the rate in 
accordance with Regulation Z.
    The proposed order also requires respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen, in any advertisement to promote any extension of 
consumer credit, whenever the number or amount of payments required to 
repay the debt are stated, to accurately, clear and conspicuously, 
state all of the terms required by Regulation Z, as follows: the amount 
or percentage of the downpayment; the terms of repayment, including the 
amount of any balloon payment, and the annual percentage rate.
    The proposed order also requires respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen, in any advertisement to promote any extension of 
consumer credit, whenever the number or amount of payments required to 
repay the debt are stated, to accurately, clearly and conspicuously, 
state all of the terms required by Regulation Z, as follows: The amount 
or percentage of the downpayment, the terms of repayment, and the 
annual percentage rate. The proposed order also requires respondents 
Jerry's Ford, Jerry's Chevy and Cohen to state only those terms that 
actually are or will be arranged or offered by the creditor, in any 
credit advertisement.
    The proposed order also requires respondents Jerry's Ford, Jerry's 
Chevy and Cohen, in any advertisement to aid, promote or assist any 
consumer lease, whenever the amount of any payment, the number of 
required payments, or that any or no downpayment or other payment is 
required at consummation of the lease is stated, to state, clearly and 
conspicuously, all of the terms required by Regulation M, as applicable 
and as follows: That the transaction advertised is a lease; the total 
amount of any payment such as a security deposit or capitalized cost 
reduction required at the consummation of the lease, or that no such 
payments are required; the number, amounts, due dates or periods of 
scheduled payments, and the total of such payments under the lease; a 
statement of whether or not the lessee has the option to purchase the 
leased property and at what price and time (the method of determining 
the price may be substituted for disclosure of the price), and a 
statement of the amount or method of determining the amount of any 
liabilities the lease imposes upon the lessee at the end of the term 
and a statement that the lessee shall be liable for the difference, if 
any, between the estimated value of the leased property and its 
realized value at the end of the lease term if the lessee has such 
liability. The proposed order also requires respondents in any lease 
advertisement to state that a specific lease of any property at 
specific amounts or terms is available only if the lessor usually and 
customarily leases or will lease such property at those amounts or 
terms.
    The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the 
proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official 
interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify in an 
way their terms.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-14138 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M