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Ford Motor Credit Reaches Settlement with States over Leasing Practices

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
June 30, 2004

The office of the Michigan Attorney General has announced that it has reached a multistate settlement with Ford Motor Credit regarding its leasing practices. This settlement will affect more than 150,000 Ford customers and bring $485,500 to the state of Michigan in legal fees and costs.

In addition, 37 other states have joined in the settlement involving Ford Motor Credit's “Red Carpet” leasing program, which came under scrutiny when a multistate group of investigators found that early termination of vehicle leases resulted in charges that were sometimes higher than the actual balance owed in the lease. Dealers would notify customers of the balance due, which included an additional charge not owed to Ford Motor Credit under the terms of the lease. The dealer would discharge the lease obligation to Ford Motor Credit but kept the extra amount charged to consumers, who were unaware of the correct payoff figure.

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