The Ohio Attorney General's office has initiated legal challenges against two Central Ohio car dealerships over alleged consumer rights abuses, per an announcement made by Attorney General Dave Yost. The suits filed in Delaware and Franklin counties charge that the dealerships and their operators have engaged in practices that break the state's Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Certificate of Motor Vehicles Act, including complaints regarding withheld vehicle titles and odometer tampering.
In Delaware County, Starfleet Cars and its operator, Johnathan Paul Kirkham, are accused of failing to transfer titles properly, leaving numerous customers without legal proof of vehicle ownership. Yost's Consumer Protection Section addresses 32 title-related complaints by utilizing $138,135 from the Title Defect Recision (TDR) Fund, a provision to protect Ohio consumers from such malpractices.
According to a statement obtained by the Ohio Attorney General's office, "Ohioans work hard and deserve to get what they pay for. Whether it's a deliberate title delay or outright fraud, my office will pump the brakes on dealership scams."
Similar grievances have been lodged against Way 2 Go Auto Sales in Franklin County, led by Kofi Bimpeh. The state received 20 complaints involving withheld titles, odometer rollbacks, misleading disclosures about salvage rebuilds, and return policy issues. These violations have prompted using the TDR Fund to assist affected consumers while legal proceedings against these businesses continue. The Ohio Attorney General's Office has invited additional reports of unfair or deceptive practices, asking potential victims to file complaints through their website or call their designated hotline.
Consumers in Ohio suspecting foul play in their vehicle purchases can reach out for help at the Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's website or by calling 1-800-282-0515. The state's commitment to halting deceptive dealership operations is underscored by these recent lawsuits, aiming to ensure the marketplace remains a fair terrain for residents to conduct their affairs.
