Angry Consumers Tackle Auto Dealerships Fledgling Group Investigates, Endorses Or Condemns Dealers

Led by a Federal Way couple, a group of citizens already has put one car dealership out of business in Washington state.

Now the United Consumer League is investigating a dealership with 66 complaints filed against it with the state attorney general’s office and another dealer the league says is repossessing cars left and right.

The league does undercover shopping at Puget Sound dealerships, then publishes its endorsements or condemnations in a monthly newsletter.

“Somebody really needs to watch out for these people,” said cofounder Teri Worley. She, her husband, Jeff, and three others formed the league in February.

Their inspiration: bait-and-switch schemes and deceptive advertising they say they experienced at the Thomason Ford Toyota dealership in Kirkland, Wash.

The five angry consumers picketed the dealership for six months, the attorney general’s office investigated and owner Scott Thomason decided to sell his three Washington dealerships and return to Oregon.

“People were taken advantage of, and the general attitude of the salesmen was ‘You were stupid enough to sign the contract,”’ said Teri Worley.

Worley said she bought a car at Thomason’s in Kirkland for $16,000 and discovered months later that its market value was $12,000. The Worleys also bought a car from the dealership at a 19 percent interest rate because they had weak credit and were told by a salesman they could come back in a year and finance any car at a lower rate. But one year later, another employee said the salesman had lied.

Thomason has denied most charges of wrongdoing, but he settled a suit brought by the Worleys and personally guaranteed the payment of any judgment or settlement won by any consumer. In Oregon, his dealership is the largest in the state.

A lawyer who is a member of the league says dealers are taking notice.

“Without a doubt, dealers in King County are far more afraid of the United Consumer League of Washington than they ever have been of the attorney general’s office,” said attorney Rick Ockerman.