INDIANAPOLIS (May 29, 2020) — After receiving a consumer complaint about an auto dealer who illegally kept warranty payments, the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office has secured restitution for those affected by the crime.

In July 2019, a consumer contacted the Auto Dealer Services Division of the Secretary of State’s Office, claiming she had paid Stephens Automotive Group for a warranty, and that the warranty was never received by the warranty company. An investigator from Dealer Services reached out to the warranty company to confirm that Stephens Automotive Group had failed to transfers funds for several warranties, which failed to activate the warranties.

Multiple complaints followed over the next two months, and Dealer Services collected evidence verifying the consumer claims. In December 2019, an investigator from the Division met the owner of Stephens Automotive Group, where the owner admitted to not sending the money to the warranty company.

In February 2020, the Division issued an order for restitution requiring Stephens Automotive Group to pay a total of $8,673.00 to five consumers.

“I am proud of the work done by the Dealer Services Division, and very glad that this consumer complaint resulted in restitution,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “Because of the cooperation between our Division, our constituents, and the warranty company, we were able to bring this case to a quick and fair conclusion.”

Consumers may file complaints against an Indiana auto dealership by visiting the Auto Dealer Services Division website at https://www.in.gov/sos/dealer/index.htm.

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https://calendar.in.gov/site/sos/event/secretary-lawson-provides-restitution-to-victims-of-auto-dealer-scam/