North Hills Auto Dealership is sued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General

The state attorney general’s office is suing a North Hills auto dealer, alleging that the company defrauded customers by selling them a vehicle with known issues.

A Pittsburgh woman told Action News 4 in Pittsburgh that she fell victim to the alleged practices this week when she purchased a car.

The lawsuit was filed by Deputy District Attorney Jimmy George in the Allegheny County Court of Common Appeals on Friday. It alleges that North Hills Auto Mall and its owner, Regis Mannke, violated state motor vehicle regulations and consumer protection law.

The lawsuit alleged that the company claims the cars are in good condition and under warranty, but the attorney general’s office issued a statement saying in part, “The dealer has classified the cars as being sold ‘as is,’ and the ‘warranty’ was actually a third-party limited service contract.”

The statement goes on to say that if the seller knew the car had serious problems before it was sold, it is against state law, even if the car was sold “as is.”

Xandra Specter, 80, said she bought a car for $10,000 at North Hills Auto Mall on Camp Horn Road on Wednesday and got a 72-hour return policy.

“He assured me that the car was in great shape, and that it was just the perfect little car,” Specter said.

After driving the car home, Specter said something was clearly wrong with the car.

“I got home and all the way home the car kept knocking and banging,” Specter said.

I took it to a mechanic.

“He said the brakes are bad and he shows me in the hatchback, that area is moldy. It smells like wet, and there’s a broken brake light,” Specter said.

Since Wednesday, Specter said it has made several attempts to contact the company to get its money back but has not received a response, and that the 72-hour period will expire on Saturday.

“They take advantage of you because they can, and I told them I desperately needed a car, I shouldn’t have said it, but they put me at ease,” Specter said.

The lawsuit asks the court to compensate Monkey and North Hills Auto Mall for all customers who suffered losses, to ban them from selling cars in Pennsylvania, to pay $1,000 for each consumer protection law violation, and to pay $3,000 for each violation involving a customer over the age of 60.

The company also allegedly required deposits of at least $500 to insure the vehicle prior to purchase and offered no refunds even if the sale failed. Allegedly, required documents, such as a purchase agreement and warranty information, were not provided to customers.

“I hope the lawsuit accomplishes something, and I hope whoever takes over this place puts an end to that,” Specter said.

Action News 4 in Pittsburgh reached out to the business on Friday for comment before the business closed, but were told they closed earlier in the day.

The Attorney General’s office asks that if you have been a victim of a North Hills Auto Mall, you may file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 800-441-2555 or emailing [email protected]. Repair facilities, tradesmen, or anyone else who may have information about alleged business practices are also required to contact the office.