Alberta Consumers Beware of Bogus Auto Dealer Fees

June 13th, 2013  |  Insurance

When shopping for a new or used car, most people understand that there are a certain number of mandatory fees that you will have to pay as part of the total cost of buying a car. However, it has recently been brought to light that there are auto dealers in Alberta that have been tacking on additional fees to the price of cars, according to an investigation that was conducted by CBC Go Public.

In some cases the fees were actually fictitious and they were costing consumers hundreds of extra dollars for extra services drivers didn’t need or were not completed. Some customers were even told these extra fees were mandatory.

This situation obviously brings to light an important lesson for Alberta consumers – You need to pay attention to the fine print and the charges that are listed on your invoice when buying a car. You never know when someone is trying to take advantage and it is up to you to understand the fees that are associated with buying a car. An educated consumer is an informed consumer.

Here is what you can do to protect yourself:

• Carefully review all purchase documents
• If you notice a fee that looks questionable, ask for extra information about the fee
• Bring someone with you that knows about the fees that are included in a car purchase
• If you think you are being overcharged, don’t sign anything
• Remember, you always have the option to walk away

Have you ever questions the fees that were listed on your car invoice? Tell us about it!