Drivetime and Craig Terry Investments Ltd. are first dealerships ever to receive immediate suspension from OMVIC
Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), the regulatory body responsible for vehicle sales in Ontario, has “ordered the immediate suspension of two registered motor vehicle dealers” in the Sudbury area.
This is the first time OMVIC has used its powers of immediate suspension since the regulator inherited them in January 2010.
OMVIC reports the two dealers in question, Drivetime (1552558 Ontario Inc.) and Craig Terry Investments Ltd, both located in Sudbury and owned by Micheline Cooper, have been suspended with immediate effect following two serious customer complaints.
Both complaints are regarding Craig Terry Investments Ltd.
The first complaint details a 2007 Ford Ranger sold to a customer with a financial encumbrance (lien). When payments were not made against a previous outstanding loan for the vehicle, the customer’s vehicle was repossessed. This issue has since been resolved and the vehicle returned to the new owner.
Dealers in Ontario are required by law to clear all vehicles of financial encumbrances before sale.
A second complaint was filed with OMVIC stating a vehicle sold by Craig Terry Investments in December 2013 had yet to be delivered. The bill of sale for the 2012 GMC Sierra was to the tune of approximately $45,000.
OMVIC says to date, this issue is unresolved.
When speaking with Mary Jane South, deputy registrar at OMVIC, she stated the dealership owner Micheline Cooper has never been licensed by the regulator in the past. All individuals involved in the sale of motor vehicles in Ontario are required to be licensed. However, South did note the individual or individuals representing the dealership in question who signed the bills of sale for both vehicles was licensed by OMVIC.
There is no person named Craig Terry involved in these complaints.
OMVIC is delivering disclosure to the dealers in question today.
Full press release below.
TORONTO, Ont. – As a result of serious consumer complaints, OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator, has ordered the immediate suspension of two registered motor vehicle dealers: 1552558 Ontario Inc., operating as Drivetime (1088-B The Kingsway, Sudbury); and Craig Terry Investments Ltd. (1092-B The Kingsway, Sudbury). Accordingly, neither dealership may legally sell, lease or buy vehicles.
“Immediate suspensions are fairly dramatic steps”, stated Terry O’Keefe, OMVIC Director of Communications. “They are taken when OMVIC believes a dealer’s conduct may place the car-buying public at risk”.
OMVIC also issued Proposals to Refuse the registrations of Micheline Cooper (operator of Drivetime and Craig Terry Investments Ltd.) and of another dealership Cooper attempted to register – Turn Key Auto (1901244 Ontario Inc.).
Consumers are warned not to buy, sell or lease vehicles from Drivetime (Sudbury), Craig Terry Investments Ltd., Turn Key Auto or Cooper while the dealers’ registrations are suspended; consumers who trade with an unregistered business or individual are not protected by the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund.
Note:
- These suspensions are temporary and subject to appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). Proposals to Refuse are also appealable to LAT.
- There are other registered dealers in Ontario using the business name Drivetime – they are not affiliated with Drivetime in Sudbury. Further, no individual named Craig Terry is party to any of the proceedings/allegations referenced above.
