Treadz Auto sued in $5M class action along with AMVIC
CBC News | Posted: June 23, 2015 1:48 PM | Last Updated: June 23, 2015
Vehicle owners say automotive watchdog failed to investigate concerns when consignment company didn't pay
The province's automotive industry watchdog AMVIC is being sued for negligence along with Treadz Auto, a now defunct vehicle consignment company, in a $5-million dollar class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges Treadz failed to pay owners after their vehicles were sold and did not remove liens from the vehicles.
"Let's just say I'm not in a great place financially because of this," said Jesse Hare, who is part of the class action.
He consigned a truck to Treadz in June, 2014. He no longer has the truck, but owes $10,000 dollars on it, and has been making $550 monthly payments on the vehicle for the past year.
"I don't have a vehicle. Obviously, I don't want to decline my payments because my credit's going to be shot after that," said Hare, who has not received any money from Treadz.
The lawsuit also takes aim at Service Alberta. It alleges the province failed to properly oversee the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC). It claims AMVIC didn't investigate consumers' concerns properly and didn't compensate them adequately.
AMVIC has declined comment.
When asked about the case in the Alberta Legislature Monday, Service Alberta Minister Deron Bilous said AMVIC would be reviewed as part of the new government's ongoing review of all the province's agencies, boards and commissions.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.