A Kirkland man wants to launch a class action lawsuit against seven major car leasing companies for allegedly charging fees that were not written out in black and white in the contract.
"This was my first experience with a lease, this is why probably I was so upset," said Salvatore D'Urso in an interview with CJAD 800.
D'Urso said he took over the lease for a Mercedes and got a nasty surprise when he wanted to buy back the car.
"Well, (I said), show me in all the documents that we signed from the beginning until now where it says you're going to charge me 600 plus dollars?" said D'Urso.
The answer got him mad.
"Well, (they said) it's not in the lease but everybody does it. To me, that's the height of arrogance. They're just saying, we're going to charge you because we can. That doesn't seem fair somehow."
Lawyer Joey Zukran of LPC Avocats, who is spearheading the request for the class action lawsuit, said failing to disclose the fees in the constract violates the Consumer Protection Act.
"While it's true that some companies charge (the fee), it's because they mention it. The illegal activity here is failing to inform of the fees," said Zukran.
"Sometimes for a relatively small amount, people don't do anything. You get frustrated, you sleep on it for a few nights and then it goes away, life goes on. In the meantime, these leasing companies are making likely millions of dollars on a fee that under Quebec law is categorically illegal," Zukran alleged.
If you went through the same thing over the past three years, you would be part of the class action if it's approved.
The companies named in the request: