ATLANTA - Columbus-based auto dealer Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. - which has a dealership in Buford - has agreed to a $188,000 settlement after the investigation of deceptive advertising practices by the governor's Office of Consumer Affairs.<br>
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The settlement involves four metro Atlanta dealerships Bill Heard Chevrolet at Town Center, Buford and Union City and the Tom Jumper dealership in Roswell.<br>
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The practices cited by the state include:<br>
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Telling customers they were pre-approved for a loan when they were not.<br>
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Claims that vehicles were available for sale when they were not.<br>
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Claims that all vehicles came with limited warranty when they did not.<br>
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Claims that cars were available in repossession sales when most of the vehicles were not repossessed.<br>
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``We have made changes in our structure that will enable us to correct the mistakes made in the past and continue to improve our efforts in these areas,'' said Michael K. Elwood, vice-president of the company's Atlanta operations. ``We will provide comprehensive training opportunities to our managers in the key areas addressed in our agreement.''<br>
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Bill Heard Enterprises employs more than 3,500 people at 15 dealerships in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Nevada and Arizona. Its sales goal for 2005 is $5 billion.<br>
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Monday's settlement is the second in two years concerning its advertising practices.<br>
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The governor's office said a similar agreement was reached in December 2003, which resulted in an $84,000 settlement fine and further monitoring of the dealerships' advertising practices.<br>
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