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Department of Consumer Protection May Fine Up to $1,000 Per Day Against Manufacturers Who Fail to Comply with Lemon Law Arbitration Decisions

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong announced today that Jaguar Land Rover of North America will pay $26,500 for the company’s failure to comply with Connecticut’s Lemon Law.

Connecticut’s Automobile Warranty statute, commonly called the Lemon Law, helps owners of defective vehicles under 2 years old or with fewer than 24,000 miles. The statute provides a low-cost arbitration process to resolve disputes between vehicle owners and manufacturers.

In this case, a Connecticut consumer purchased a Range Rover Velar S. from Jaguar Land Rover. The vehicle suffered from a coolant pump failure, as well as a faulty infotainment touch screen, which blacked out at times and caused the running lights and rear camera to malfunction. The consumer filed a Lemon Law complaint, and the arbitrator found he was entitled to a full refund within 30 days of the decision, no later than January 26. Jaguar Land Rover did not comply until March 1, despite multiple notices and warnings.

Connecticut amended its Lemon Law statute in 2021 to allow the Department of Consumer Protection to levy a fine of up to $1,000 per day against manufacturers who fail to comply with an arbitrator’s decision within the specified deadline. This lawsuit was the first to be filed under that new statute.

“Jaguar Land Rover sold this consumer a lemon, riddled with multiple failures from the start. Connecticut’s Lemon Law helps vehicle owners resolve disputes over these kinds of defective car purchases with no lawyer needed. This consumer filed a complaint and Jaguar Land Rover was ordered to provide a full refund. Jaguar dragged its feet. When a Lemon Law arbitration award is issued, those deadlines are the law, and we will not hesitate to protect consumers against manufacturers who ignore their obligations,” said Attorney General Tong.

“DCP repeatedly notified Jaguar of their duty to comply with the state’s Lemon Law program by providing the consumer with a refund by the date specified by the arbitrator.” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “When a manufacturer fails to comply with deadlines set by the arbitrator, consumers are harmed by not receiving the benefit of their award, which often means making additional lease or loan payments during the delay. This lawsuit should send a strong message that there will be consequences for a car manufacturer that does not timely comply with a Lemon Law arbitration award.”

June 4 marked the 40th anniversary of Connecticut’s Lemon Law program, which was the first of its kind in the United States. Since then, the Lemon Law program has returned almost $70 million in refunds and replacement vehicles to Connecticut consumers. In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the Lemon Law program closed 59 cases, and returned almost $2 million to consumers in refunds or returns. In 2021, 77 consumers applied to the Lemon Law program for assistance.

For more information on Connecticut’s Lemon Law and to file a complaint visit ct.gov/dcp/lemon. Consumers who need assistance can also email DCP.LemonLaw@ct.gov or call (860) 713-6120 or the toll-free line (800) 538-CARS (2277).

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(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong urged consumers to be wary of potentially deceptive door hangers asking residents to provide water samples for testing. These door hangers are not affiliated with any government public health authority or any official water quality warning or advisory. 

The Office of the Attorney General has received complaints regarding plastic bags left on consumers’ front doorknobs (known as “door hangers”) at homes in Colchester, Farmington and Hartford. The door hangers contain a survey card with the heading “Connecticut Safe Water” and a telephone number, together with a plastic vial.  The card requests consumers to complete a survey and fill the vial with a sample of their home’s tap water for testing.  The door hangers do not identify the nature of the solicitor’s business and have caused confusion among consumers. The Office of the Attorney General has written to the company responsible for leaving the door hangers to request further information to address concerns that the solicitations may be deceptive.   

“Door hanger solicitations may be lawful, but it’s never okay to deceive or confuse consumers. These door hangers are not affiliated with any government agency, and there is absolutely no requirement to provide a water sample. If you have been misled or harmed by these hangers, I want to know,” said Attorney General Tong.

This issue was brought to the attention of the Office of the Attorney General by the AARP. “AARP CT Fraud Watch Network Volunteers received suspicious solicitations at their homes and reported it up the chain to the AARP state office. Our work with the Coalition for Elder Justice in CT (CEJC) allowed for effective reporting to the Office of the Attorney General and the CT Department of Consumer Protection, resulting in quick action by both agencies.  This action helps to prevent misleading advertising and consumers needlessly sharing personal data with potentially deceptive companies. This kind of collaboration is what makes our work in Connecticut successful and proves that if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam,” said Nora Duncan, AARP CT State Director.

“Businesses should be clear about the services they provide and whether their goal is ultimately to sell you a product,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle Seagull. “Consumers should be cautious of door-to-door solicitations, and always do their own independent research before providing information or purchasing a product based on door-to-door solicitations.”

Are door hangers legal in CT?

While there are laws that regulate solicitors who sell consumer goods and services door-to-door, there is no law prohibiting solicitors from leaving door hangers. This is true even though the presence of door hangers on a doorknob for a long period of time may signal that the consumer is out of town. Most municipalities in Connecticut require door-to-door solicitors to obtain a permit before engaging in door-to-door sales.

Door-to-door solicitors in Connecticut are required to comply with the Home Solicitation Sales Act (the “Act”), which applies to transactions involving consumer goods and services that occur anywhere other than the seller’s own place of business. The Act gives consumers the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day following the transaction. 

The Act also requires home solicitation sales agreements to be signed and dated by the buyer. The contracts must state a buyer’s cancellation rights and be written in the same language used during the oral presentation. A separate “Notice of Cancellation” must accompany them. The notice must state a buyer’s rights, the transaction date, and the last possible day to cancel.

The Home Solicitation Sales Act also prohibits sellers from engaging in certain deceptive practices. For example, sellers may not include provisions in contracts that waive a consumer’s rights or misrepresent a buyer’s right to cancel.

Businesses operating in the state are required to register with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office. Consumers can access registration information through the Secretary of State’s website at  https://portal.ct.gov/sotsConnecticut consumers who believe they have been harmed by a company’s practices should file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General here: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/ or with the Department of Consumer Protection here: https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Complaint-Center/Consumers—Complaint-Center.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that due to a weather forecast indicating that temperatures over the next several days will reach more than 95 degrees with the heat index expected to go over triple digits at times, he is directing Connecticut’s extreme hot weather protocol to be activated beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, and remaining in effect through 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, 2022.

The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the hot conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available statewide, providing a location to get some relief from the hot conditions.

Anyone in need of a cooling center should call 2-1-1 or look online at 211ct.org to find their nearest location.

“We’re about to experience our first heat wave of the year that over the next several days will bring very hot conditions, especially during the peak sunlight hours of the day,” Governor Lamont said. “I strongly urge anyone who needs a place to cool off to call 2-1-1 to find their nearest available cooling center. Everyone should take the necessary precautions as the heat rises over the next several days. A few steps can greatly reduce heat-related issues, especially for the elderly, the very young, and people with respiratory ailments who are more susceptible to the effects of high temperatures.”

The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted:

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security uses its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. Municipalities and other partners submit information on the opening of cooling centers into the WebEOC, providing a real-time database on the availability of these locations statewide. United Way 2-1-1 uses the system to act as a clearinghouse to assist residents in locating a cooling center. Regional coordinators from the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security monitor WebEOC in order to respond to any requests from municipalities for state assistance. The energy utility companies provide the state with regular updates regarding the impact of the weather conditions on their respective utilities throughout the duration of the protocol.
Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:

Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids. People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat. People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness. People who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.
Some prevention tips to stay safe in extreme heat include:

Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness. Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to cool off. Find an air-conditioned shelter. (Call 2-1-1 for a list of cooling centers.) Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device. Avoid direct sunlight. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Take cool showers or baths. Check on those most at-risk several times a day. Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided with ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.
Everyone is also reminded to stay hydrated during periods of extreme heat. Because bodies lose fluid through sweat, dehydration is common while experiencing very high temperatures. It is strongly encouraged to:

Drink more water than usual. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids. Drink two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside. Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar. Remind others to drink enough water.
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