By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY – Auto House of Salisbury now has an empty lot and a for sale sign in front of its business.

Back in May and June, numerous Auto House customers accused Auto House, a pre-owned car dealership, of selling vehicles with marked up prices and false labels.

Customers also filed complaints with the N.C. Department of Justice accusing Auto House of not disclosing damages to cars and intentionally using a bait-and-switch scheme to get people to go to the dealership to buy cars by promising money, a car and other prizes.

According to James A. Davis of Davis & Davis Attorneys at Law, Auto House did change the emblems of car models with more expensive models and marked up prices, but only after outfitting the vehicles to the upgraded model’s factory specifications.

Davis said Auto House voluntarily contacted the 35 customers who bought the affected vehicles and gave them options to resolve the matter before the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles issued an affidavit and notice of hearing.

Davis could not comment on the current status of the business.

In October, the DMV revoked Auto House’s license to sell vehicles at its Mooresville location and fined the business $33,000.

Auto House was granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to delay any action by the DMV until a hearing that was scheduled for Nov. 28.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.