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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

General Motors Corp.

Unreadable Cost Disclosures in Advertisements

Date: 11/21/1996 (Date of Press Release)

Misconduct Type: Consumer Affairs

Enforcement Agency: FTC

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Administrative

Amount: $0

Disposition: Administrative Agreement

Synopsis: On November 21, 1996, five major automobile manufacturers “signed settlement agreements with the Federal Trade Commission to take important lease costs out of the blur of unreadable print in car lease and financed purchase advertising. The FTC said these agreements will require the companies to provide consumers with clear, readable, and understandable cost information in their new advertising. Under the settlements, General Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., American Honda Motor Co., Inc., American Isuzu Motors Inc., and Mazda Motor of America, Inc. will be prohibited from featuring low monthly payments or low amounts 'down' in large, bold print, while hiding additional costs and sometimes contradictory information in 'mouse print' that is difficult or impossible to read.”