WASHINGTON, D.C. -

The last of the 10 dealers associated with Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement actions dubbed “Operation Steer Clear,” has agreed to resolve charges involving store advertising of financing.

Officials said a consent order has been reached between the FTC and Courtesy Auto Group of Attleboro, Mass., indicating that the dealership violated federal regulations by deceptively advertising that consumers could lease a vehicle for $0 down and specific monthly payments when the advertised amounts excluded substantial fees.

The FTC also said the ads violated the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA) and Regulation M, by failing to disclose or clearly and conspicuously disclose certain lease related terms.

The proposed consent order prohibits Courtesy Auto from engaging in similar deceptive advertising practices in the future. It prohibits the dealership from misrepresenting in any advertisement for the purchase, financing or leasing of motor vehicles the cost of leasing a vehicle, the cost of purchasing a vehicle with financing, or any other material fact about the price, sale, financing or leasing of a vehicle.

The agency went on to mention Courtesy Auto is further prohibited from stating the amount of any payment, or that any or no payment is required at lease inception, without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the terms required by the CLA.

Officials recapped the case was brought as part of “Operation Steer Clear,” the agency’s nationwide sweep against 10 dealers announced in January that Auto Remarketing recapped here.

The FTC also announced final consents with two additional dealers in February, which Auto Remarketing reported here.

“These cases are all a part of the FTC’s continued efforts to combat deceptive motor vehicle dealer practices, and protect consumers in the auto marketplace,” officials said.