BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced charges against DARCARS of Bowie, Inc. d/b/a DARCARS Honda, its parent company Mariam, Inc., and owners John Rahmangholi Darvish and Jamshyd Darvish. The charges allege violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act through unfair or deceptive trade practices in vehicle sales at their Bowie dealership.
The Statement of Charges outlines multiple violations, including deceptively charging consumers a fee labeled as a “sales commission,” which is not a commission and is presented as optional without informing consumers of their right to decline it. Consumers were also charged more than the advertised vehicle price, with significant charges for pre-installed equipment and dealer markup.
Additionally, the dealership allegedly financed the sale of added products like “DARCARS Assurance” and “DARCARS Protection Plan” unlawfully. Consumers were misled into purchasing unwanted equipment and products, and the dealership failed to disclose and itemize all goods and services included in the vehicle purchase, as required by Maryland law.
The Consumer Protection Division is seeking an injunction to stop these practices, along with restitution, economic damages, penalties, and costs. A hearing on the charges is scheduled for October 16 through October 25, at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Hunt Valley, MD.
For further information, consumers can contact the Consumer Protection hotline at (410) 528-8662 or toll-free at (888) 743-0023.
