WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said this week it has approved the final consent order settling its deceptive advertising charges against Cowboy AG LLC, a Dallas-based company doing business as Cowboy Toyota and Cowboy Scion.

The announcement is related to a December 2017 compliant related to Cowboy Toyota’s Spanish-language newspaper ads. According to the FTC, the dealership violated the FTC Act by misrepresenting the cost of purchasing or leasing cars as well as the qualifications or restrictions for financing or leasing cars. It also mispresented the availability of vehicles for sale, according to the FTC's complaint.

The regulator also charged the dealership with failing to disclose credit or lease terms required under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) or Consumer Leasing Act when it touted certain “triggering” terms of credit or lease, such as the monthly payment. The complaint also alleged that favorable terms were prominently stated in the Spanish-language ads, with material limitations to those terms provided only in fine-print English at the bottom.

The final order settling the FTC’s charges prohibits Cowboy Toyota from misrepresenting the cost of financing, buying, or leasing a vehicle. The order also requires the dealership to accurately represent any qualifications or restrictions on a consumer’s ability to obtain offered financing or lease terms, including restrictions based on their credit history.

The order also prohibits the dealership from misrepresenting the number of vehicles, makes, or models available for purchase or lease. Cowboy Toyota is also required to clearly and conspicuously disclose all financing and lease terms in its ads, as well as all related qualifications or restrictions. And if Cowboy Toyota makes a representation in one language, it must state clearly and conspicuously any material limitations in the same language, the FTC said.