A Georgia family says a metro Atlanta car dealership took advantage of their elderly stepdad, who suffers from dementia, by encouraging him to buy a nearly $90,000 vehicle he didn’t need and couldn’t afford. The business disputes the claim and says the situation is resolved.
According to reporting from local station WSB-TV, the family alleges that a salesperson from Carl Black GMC of Kennesaw drove to the man’s home in Hiram, Ga., picked him up and brought him to the dealership. He traded in his 2017 Nissan Frontier for about $11,000 and purchased an expensive GMC truck, cutting a check for more than $80,000 for the difference.
The man later drove the vehicle home on his own, alarming relatives who say he rarely drives and has documented cognitive decline.
Jamie Faulkner, the man’s stepdaughter, said her family was stunned to see the truck parked in his driveway.
“He was in no condition to be negotiating the sale,” Faulkner told the station. “It makes us all angry that somebody has taken advantage of an elderly person.”
She said her stepdad used to work for GMC and enjoyed visiting dealerships to look at vehicles, but lacked the capacity to make a financial decision.
Doorbell camera footage shows a salesperson chatting with the elderly man in the doorway of his home before driving him to the dealership to make the purchase.
The family was able to meet with the dealership and return the truck. They were offered a refund, but, they claim, not a complete one, because it didn’t include the trade-in value of their dad’s 2017 Nissan — which the dealership has since sold. They have filed a complaint with the state.
The dealership declined an on-camera interview, but provided a written statement through its attorney that disputes the family’s claims. The statement says the elderly man “did not appear to be impaired in any way, or lacking the capacity to purchase a motor vehicle.” The attorney said the man drove himself off the lot without a caretaker or personal representative present.
“As the matter has been fully resolved with Mr. Dow, it is unclear to Carl Black Kennesaw as to why Mr. Dow’s family has chosen to contact the media,” the statement said (1).
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Vehicle purchases are some of the most significant financial transactions most consumers make. Older adults are more vulnerable to high-pressure sales tactics (2). And car purchases are especially complex, as they involve reading detailed contracts, understanding financing terms, and trade-in math.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warns that dementia increases the risk of financial exploitation, and that risk is even higher if the person is targeted by someone they trust (3).
While a signed contract is typically binding, it can be declared void if the person is found to have lacked the mental capacity to understand what they were signing.
You can reduce the risk of your older loved one being taken for a ride (literally or financially) with some basic safety steps.
Attach a trusted contact to financial accounts: This functions similarly to an emergency contact. It authorizes the financial institution to contact the person if they cannot reach the account holder, if they are not acting like themselves, or if there is unusual activity on the account that could indicate a scam or financial abuse (4).
Set up durable power of attorney. Support your loved one to meet with a lawyer and choose a trusted person to make legal, health, and financial decisions for them in case they become incapacitated (5). The earlier you do this, the better!
Consider co-signing: If you have an older loved one who is struggling to manage their affairs, it may be time to have them add you or another truly trusted family member as an authorized user on their accounts. That way, you will be able to catch unusual banking, investment, or credit-card activity as soon as it happens.
If a questionable transaction occurs, families must act quickly.
Here are some options:
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Contact the business in writing
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File complaints with state consumer protection agencies
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Document medical diagnoses that may affect capacity
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Report suspected financial exploitation or abuse to Adult Protective Services (APS), or to your local police or Sheriff’s office if you suspect criminal wrongdoing
This case highlights how important it is to protect loved ones from financial harm proactively. Cognitive decline can be hard to spot, and you may not see your elderly family members every day. That’s why having these conversations early — and making plans to protect them as soon as possible — is so important.
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WSB-TV (1) Psychology Today (2) SEC (3) Investor.gov (4) National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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