Official Calls Car Promotion Tied to Storm Illegal

A Manhattan car-leasing company received more publicity than it bargained for Thursday when the city’s consumer watchdog claimed a much-hyped promotion tied to this week’s blizzard was actually illegal.

Consumers who played in Potamkin Auto Center’s widely promoted car lottery “may have gotten a real snow job,” city consumer affairs official Fred Cerullo said, adding that the company may have duped consumers into signing leases worth $908,000 to enter the giveaway.

The company denied any wrongdoing and announced it will run a similar promotion starting today. Attorney Russell Shanks said the new deal will pay off if enough snow falls on Super Bowl Sunday, Jan. 28.

The “Let It Snow” deal, which received national attention in the wake of the blizzard, tied free car leases from Potamkin to the amount of snowfall between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Jan. 8.

More than 200 leaseholders were told that if it snowed more than 4 inches, they wouldn’t have to pay for their leased cars. A footnote in print advertisements said there was “no purchase necessary.” To be eligible, deals had to be signed between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2.

But Cerullo said consumers were not told about the no-purchase provision; five leaseholders called his office to complain that they didn’t know about the clause. The consumers were also required to make a $1,695 down payment, he said.

Shanks disputed those claims and said everyone who signed a lease was aware of the rules.

The company didn’t have to pay off on the deal because only 3 inches of snow fell in the designated 12-hour stretch.

Its second “Let It Snow” blowout will cover leases signed between Jan. 12 and 22. There was no word from Consumer Affairs officials on what action they might take against that promotion.