WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kicking off next month, the Federal Trade Commission will host roundtable discussions with dealers, financial experts and the public to explore consumer protection issues related to the sale, financing and leasing of light vehicles.

Basically, federal officials are seeking to educate themselves on whether stricter guidelines should be instituted under the new Dodd-Frank Financial Reform act, which will also create a Consumer Protection Bureau.

To ensure dealers and auto professionals are represented at the discussions, the FTC has requested the National Automobile Dealers Association participate, including dealer representatives.

In a statement released by the FTC, the Fed explains, "With prices averaging more than $28,000 for a new vehicle and $14,000 for a used vehicle from a dealer, most consumers seek to lease or finance the purchase of a new and used car. Financing obtained at a dealership may provide benefits for many consumers, such as convenience, special manufacturer-sponsored programs, access to a variety of banks and financial entities, or access to credit otherwise unavailable to a buyer.

"Dealer-arranged financing, however, can be a complicated, opaque process and could potentially involve unfair or deceptive practices," officials noted.

The first roundtable will be held April 12 in Detroit at Wayne State University Law School, which will be co-hosting the discussion. It will be open to the public.

Gary Reynolds, chairman of the NADA's Regulatory Affairs Committee, said, "Additionally, dealer representatives will highlight both the actions of dealers and NADA to increase financial literacy among consumers as well as our long-standing and ongoing efforts to promote regulatory compliance among franchised dealers."

The NADA and many dealers throughout  the country have worked to try to limit the FTC's interest in involving the Consumer Protection Bureau, once established, heavily in the auto industry and the indirect financing process.

Industry watchers appear more concerned over how the new Consumer Protection Bureau could impact dealers working in the non-prime or subprime space, particularly buy-here, pay-here dealers. Federal officials appears ready and willing to crack down on the alternative financial services industry.

Ken Shilson, founder of the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers, as well as representatives with his group, have been in ongoing meetings with FTC officials to explain how the BHPH industry works.

It is his stance, and that of many BHPH dealers, that they perform a necessary service for the country, helping people with credit-challenged pasts obtain transportation.

Those interested in participating as a panelist for the FTC roundtables are invited to e-mail their name and affiliation to MotorVehicleRoundtables1@ftc.gov. Meanwhile, those wishing to submit comments may do so at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/motorvehicleroundtables1/. Both avenues must be utilized by March 28.

In other details, the FTC said those planning to attend a roundtable are encouraged to pre-register by e-mailing name and affiliation to preregistermotorvehicleroundtables1@ftc.gov. (FTC File No. P104811; staff contacts are Katherine Worthman and Carole Reynolds, Division of Financial Practices, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20580; 202-326-3224).