Kingston used car dealership leaves building and customers abandoned

Customers of Paulette Auto Sales were recently left in shock --- and not just sticker shock.

According to social media exchanges, the used car dealership at 775 Gardiners Road, Kingston, which has been owned by Brad Paulette since 2014, shut its doors and abandoned the property late last month. Furthermore, the landlord, a company called “1025970 ONTARIO LIMITED,” posted a “Notice Of Termination Of Lease” on the dealership's door dated April 28, 2025.

Many customers say they have been left feeling victimized by Paulette Auto.

Catherine Raycroft purchased her car from Paulette on March 26, 2025, and she says, “They did me dirty.”

Raycroft describes herself as “a special needs mom” who was “desperate” to get a car. She is on the autism spectrum, has a learning disability, and was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Two of her children also have autism spectrum disorder, and she needed her own car to get them all to the places they needed to be.

She says she had her eye on a $19,000 Hyundai Elantra at Paulette, on which she put a down payment in February 2025 while waiting to complete her G2 driver’s license. Unfortunately, when she went to pick up the car in March, she says, it was gone.

“They told me it didn’t pass safety [inspection], but they had a month to tell me that,” she says. A Paulette salesperson offered her another car, which Raycroft says was more expensive and had more kilometres and higher payments than the Elantra.

She says she felt pressured and, looking back on it now, thinks she was taken advantage of because of her disability. The second car cost $44,000 in total.

In addition, a $3,500 warranty was included in her payment. She has since contacted EdenPark, the independent vehicle financing company used by Paulette, only to find that the warranty was never registered.

A man who purchased his vehicle at Paulette last month and who asked to remain anonymous tells Kingstonist a similar story in a message on social media. “I purchased a warranty for $3,980, and the amount was financed as part of my car loan. However, the money was never paid to the warranty company. Now, I’m being charged bi-weekly interest on this additional $3,980 for a service I don’t even [get].”

“I’ve already contacted the bank, but they said they cannot do anything because this is between the dealership and the warranty company,” the unfortunate buyer continues. “The warranty company also confirmed that they never received the payment from the dealership, so they can’t do anything either.”

He also complains that when he received the car, the tires were “extremely worn out” and “not safe to last even one season.” Since tires aren’t covered under extended warranty, he says, "I had to buy a whole new set, which cost me another $600... another huge loss on a newly purchased vehicle.”

Since we started research into this story, several more people have contacted Kingstonist with their own automotive horror stories concerning the dealer.

After Kingstonist made attempts to contact Brad Paulette, the owner of Paulette Auto Sales, it became apparent that he had recently deleted all of his personal social media. However, an unused LinkedIn profile remains in his name.

A former employee confirms that staff were not warned that they were about to lose their jobs. They had heard nothing from their boss, and it was as if the man had just disappeared and "gone off grid."

Kingstonist reached out to the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), a government-delegated authority that administers and enforces laws that motor vehicle dealers and salespeople must follow. According to its website, OMVIC is charged with guarding the public interest by protecting and raising awareness of consumer rights and enhancing industry professionalism for registered motor vehicle dealers and salespeople.

A spokesperson for OMVIC confirmed on Monday, May 12, 2025, that a proposal to revoke Paulette Auto’s registration has been issued by OMVIC, and its registrar has issued the dealer an immediate suspension.

Asked if Paulette had reported to OMVIC that they had gone out of business, the spokesperson answered, “Until this information is publicly available, we cannot comment specifically on this case. Generally, when there is dealer failure, we are usually alerted either by the dealer directly, a representative of the dealer, or by the public contacting us with information.”

According to OMVIC, when a dealer fails, if a consumer has purchased extended warranties (which are noted on their bill of sale), they may contact the warranty provider to find out if they have a valid warranty. If they do not, the consumer can contact OMVIC’s Complaints and Inquiries team at 1-800-943-6002 or consumers@omvic.on.ca to learn of their next steps.

One of the key protections that exists for consumers who find themselves in this situation is OMVIC’s Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund, the spokesperson noted. The fund is a consumer protection program that can reimburse eligible buyers up to $45,000 if they suffer a proven financial loss related to a vehicle transaction with a registered dealer. Common examples include situations where a dealer goes bankrupt, fails to provide a paid-for warranty, or doesn’t comply with a court ruling. A full list of eligibility criteria can be found on the Compensation Fund page of the OMVIC website.

The spokesperson recommended that anyone who has purchased a vehicle with financing from Paulette or any failed dealer contact the finance company to ensure that there aren't any issues related to their financing contract.

The organization encourages consumers to reach out to OMVIC's Complaints and Inquiries team to learn more about next steps, saying, “All car buyers have rights under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and Consumer Protection Act in Ontario, when purchasing a new or used vehicle from an OMVIC-registered dealer. This includes access to the compensation fund.”

Kingstonist will continue to investigate and report any answers we may receive from Brad Paulette in response to our requests for comment.