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14/11/2011
Dodgy Cars Top Consumerline Complaints
Problems with used cars continue to top the number of complaints to Consumerline, new figures released today reveal.
Over 1,000 people have complained to Consumerline, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's consumer advice helpline, about problems with used cars in the last year.
The new statistics have been published to coincide with the launch of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign to warn people about problems they may encounter when buying a used car.
As part of the campaign, the OFT has produced a short online film to inform people about their basic rights when buying a used car, and what to do if they encounter problems after purchase. It is also working with local trading standards and the motor industry to make information on consumer rights more readily available.
Today’s figures show that more than 70% of the complaints to Consumerline were about faults with the cars and over 13% were about misleading claims or omissions by the seller and nearly 7% were about substandard services.
An OFT study published last year found that consumers are left out of pocket by an average of £425 each because they have to fix unresolved faults that are the dealers’ obligation to correct.
Stephen Thompson, Consumerline Manager, said: “We continue to receive a high number of complaints which are often due to some traders refusing to deal with legitimate complaints or provide appropriate compensation.
“We want to help people understand their rights when buying a used car from a dealer and we are working with the industry and local authority trading standards to get this message across.
“Dealers who fail to treat customers fairly or sell cars that are defective could face enforcement action," he said adding that the Trading Standards Service (TSS) has taken enforcement action against a number of car dealers in Northern Ireland in the last year, over concerns about car clocking, business practices when selling cars, finance and after-sale guarantees.
(BMcC/GK)
Over 1,000 people have complained to Consumerline, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's consumer advice helpline, about problems with used cars in the last year.
The new statistics have been published to coincide with the launch of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) ‘Know Your Consumer Rights’ campaign to warn people about problems they may encounter when buying a used car.
As part of the campaign, the OFT has produced a short online film to inform people about their basic rights when buying a used car, and what to do if they encounter problems after purchase. It is also working with local trading standards and the motor industry to make information on consumer rights more readily available.
Today’s figures show that more than 70% of the complaints to Consumerline were about faults with the cars and over 13% were about misleading claims or omissions by the seller and nearly 7% were about substandard services.
An OFT study published last year found that consumers are left out of pocket by an average of £425 each because they have to fix unresolved faults that are the dealers’ obligation to correct.
Stephen Thompson, Consumerline Manager, said: “We continue to receive a high number of complaints which are often due to some traders refusing to deal with legitimate complaints or provide appropriate compensation.
“We want to help people understand their rights when buying a used car from a dealer and we are working with the industry and local authority trading standards to get this message across.
“Dealers who fail to treat customers fairly or sell cars that are defective could face enforcement action," he said adding that the Trading Standards Service (TSS) has taken enforcement action against a number of car dealers in Northern Ireland in the last year, over concerns about car clocking, business practices when selling cars, finance and after-sale guarantees.
(BMcC/GK)
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