A car dealer has been told to pay more than £14,000 after selling a ‘clocked’ car – for the second time.
Oldham Council’s Trading Standards Department launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a customer who had bought an Audi Q7 and later discovered a discrepancy over the mileage.
During the investigation mileage records were obtained from a range of sources which showed that the car’s mileage had dropped by at least 30,000 miles.
Oldham-based S Cars then bought the vehicle at an auction and sold it on without making the buyer aware.
During a two-day trial, which started on March 4 at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, evidence was presented which showed that the mileage discrepancy was on the car auction listing seen by S Cars before they purchased the vehicle.
This auction listing also included a list of previous MOT mileage readings showing the drop in the vehicle’s mileage.
S Cars did not mention this mileage discrepancy in their online advert or when they sold the car on to the customer.
The mileage had been advertised as warranted by the auction house. This meant that S Cars had seven days to make enquiries into the mileage and return the vehicle to the auctioneer for a refund if they wished.
The court found S Cars Limited and Sanjib Saggar, 49, of Queen Anne Garage, Church Road, Shaw guilty of four offences under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The magistrates also ruled that by advertising and selling the vehicle without failing to disclose the mileage discrepancy, or investigate it further, S Cars had not carried out any due diligence despite previously receiving advice on checking mileages from trading standards.
