Fair Trading issues warning over odometer tampering scams
Posted by editor (editor) on Dec 10 2009
2009 >>

Consumers are being warned to make appropriate checks before buying a second hand car following a spate of complaints to the Office of Fair Trading about odometer discrepancies.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said Office of Fair Trading investigators had recently noticed an increase in the number of complaints about vehicle odometer readings.

As a result of these complaints investigators began ‘Operation Turner’ which targeted sellers who replace odometers with those that have lower readings.

The first prosecution as a result of Operation Turner was heard in the Inala Magistrates Court on Monday. Miroslav Bojic of Acacia Ridge was charged with two counts of wilfully representing information that was false or misleading about the total distance travelled by a motor vehicle and one count of falsely representing that goods had a particular history. Mr Bojic was convicted on all charges and fined $5000.

Mr Lawlor said OFT investigators started the investigation against Mr Bojic after seeing an advertisement for a car on a car sales website. The advertisement said the vehicle had travelled 62,500 kilometres.

“When OFT inspectors conducted a Queensland Transport computer query to examine the vehicle’s recorded history they found the odometer reading should have had at least 150,000 kilometres and the car had been listed as a repairable write-off.”

“Inspectors telephoned the owner posing as a potential buyer and arranged to inspect the vehicle.

“When the inspectors viewed the vehicle Mr Bojic told them the vehicle had only travelled 63,000 kilometres and to his knowledge it had not been previously damaged. “

“After Mr Bojic was told the potential buyer was actually an OFT inspector he admitted to being untruthful about the car’s history.

“It is important that consumers make all the appropriate checks on vehicles they are considering purchasing to avoid being caught out.”

“Consumers who are unaware of a vehicle’s background put themselves at risk of expensive repair costs in the future or much worse.”

There are a few ways a consumer interested in purchasing a second hand vehicle can conduct checks:

• A Register of encumbered vehicles (REVS) check will show if there is a debt owing on a vehicle or boat. Motor dealers normally do the checks for the consumer and provide a REVS certificate However, if you buy privately you need to do your own REVS check;

• A Queensland Transport Vehicle Check (Vcheck). A Vcheck can be purchased for a car, truck, caravan, trailer, bus or motorcycle which has been manufactured on or after 1 January 1989. It provides the latest information recorded on Queensland Transport systems. Vcheck reports will show any odometer discrepancy and will also give the consumer information about the vehicle's history including if it has been in a substantial accident.

“There is a small cost for these types of checks but it is money well spent,” Mr Lawlor said.

“Importantly, it arms consumers with knowledge which will allow them to make an informed choice before they buy a second hand vehicle.”

Last changed: Dec 10 2009 at 10:29 AM