Published Friday, 03 August, 2007 at 05:02 PM
Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
ODOMETER TAMPERER BANNED FOR LIFE
A Brisbane motor dealer has been permanently banned from the motor industry after his company sold 25 cars with odometers wound back, one by as much as 219,000 kilometres.
Fair Trading Minister, Margaret Keech, said the life ban imposed on Wayne John Cooper, of Bardon, was a victory for consumers.
“Mr Cooper’s disqualification by the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal comes after he was fined $30,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to 25 criminal charges,” Mrs Keech said.
“Mr Cooper was a director of a company that made false representations about the history of several motor vehicles.
“His company Chamino Pty Ltd , which traded as Coops Motor World, repeatedly ripped-off customers, selling vehicles with odometers wound back by an average of 95,000 kilometres.”
The Office of Fair Trading investigated Mr Cooper after a customer complained about a car he had bought.
“The customer bought a car with an odometer reading of 133,000 kilometres but the day after he noticed a service entry in the car’s logbook for 152,000 kilometres,” Mrs Keech said.
“The customer contacted the service station where the service was carried out and was told the car was last serviced at 214,000 kilometres.
Mrs Keech said false odometer readings not only misled consumers about a vehicle’s condition and value but were potentially very dangerous.
“The further a vehicle travels, the more prone it is to safety defects,” she said.
“We won’t tolerate odometer tampering, and offenders face fines, permanent loss of licence and possibly jail.”
Mrs Keech said consumers should take steps to protect themselves when buying a used vehicle.
“If you are in the market for a used car, check logbooks and other documentation carefully,” she said.
“You should also arrange an independent and thorough mechanical inspection to make sure you are not getting a lemon.
“Consider the advantages of buying a vehicle from a licensed motor dealer rather than a private sale.
“By law, motor dealers must provide greater consumer protections such as a statutory warranty, one day cooling-off period and guarantee of clear title.”
For more information on motor dealer rights and obligations, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04 for a free copy of the Motor Dealing and Sales Practice Good Business Guide.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005
Fair Trading Minister, Margaret Keech, said the life ban imposed on Wayne John Cooper, of Bardon, was a victory for consumers.
“Mr Cooper’s disqualification by the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal comes after he was fined $30,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to 25 criminal charges,” Mrs Keech said.
“Mr Cooper was a director of a company that made false representations about the history of several motor vehicles.
“His company Chamino Pty Ltd , which traded as Coops Motor World, repeatedly ripped-off customers, selling vehicles with odometers wound back by an average of 95,000 kilometres.”
The Office of Fair Trading investigated Mr Cooper after a customer complained about a car he had bought.
“The customer bought a car with an odometer reading of 133,000 kilometres but the day after he noticed a service entry in the car’s logbook for 152,000 kilometres,” Mrs Keech said.
“The customer contacted the service station where the service was carried out and was told the car was last serviced at 214,000 kilometres.
Mrs Keech said false odometer readings not only misled consumers about a vehicle’s condition and value but were potentially very dangerous.
“The further a vehicle travels, the more prone it is to safety defects,” she said.
“We won’t tolerate odometer tampering, and offenders face fines, permanent loss of licence and possibly jail.”
Mrs Keech said consumers should take steps to protect themselves when buying a used vehicle.
“If you are in the market for a used car, check logbooks and other documentation carefully,” she said.
“You should also arrange an independent and thorough mechanical inspection to make sure you are not getting a lemon.
“Consider the advantages of buying a vehicle from a licensed motor dealer rather than a private sale.
“By law, motor dealers must provide greater consumer protections such as a statutory warranty, one day cooling-off period and guarantee of clear title.”
For more information on motor dealer rights and obligations, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04 for a free copy of the Motor Dealing and Sales Practice Good Business Guide.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005