A Vauxhall and Kia dealership has been fined after failing to disclose that a used Insignia saloon was an ex-rental car.

Vauxhall dealer, Roadside (Garages) Ltd, of Somerset Road, Co Londonderry, was also charged over the use of a falsified signature during the sale.

Roadside (Garages) Ltd was fined £3,000 plus costs at in court on Friday after being found guilty of failing to inform the buyer of the Vauxhall Insignia of its ex-rental car and of falsifying the consumer’s signature on a document which they presented to Trading Standards Service, the Belfast Telegraph reported.

This is the third case brought by the Department for the Economy (formerly Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment) Trading Standards Service against Roadside (Garages) Limited, the newspaper said.

Sharon Muldoon of the Trading Standards Service said: “Consumers should be provided with comprehensive and accurate information to help them make informed decisions when purchasing goods.”

Roadside (Garages) Limited told AM that three of a total of five charges against it had been dropped during the hearing.

A spokesman for the business also stated that the matter was dealt with as quickly as possible when it came to light and the member of staff responsible for the fraudulant transaction was dismissed.

A statement issued by Roadside (Garages) Limited said that the Judge had commented that it was unfortunate that the business' reputation had been blemished by the actions of a rogue ex member of staff.

The spokesman added: "The disclosure of the car as an ex-fleet was made all the more difficult for the company as the fleet keeper was actually two keepers ago and further compounded by the fact that the vehicle had since been re-registered and therefore did not show in the vehicle log book.

"Trading Standards were only able to ascertain the fact that it had been a fleet car by carrying out a ‘Data Protection Information Request'."

The spokesperson went on to say that the company exercised stringent controls and processes to ensure customer service and integrity is of the highest standard, adding: "The company is disappointed and sincerely apologises that on this occasion the company fell short of what is expected and will be working to ensure that further controls are put to in place to ensure that such a case does not arise again."