A car dealer who mis-sold a used Renault Laguna has been fined more than £10,000.
Marios Emiliou and his company MJC Motors of Oldbury, West Midlands, were fined by Sandwell Magistrates after an investigation by Trading Standards.
The prosecution followed a complaint from an Ebay customer who bought a 2002 Renault Laguna, advertised on the auction website as “part exchange car to clear with tax and MoT” in December 2009.
When the buyer travelled to Emiliou’s garage to collect the car, he was given a receipt which stated the car was unroadworthy.
The buyer was not told at any point in the sale that the car was unroadworthy and hadn’t noticed the receipt. Its gearbox failed on his journey home.
Emiliou pleaded guilty to two charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 relating to the eBay advert being untruthful and misleading.
Guilty pleas on behalf of MJC Motors, which also has another site in Smethwick, were entered at a previous hearing.
Emiliou, of Rosemary Hill Road, Sutton Coldfield, was ordered to pay £3,141 in fines and costs.
The court ordered MJC Motors to pay £6,015 in fines and costs.
As editor, Tim is responsible for the media content, planning and production of AM's multiple channels (AM print and digital magazines, website, social media and contributing to our events planning). He interviews and writes about as many franchised dealer groups and UK divisions of motor manufacturers as possible, to explore the issues facing UK motor retail and understand what solutions dealers and suppliers are using to overcome these.
Mrs Barnett - 01/01/2013 21:18
Thank goodness for this! I have had a dreadful time with this dealer and not got anywhere so glad this chap has. Avoid at all costs!