Car firm fined after selling unroadworthy vehicle

A Maidenhead car dealership has been ordered to pay more than £6,500 in fines, compensation and costs after selling an unroadworthy car and failing to alert the consumer that it had a replacement chassis with an incorrect chassis number.

The Royal Borough's trading standards team pursued the case after they were alerted by the Hampshire purchaser to the fact that Auto Exporters UK Ltd of Silco Drive, Maidenhead, trading as Berkshire Land Rover, had missold the vehicle in June 2010. Difficulties had arisen after the vehicle developed faults and subsequent tests revealed the offences.

At a hearing at East Berkshire Magistrates' Court Maidenhead on 16 September 2011 the company pleaded guilty to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

On Friday 21 October at the same court, Auto Exporters was fined £1,350 for each offence (plus a £15 victim surcharge), and ordered to pay £1,944.45 compensation to the victim and £2,000 costs to the Royal Borough.

The court was told Auto Exporters did advise the purchaser that they had changed the chassis but appeared ignorant of the fact that the car ended up with two identification numbers, the one stamped on the chassis and the car's original number.

This difference had consequences when the consumer had to pay for the situation to be regularised with the DVLA. It was not suggested that the car was ringed.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, cabinet member for highways, transport and environment, said: "This was a long and difficult investigation but we are delighted that we have seen justice done and that the consumer has been compensated by the company."

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