Second-hand car dealership Narita Imports has been found guilty of seven offences relating to misleading customers by entering false information on to an approved sales contract.
Lansvale dealership directors Azizul Hakim Chowdhury and Nahida Akhter pleaded guilty to the charges brought by NSW Fair Trading at Parramatta Local Court and were ordered to pay $7,725 in fines and costs.
Fair Trading Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement Valerie Griswold said she was pleased Narita Imports had been convicted and fined given the company’s conduct and intentional nature of the offences.
“Narita Imports has previously received education and Penalty Infringement Notices. NSW Fair Trading subsequently made the decision to commence prosecution proceedings,” Ms Griswold said.
“The seven offences that were successfully prosecuted took place in 2019.” Ms Griswold said.
“Several of the offences concerned dealers notices given to consumers that were false and misleading in that they include a Personal Property Security Register (PPSR) check number and guaranteed that the motor vehicle being purchased had been checked against the Register and came with clear title, but the PPSR number recorded did not exist on the Register.”
“The non-existent PPSR check numbers in particular are worrying as this check relates to the guarantee from the dealership that the vehicle comes with clear title, in that no finance is owing. It also shows whether the vehicle has been stolen or if the vehicle has ever been written off.
Get what you pay for
“All motor dealers must make sure that all of the information in dealers notices is reliable. Buying a car is a significant and costly event in a person’s life and consumers must be able to be confident that they are getting what they are paying for.”
With the boom in second-hand car sales due to COVID-19, Fair Trading is warning consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing a vehicle.
It has outlined methods buyers can use to avoid being ripped off:
• Make sure the dealer is licensed under the Motor Dealer & Repairers Act 2013. This can be easily done for free at Public Register - Service NSW.
• Ask for registration paperwork and proof of ownership. Compare the VIN number, engine number and registration number to that on the actual car.
• Do your own Security Check which can be done for $2.00 online at www.ppsr.gov.au or call 1300 007 777 – you will need the VIN, registration number, engine number or serial number. The PPSR checks for:
- Outstanding finance owing, water damage, written off,, odometer tampering, stolen vehicle
• Do an RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) Vehicle check for:
- Registration status and expiry, CTP Policy and expiry.
This can be done free at Check a vehicle registration | Service NSW or via the Service NSW app.
