South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | October | 14
From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.
RESIDENTS across South Gloucestershire are being warned against buying second-hand cars from roadside traders.
South Gloucestershire Council consumer watchdogs are putting people on their guard following a string of complaints from residents and businesses about the number of vehicles offered for sale at the kerbside.
Neil Derrick, trading standards senior enforcement officer, said: "Our message is simple: don't encourage these people by purchasing their cars. It's important to realise that consumers have legal rights against a trader if they sell them a defective vehicle, no matter how much it costs.
"These traders may try to deny you your rights."
Vehicles have been reported as being parked at various sites in Longwell Green and Yate with for sale signs and mobile telephone numbers displayed in their windscreens. Sometimes there will only be a single vehicle being offered for sale and when contacted, the seller will always meet prospective purchasers at the roadside and conduct the transaction there.
Trading standards officers are warning that the people behind these sales may not be private individuals selling their own vehicle, but car traders whose business premises have literally become lay-bys and kerbsides.
More often than not, these car traders will dupe potential customers into thinking that they are private individuals, or give absolutely no indication of their trade status.
Mr Derrick added: "Quite simply, if the seller wants to do business in a car park or on the roadside you are best advised to walk away. The chances are that the seller is trying to hide something and at worst, the car could even be stolen."
Recent experiences of people who have bought cars from roadside traders suggest that such vehicles may have been "clocked" or had their mileage reading deliberately altered. In addition, if anything goes wrong with the vehicle the seller may be difficult, if not impossible, to trace.
The sale of cars in this way is also causing problems for local residents who have to put up with car trading going on right outside their houses. Local car retailers are also suffering a competitive disadvantage especially as they have overheads like rental of forecourts and business rates to pay.
Traders tempted to sell vehicles in this way are also being warned that under the Highways Act, the council's highways department can seek to remove them. The department's powers have recently been increased under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which has created a criminal offence for traders to park vehicles and advertise them on the roadside.
Any South Gloucestershire residents wanting advice on the purchase of second hand cars, or who wish to report further incidents or vehicles being traded from the roadside, should call Neil Derrick on 01454 634009.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008