Friday, May 23, 2008
Car dealers set for EU clampdown
Used car sales to come under close scrutiny from next week
As EU consumer protection laws banning 31 ‘unfair sales practices’ become law next Monday, the Department for Business has singled out the used car trade as needing the reforms.
It claims bad practices are damaging customers’ perceptions of the industry, and singled it out when publicising the changes.
According to the DfB, 65 per cent of Britons think used car dealers ‘are likely’ to rip them off, a fifth felt pressured by salesmen into buying, and one in ten chose a car they would otherwise have left as a result.
The claims were made after 2,008 adults were surveyed for the department.
Now, some £7.5m will be spent by the UK government to train so called Trading Standards ‘scambuster’ teams who will identify illegal practices.
“Honest traders understand the value of treating customers fairly and they’ve had enough of losing profit to rivals using underhand tactics to get ahead,” said consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas.
“The Consumer Protection Regulations will deliver better protection for consumers, cut red tape and put in place a simpler and clearer consumer law that will be easier to interpret and enforce,” he said.
The laws relate to businesses that trade directly with consumers, including used car dealers, mechanics and vehicle hire businesses.
DATED: 23.05.08
FEED: MT
As EU consumer protection laws banning 31 ‘unfair sales practices’ become law next Monday, the Department for Business has singled out the used car trade as needing the reforms.
It claims bad practices are damaging customers’ perceptions of the industry, and singled it out when publicising the changes.
According to the DfB, 65 per cent of Britons think used car dealers ‘are likely’ to rip them off, a fifth felt pressured by salesmen into buying, and one in ten chose a car they would otherwise have left as a result.
The claims were made after 2,008 adults were surveyed for the department.
Now, some £7.5m will be spent by the UK government to train so called Trading Standards ‘scambuster’ teams who will identify illegal practices.
“Honest traders understand the value of treating customers fairly and they’ve had enough of losing profit to rivals using underhand tactics to get ahead,” said consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas.
“The Consumer Protection Regulations will deliver better protection for consumers, cut red tape and put in place a simpler and clearer consumer law that will be easier to interpret and enforce,” he said.
The laws relate to businesses that trade directly with consumers, including used car dealers, mechanics and vehicle hire businesses.
DATED: 23.05.08
FEED: MT
