F&I Management & Training

Trading Standards said some of the deals introduced by dealers after the ending of the government-backed scrappage scheme earlier this year were misleading.

At West Sussex County Council Trading Standards officers went undercover and posed as customers to see if the swappage schemes offered value for money.

Graeme MacPherson, head of regulatory services, said: "In one case, the dealer's advert for car swappage appeared to be open to all new cars. But in reality it was only available on certain models.

"Another dealer was advertising £3,000 for your old car under their swappage scheme. But on its website it was offering some new cars at prices after swappage that were less than £3,000 below their recommended retailers price.

"Both were told to correct their advertising.A dealer also advertised £3,000 off the list price of a new car under their swappage scheme.

"But it was also selling cars at £2000 off the list price of exactly the same vehicle.

"So in truth you would only be getting £1000 for your old car rather than the £3000 you think you are getting," he said.

DATED: 05.10.10

FEED: MT