A Bristol car trader has been ordered to pay £3,300 in
fines, compensation and costs after admitting misleading a
Weston-super-Mare man over the price of a
car.
On Friday (April 7) at Flax Bourton Magistrates Court, the car
trader, Astor (Bristol) Limited who trade as Motortrust, entered a
guilty plea to an offence of giving a misleading price indication
to a consumer contrary to Section 20 of the Consumer Protection Act
1987.
The company was fined £1,700 plus £500 costs and ordered to pay
compensation of £1,102.93 to its aggrieved customer.
In December 2004, John Cooper of Weston-super-Mare saw a 'Y'
registered Vauxhall Astra advertised for sale at £4,999 by
Motortrust of Bryants Hill, Hanham, Bristol. After a test drive he
agreed to buy the car.
Mr Cooper later noticed that the price of the car on his credit
agreement had increased to £5,811. He contacted Motortrust and
complained but no compensation was offered.
Mr Cooper made a complaint to Trading Standards and the
prosecution was brought by North Somerset Council's Trading
Standards Service after a joint investigation with Bristol City
Trading Standards.
North Somerset Council's executive member for environment and
the community, Cllr Deborah Yamanaka, said: "We will continue to
monitor the activities of unscrupulous motor traders who try to
mislead our residents. The motor trade should be in no doubt that
underhand practices may result in legal action."