A LIMERICK city car sales company has given a formal undertaking not to engage in car clocking or selling clocked cars, following an investigation by the National Consumer Agency (NCA).
Orange Motors Ltd, trading at 60 Keane Street, Killalee, has compensated three customers whose cars were clocked, the NCA said in a statement yesterday.
Using its powers to "name and shame" offending businesses for the first time, the agency said that after an investigation it had formed the view that the company was engaging in misleading commercial practices.
These involved reducing the odometer reading in used cars - a practice known as car clocking - and selling on these cars with significantly reduced mileage readings.
The agency identified four cars sold by Orange Motors with a reduced mileage reading.
While it had the power to prosecute the company for this practice, it decided that this would take too long.
The agency was also concerned other consumers might be misled in the meantime.
"Consequently, in the interest of protecting consumers, the agency sought a formal undertaking from Orange Motors Ltd," said the NCA.
The company gave this undertaking last week and undertook to compensate affected customers.
Commenting on the undertaking, the chief executive of the NCA, Ann Fitzgerald, said she was glad that the commitment had been made.
"Car clocking or selling clocked car is very serious. Not alone does this practice cost the consumer money but it also puts the safety of road users at risk." she said. "The more wear and tear, the higher the risk of breakdown."
Calling on consumers to be vigilant and not to buy on impulse, Ms Fitzgerald also urged them to contact the agency if they had suspicions that their car was clocked.
The NCA is investigating allegations of car clocking involving a number of other car dealers around the State.