A MAJOR Dublin 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.
Airport Used Cars Centre Ltd, trading at Old Airport Road, Cloghran, Co Dublin, has compensated four customers whose cars were found to be clocked during the investigation.
This is the fourth time the agency has secured an undertaking from car dealers not to engage in car clocking.
Earlier this year, garages in Limerick and Galway were censured for their involvement in the practice. Airport Used Cars, which sells 120 vehicles a week, is by far the largest dealer to have been caught so far.
Once again, the agency has opted not to take court proceedings against the dealers, preferring instead to use its powers to "name and shame" offending businesses.
It argues that going to court would take too long and other consumers might be misled in the meantime.
Clocking involves reducing the odometer reading in used cars and selling them on with significantly reduced mileage readings. The practice is banned under the 2007 Consumer Protection Act.
The Companies Registration Offices gives the offices of Airport Used Cars Centre Limited as 508 Woodpark, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16, and its directors as Michael, Joan, Keith and Barry Corless.
Michael Corless told The Irish Timesyesterday the clocked cars had come from a third party and he had been caught "between the divil and the deep blue sea".
"They were cars I bought from different people but yes, I am responsible and the agency put me right on it," he said.
Two of the cars were imported from Britain and two came from Ireland. Mr Corless said the agency had accepted his explanation and was following up the information he had provided.
He claimed the agency had tested 200 cars and found problems with four. One of the customers loved his car so much he didn't want to change it and he gave him "a few quid" in compensation.
"I sell a lot of cars and this is the last thing you want to happen. I've a fairly good name in the trade and you have to remember it's just four cars in 20 years in the business."
The latest case followed a raid on the company's premises near Dublin airport. Odometer checks were carried out on 15 cars and three were found to have significantly altered readings, ie much lower than before the cars were sold to the company, according to the agency.
The agency says Airport Used Cars has undertaken to compensate the affected customers by either refunding some of the purchase price or taking back the cars. It says it will continue to monitor the company to ensure the undertaking is fully complied with.
Commenting on the case, the agency's chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said its drive to stop car clocking would continue.
The latest case would send a clear message to other dealers that they could not mislead consumers by selling clocked cars and expect to get away with it.
"Car clocking or selling a clocked car is a very serious matter," Ms Fitzgerald said. "Not alone does the practice cost the consumer money but it also puts the safety of road users at risk. The more wear and tear, the higher the risk of breakdown or accident."
She called on consumers to be vigilant and not to buy on impulse. Advice on buying a car is available in a booklet which may be accessed on the agency's website, consumerconnect.ie.
Ms Fitzgerald also urged consumers to contact the agency if they had suspicions that their car was clocked. "We will investigate all complaints and take action where warranted," she added.