Home Local News Convicted car traders ordered to pay back almost £100,000

Convicted car traders ordered to pay back almost £100,000

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Following a prosecution by Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service, two men trading together as Rockbank Motors Ltd, have been ordered to pay back £99,186 by Preston Crown Court in a hearing today (21 December).

The traders involved, Mubasshar Azam and Amar Ahmed, who had garages in Darwen and Preston, were ordered to pay back £79,186 and £10,000 respectively in a Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 hearing brought by Lancashire Trading Standards.

£10,000 in costs was also awarded to Lancashire County Council for bringing the case.

Part of the award goes directly in full compensation to all purchasers who gave statements to investigating officers, while the rest of the award is split between the Government, the Courts and Trading Standards.

LCC’s share of the money must be used for future consumer safeguarding work.

If the traders do not pay the awards in full within 12 weeks they will receive a jail term for one year and 6 months respectively.

This follows a Trading Standards prosecution at Preston Crown Court on 13 October 2017 where both traders were sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work orders, 3 year director disqualification, and either curfews or Rehabilitation Activity days.

The case was taken after complaints from around the country showing that the traders were selling shoddy vehicles and refusing to compensate customers when things went wrong.

In many cases vehicles broke down shortly after purchase. The traders used various phrases including “spares/repairs invoice” and “restocking fee” to refuse consumers their legal rights on cars that were not of satisfactory quality.

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, said “Lancashire Trading Standards received 560 complaints about second hand cars this year. We run a Persistent Traders Project where car dealers causing problems are tackled, firstly with advice and assistance, and secondly, where our advice is not followed and where complaint levels do not improve, by further measures including prosecutions of those who continue to flaunt their legal duties to consumers.

“Car traders should take note that we expect fair and honest trading within our borders.”

If any readers have concerns about the sale of illegal goods, or require advice on vehicles or any other goods they have purchased, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

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