Car dealer fined for selling “clocked” car

A car dealer has been sentenced for selling a car with an incorrect mileage.

Bury Council’s trading standards team brought a prosecution against Zahid Iqbal following the sale of a car at a private address in Whitefield.

The buyer visited the house in October 2012 and bought a 2010 plate Ford Fiesta Titanium which showed a mileage of around 23,000 miles. In May 2013 the buyer was looking into the value of the vehicle and it was at this point it was brought to her attention that there was a mileage anomaly. She subsequently carried out an online HPI check and discovered that the vehicle had travelled more than 61,000 miles, upon which she complained to trading standards.

An investigation ultimately led officers to Iqbal, who had previously traded as Performance Cars Sheffield.

Iqbal (aged 39) of North Road, Manchester pleaded guilty in Bolton Crown Court on 3 September 2015 to trading unfairly by selling a car with the incorrect mileage. He was fined £800 and ordered to pay £2,800 costs.

Angela Lomax, Bury’s head of trading standards and licensing, said: “This should act as a warning to rogue traders that unfair trading practices will not be tolerated and dealers choosing to do business outside the law will be subjected to enforcement.”

Trading standards advise:

• Think carefully when buying high value goods, shop around and buy from reputable dealers.

• When buying from unconventional places make sure you carry out checks, get help if necessary and make sure you know who you are dealing with in case you have to go back if something goes wrong.

Residents who believe that they have been misled about goods purchased should report it to Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040 506 for investigation by trading standards officers.

ENDS

Press release issued: 7 September 2015.