Used cars again under fire from OFT

The OFT has today revealed that used cars once again top its list of complaints, with an incredible 56,000 people contacting the consumer protection body about problematic used cars this year alone.

MSN Cars used car guide

The staggering total is likely to put further pressure on the used car industry, which does not seem to be responding to the clear dissatisfaction of the Office of Fair Trading. This may see used car sales come under further scrutiny by the government department for consumer protection.

Best used cars for winter

For consumers, problems with their used cars is proving to be an expensive business. The OFT calculates the problems cost each person who complained an average of £425, or £85m per year.

Best used cars for 2011

More than two in three of the complaints were about faults with the cars, while 13% were about misleading claims (or, indeed factual omissions) by the seller.

Less than 7% of complaints were about substandard services: it really is problematic used cars – and dealers’ inability to resolve them – that is causing most dissatisfaction amongst second-hand car buyers.

Michele Shambrook from Consumer Direct said: ‘We continue to receive a high number of complaints which are often due to some traders refusing to deal with legitimate complaints or provide appropriate compensation.’

The OFT is, he said, working with the industry and local authority Trading Standards to help people understand their rights when buying a used car. He also warned that ‘dealers who fail to treat customers fairly or sell cars that are defective could face enforcement action.’

Last year, the OFT conducted a big study into the second hand car market, following years of complaints that saw it receive over 72,000 complaints last year.

The study concluded that existing legislation WAS sufficient, but that more needed to be done to remind dealers of the various laws, and also that consumers were aware of their rights. The OFT also recommended greater enforcement of legislation, both by itself and Trading Standards.

This is certainly being carried through, with nationwide car supermarket firm Carcraft this week being the latest high-profile business to see enforcement action being taken against it.

Have you bought a used car in the past year and suffered problems with it? Have you contacted the OFT or Trading Standards to lodge a complaint? Do share your used car buying experiences with us.