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Just seen this article! We know it goes it everywhere in the country - but this just shows the extent to the number of cars being sold - It affects us all - hence legit dealers are losing business / profits ! A car dealer has been handed a 12 week suspended prison sentence after selling a potentially dangerous car while posing as a private seller. Ian Blinkhorne of Elm Road, Stratford, pleaded guilty to the charges against him at Nuneaton Magistrates following an investigation by Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards team. The 51-year-old sold the Ford Ka to a Leamington woman after he had advertised the vehicle for sale on Facebook, The Leamington Spa Courier reported. It later failed an MOT test and a Trading Standards’ vehicle examiner identified a number of faults which made the car unsafe to drive. Among the issues were faulty power steering, seized brakes, excessive corrosion to the driver’s seat mounting and failed suspension.

I've read this article, and wondered how many 'dealers' check every cars history with the servicing dealer stamped in the book? A car dealer has been fined £5,000 for selling a car with a false service history. Presley Ogbondah, director of MPH Cars Ltd in Billet Lane, Hornchurch, failed to check the history of a car he sold, which turned out to be falsified. After the vehicle had been purchased, its new owner noticed loud knocking noises coming from the engine. Following some attempts to have the vehicle repaired, it was discovered that a replacement engine was needed at considerable cost. The owner contacted the main dealership and discovered the service history supplied with the vehicle was false and the car had not been serviced by them at all. Although Ogbondah had not falsified the history himself, he pleaded guilty to engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. Appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 7, he was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs, as well as £3,000 compensation to the consumer. (Source: Romford Recorder) Any thoughts on this ?