NSW Fair Trading
Second-hand car dealership Narita Imports has been found guilty of 7 offences relating to
misleading customers by entering false information onto an approved sales contract.
On Friday April 30 the Lansvale dealership directors Azizul Hakim Chowdhury and Nahida
Akhter pleaded guilty to the charges brought by NSW Fair Trading at Parramatta Local Court
and were ordered to pay $7725 in fines and costs.
Fair Trading Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement Valerie Griswold said she
was pleased Narita Imports had been convicted and fined given the company's conduct and
intentional nature of the offences.
"Narita Imports has previously received education and Penalty Infringement Notices. NSW
Fair Trading subsequently made the decision to commence prosecution proceedings," Ms
Griswold said.
"The 7 offences that were successfully prosecuted took place from 10 August 2019 to 4
October 2019." Ms Griswold said.
"Several of the offences concerned dealers notices given to consumers that were false and
misleading in that they include a Personal Property Security Register (PPSR) check number
and guaranteed that the motor vehicle being purchased had been checked against the
Register and came with clear title, but the PPSR number recorded did not exist on the
Register."
"The non-existent PPSR check numbers in particular are worrying as this check relates to
the guarantee from the dealership that the vehicle comes with clear title, in that no finance is
owing. It also shows whether the vehicle has been stolen or if the vehicle has ever been
written off.
"All motor dealers must make sure that all of the information in dealers notices is reliable.
Buying a car is a significant and costly event in a person's life and consumers must be able
to be confident that they are getting what they are paying for."
Narita Imports has the option to appeal.
With the boom in second-hand car sales due to COVID-19, Fair Trading is warning
consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing a vehicle.
- Make sure the dealer is licenced under the Motor Dealer & Repairers Act 2013. This can be easily done for free at Public Register - Service NSW
- Ask for registration paperwork and proof of ownership. Compare the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), Engine number and registration number to that on the actual car
- Do your own PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) Check which can be done for $2.00 online at www.ppsr.gov.au or call 1300 007 777 – you will need the VIN, registration number, engine number or serial number. The PPSR checks for:
- Outstanding finance owing
- Water damage
- Written off
- Odometer tampering
- Stolen vehicle
- Do an RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) Vehicle check for:
- Registration expiry
- Registration status
- CTP Policy and expiry
This can be done free at Check a vehicle registration | Service NSW or via the Service NSW app
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