In seems that in this time of recession a lot of second hand car bargains are not bargains at all. In fact, they may be rip-offs, at least according to statistics available from the Office for Fair Trading.
That office is reporting that there has been a substantial amount of claims against car dealers involving the purchase of second hand cars. Furthermore, Consumer Direct, the consumer advice service, has seen an increase of 18 per cent in such complaints from the same period of time last year.
It is believed that the increase in the number of complaints is associated to the fact that more people are hunting better vehicle bargains because of current economic conditions. Complaints about second hand cars always top the list at Consumer Direct, but this year’s numbers so far represent a sizeable increase.
In order to aid consumers, the OFT and Consumer Direct have developed a handbook for buyers. The contents feature important questions to ask about car mileage, previous owners, mechanical history and the like. It is highly recommended that answers about the car’s condition and maintenance be given in writing rather than accepted as stated fact.
In this day and age everyone needs a bargain, and real deals are still out there. Consumers, however, must be wary of unscrupulous business practices in any venture, no matter the product. The safest thing to do is consult an expert, in this case a mechanic, and have them examine the car before you commit to purchase.
