Maesycwmmer Car Trader Fined

A 26 year old car trader from Caerphilly county borough has been taken to court and fined following a Trading Standards investigation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Evan Courtney, 26, who traded as All Sorts Motors at Main Road, Maesycwmmer was taken to court after Trading Standards received complaints from four consumers between January and May 2015 regarding problems with vehicles purchased from All Sorts Motors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, Courtney was summonsed to court, charged with seven offences – three contrary to the Companies Act 2006 and four offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The offences contrary to the Companies Act 2006 related to the fact that Courtney failed to disclose details of his ownership of the business on used car invoices – it is important that consumers know exactly who they are dealing with in case things go wrong and they need to enforce their rights. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two of the offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 related to two instances where indications were given on used car invoices that consumers had fewer rights than they actually did. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A third offence related to a Land Rover, which had been sold to a consumer from Ebbw Vale, being described as being a four wheel drive vehicle. It had however had a prop shaft removed and was therefore only a two-wheel drive. The final offence related to a BMW 116iSE, purchased by a consumer from Abertillery. In this case, Courtney had failed to inform the purchaser that the vehicle was a Category C insurance write off. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Courtney pleaded guilty to the seven offences when the case was heard on 17th November 2016, and was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on 20th January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Noting he was previously of good character, the court ordered Courtney to pay a fine totalling £1,900 for the offences. In addition, he was ordered to pay compensation to two of the consumers totalling £1,838.83, costs to the council of £4,349.50 and a £100 victim surcharge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr Nigel George said, “Our Trading Standards team are there to ensure a fair trading environment for businesses and consumers, who should be treated fairly and receive what they are legally entitled to. In this case, Mr Courtney has had to pay a total amount in excess of £8,000 which could so easily have been avoided had he taken his legal responsibilities seriously. I hope this outcome will act as a suitable deterrent to others that they will not get away with committing unfair and illegal practices”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To report an issue to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, please call 01495 235 291 or visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/tradingstandards ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​