Damon spent almost $12,000 on a second-hand car he barely drove. Trying to get it sorted was a long and complicated journey, and consumer groups are calling for change.
Damon Ridge still remembers taking a deep breath before buying his $12,000 car, the biggest purchase he had ever made in his life.A Victorian consumer survey found 17 per cent of car buyers bought a vehicle with a major faultThe industry says lemon car sales are not a widespread problem and current laws are adequate
Of those surveyed, 17 per cent said their car had a major safety fault like the engine suddenly cutting out or transmission failing. The mechanic suspected a product used to mask engine problems had been added to the engine prior to Mr Ridge's purchase. Damon Ridge says he questioned himself over what checks he could have done as he tried to get his car fixed.Eventually, he enlisted the help of the Consumer Action Law Centre, who paid thousands of dollars to have it assessed by an independent expert mechanic, money he never could have afforded.
"We would like to express our gratitude to Damon for his patience, understanding and cooperation throughout this process. It is our firm belief that resolving issues in a mutually beneficial manner fosters positive relationships and paves the way for future."It is calling for national consumer law to impose penalties on dealers who fail to provide a remedy like a repair for consumer guarantee failures and an overhaul of how people can get help.
"When we talk to our dealers, they tell us that many, many customers go back to them complaining of major faults in vehicles, and generally they're not major faults.SA consumer protection officials are cracking down on second-hand car dealers selling vehicles from home under the guise of being a private seller."They could be minor wiring that could be fused based, or they could be simple things like trying to pair a phone.
She said it was not always an easy process, however, with dealerships "pushing back" and the complaints process being complex for consumers.
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