The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says it has been inundated with complaints from consumers who buy used vehicles, only to realise that they had not been furnished with full information about the defects of the cars.
The new owners of the vehicles at times realized that they have been duped on the very day that they take possession of the used cars.
In August, IOL reported that the NCC had referred six car dealerships to the National Consumer Tribunal for adjudication. The move came after the commission received complaints from consumers alleging that the the dealerships had contravened provisions of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, spokesperson of the National Consumer Commission, Phetho Ntaba, said on average the commission is receiving about 250 to 300 complaints from people who bought second-hand vehicles.
“Generally, when we look at our statistics at the National Consumer Commission, on average we can say around 250 or 300 complaints per month, that of second-hand motor vehicles.
“Consumers say they bought these vehicles, they were not given information about the car or history of the car; they experience defects within a short period of time – be it a month, a day or three days … the shortest period of time,” Ntaba told the news channel.
She said when the NCC intervenes, and engages the supplier, in some cases the dealerships refuse to fix the vehicles.
“Either they repair the vehicles but not to the satisfaction of the consumer or they bluntly refuse to repair or refund the consumer. Those are the trends that we see as the NCC,” said Ntaba.
She said at times, the car owners approach the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa, but the dealership still refuses to repair the vehicles or refund the customers.
Due to the purchase of the faulty vehicles, many people are left stuck with cars which can not be used, yet paying the monthly instalments to the financial institutions which financed the deal.
Ntaba said at times the dealerships insist it was the motorists’ driving behaviour which caused the defects on the cars, while in other instances the dealership say the car buyers signed contracts to take responsibility for any defects notices on the vehicle after it leaves the dealerships’ showroom.
The NCC said such conduct – including the contracts - violates provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
The dealerships are aware of the consumer’s rights and often use the written contracts to exonerate the businesses in case of defects being found on the cars.
To counter the scourge, Ntaba said the NCC will be rolling out programmes to educate the dealerships on the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
Ntaba advised that before purchasing any vehicle, consumers should take time to understand the history of the particular car that they are buying.
“If you buy a car, inspect it. We have seen people buying cars online and that is something else, completely different. Inspect the vehicle, you are protected by the law. They cannot force you to buy a car that you are not comfortable with,” she said.
Consumers should not be pressured or rushed into deciding on taking the deal.
“Drive the car. Get someone who is going to assist you to evaluate the car and ask those questions. We are also mindful that even if you ask questions, they do not give you the correct information to enable you to buy that particular vehicle,” said Ntaba.
She also urged consumers to approach the NCC when they have complaints about their defective, recently bought vehicles.
In March, IOL reported that a Durban woman who wanted to celebrate her 30th birthday in style by rewarding herself with a car, was living in regret and agony after her R200,000 purchase from the Cars R Us dealership turned into an expensive lemon.
At the time, Sinegugu Kunene, from Wyebank, Durban, said purchasing the car left her in distress instead of improving her life.
IOL