A CAR dealer has been fined after advertising misleading information about a car on an online auction site.

At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court earlier this month, Mohammed Zahib, Director of Itec Remarketing Ltd admitted three offences under the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations.

The court heard that the company had sold a Fiat 500 to a Dudley resident via an online auction site in January 2018. The resident had bought the vehicle based on an online advertisement, which gave a misleading description of the vehicle.

Zahib admitted selling the car, which was described as having service history and a current MOT, when in fact the only history available at time of sale was a pre-delivery inspection stamp. The buyer was also asked to pay for the MOT prior to taking delivery of the vehicle.

In court, Zahib accepted full responsibility for the sale and agreed to reimburse the consumer the full cost of the vehicle.

The company was fined £1000, ordered to pay £976 in costs and a victim surcharge of £100. Zahib of Peveril Road, Peterborough was fined £1000, ordered to pay £1000 costs and a victim surcharge of £100.

Martin Samuels, strategic director for people at Dudley Council, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message to car traders that they have a responsibility to describe vehicles accurately and check the status of an MOT prior to sale. Dudley Trading Standards will not hesitate to investigate complaints where consumers have been misled and the trader refuses to accept responsibility for their actions.”