| |
|
 |
| |
Beware
of curbsiders when buying a vehicle privately
- April 19, 2008
When people tell me they intend to buy a used
car privately, I caution them to beware of
curbsiders.
It's surprising the number of people who don't
know what a curbsider is, or about the various
scams these individuals operate throughout
Canada.
Curbsiders have been around for decades, preying
on the naiveté and honesty of everyday
car buyers.
A curbsider is someone who misrepresents himself
and the vehicle he's trying to sell, while
posing as a private seller. He will place
an ad in the classified section of a newspaper,
or online, and pretend to be an average citizen
who is innocently trying to sell a car.
But the motivations of curbsiders are far
from innocent. They conceal the true histories
of vehicles they're selling, in order to dupe
unsuspecting buyers and reap huge profits.
Some of the vehicles are stolen or damaged.
Some have had odometers tampered with, while
others have liens on them.
Many cases are documented in which car buyers
had to relinquish their vehicles after a sale,
because the vehicles didn't lawfully belong
to the seller. Other buyers have discovered
costly damage to their vehicles, which wasn't
revealed to them at the time of purchase.
Industry studies have revealed that 25 per
cent of all automotive classified ads in Ontario
are placed by curbsiders. That's a staggering
statistic.
How can curbsiders operate so freely and with
apparent impunity? The Ontario Motor Vehicle
Industry Council, which regulates the car
industry in Ontario, is extremely vigilant
in pursuing curbsiders and laying charges
against those who sell vehicles in this fashion.
Each year in Ontario, OMVIC lays thousands
of charges (more than anywhere else in Canada)
against curbsiders in an attempt to curtail
their fraudulent activities.
In 2004, a curbsider was found guilty on 23
counts of selling vehicles without a registration.
He was fined $493,750 and given a four-month
jail sentence ? the largest penalty on record
against a known curbsider.
Although OMVIC and police actively pursue
curbsiders, it's a sobering reality that these
offenders continue to operate and prey on
unwary consumers.
Despite the high level of curbsider activity,
consumers are not powerless in efforts to
avoid being duped.
The most effective resource for combating
a curbsider is information. If you know what
to look for before buying privately, and take
some reasonable precautions, you will lessen
your chances of being victimized.
Here are some tips that will help consumers
reduce the risk of becoming another curbsider
statistic.
Insist on obtaining an official Ontario Used
Vehicle Information Package from the seller.
This package includes the vehicle's history
and other ownership information. By law, a
private seller must produce this document.
Have your own automotive technician check
the vehicle for possible mechanical and/or
structural damage. A technician can identify
things that are not apparent to the average
buyer.
Check the vehicle's registration. Make sure
that the vehicle you're buying is registered
in the seller's name. If it's not, be wary.
Beware of phrases in ads such as, "I'm
moving out of the country," "I'm
getting married and I need the money,"
or "It belonged to my aunt and she passed
away." These are telltale signs of a
curbsider.
If you want to avoid the curbsider risk altogether,
consider buying a used vehicle from a registered
new car dealer. Buying from a new car dealer
affords you a level of consumer protection
that simply isn't available when you buy privately.
If you want to report a curbsider, email nocurbs@omvic.on.ca.
For more information, visit www.omvic.on.ca.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
Home Page
