(Final report of 2015)
(Prague, January 15, 2016) The Czech Trade Inspection Authority carried out inspections focused on sale of used cars during the entire year. The frequency of inspections was highest in the period from the start of July to the end of September when a targeted inspection action was carried out focusing on sellers of these cars. Violations of obligations determined by generally binding legal were discovered in more than a half of 115 inspections. Expert opinions on 34 vehicles were elaborated because of suspicions that information about the cars didn’t correspond with the real state. Expert assessments proved 23 cases in which information about an offered vehicle didn’t correspond with the reality. There were also cases when speedometers were modified and indicated millage lower by more than 100,000 km. “Results of the inspections show that consumers aren’t always truthfully informed about technical condition of vehicles as well as the facts that are important for their decision concerning the purchase. Given the fact that most of the initiated administrative proceedings haven’t ended so far, amounts of fines for proven administrative delicts cannot be predicted. Based on the experience I recommend consumers to have a professional with them to help them choose a used car. They can, hence, avoid disappointment from an unfavourable purchase and possible subsequent problems because some vendors refuse legally stipulated liability for defects of purchased cars,” said Mojmír Bezecný, the Director General of the Czech Trade Inspection Authority.
The Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek also commented on the inspection results: “Inspections carried out by the CTIA officers showed again that fraudsters who modify millage still do the same thing to a wide extent. I will insist that this practice should become a criminal offence. An offer of such a thing should be a criminal offence too.”
The press release is available in the attachment.
Celá zpráva zde:
2016-01-15-car-bazaars.doc (, 64.50 KB)