Sign up and beat the 'clockers' says HPI
Consumers are being urged to fight back against 'clockers' by HPI, as it launches an e-Petition to DirectGov to close down mileage correction firms. Across the UK, these companies are turning back the miles on used cars, helping certain sellers push up the price of vehicles. 1 in 20 cars checked with HPI show a discrepant mileage, and this figure has risen by 10 per cent in the last five years.
“Clocking itself isn’t illegal, but selling a’clocked’ car without declaring its true mileage is,” explains Phil Peace, Commercial Operations Director for HPI. “There is rarely a legitimate reason to alter the mileage on a vehicle, and in the unusual instance this does need to be done, a reputable car dealership can do this for you. However, Trading Standards estimates there are 50 mileage correction firms operating in Britain. Some of these companies will be exploiting a legal loophole that could help unscrupulous sellers con used car buyers out of their hard-earned cash and we’re calling for a change to the law.”
“A lower mileage can add hundreds or even thousands of pounds to the perceived value of a vehicle, so buyers have a lot to lose. Not only could they pay more than the vehicle is worth, but the car may need servicing and repairs sooner than the tampered mileage suggests. Consumers may not realise it, but digital odometers make clocking easier than ever to do and almost impossible to spot. Mileage correction firms are the main suspects believed to be fuelling this fraudulent activity and it’s time to close them down. Our e-petition will give motorists and the motor industry a chance for their voice to be heard.”
The HPI Check already includes key checks to help spot fraudulent mileages, with a mileage check against the National Mileage Register (NMR) included as standard. It currently has over 150 million readings, and safeguards the car buying public against clockers more than any other vehicle history check service. It will also record mileages in the first 3 years of the vehicle’s life, putting it ahead of the MOT system, which only captures mileage details on vehicles over 3 years old. HPI still sees too many buyers being taken in by a low mileage and a great price. But armed with an HPI Check, consumers can avoid the risk of paying over the odds for a clocked vehicle.
“HPI continues to raise awareness of the threat of clocking and other used car fraud, but mileage correction firms continue to operate, making it easy for unscrupulous sellers to make a fast profit. We are launching our e-petition to help consumers fight back and make the Government take action. We urge all motorists to visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40393 to get behind the petition and close down mileage correction firms for good.”
Related news:
Comments