In July 2018 I had the misfortune to visit City Motor Auctions. I wrote a review on Google to warn others of my experience. I represent my comments here for the real customers of this dodgy dealership.
I have done the rounds to get a fair response from this dealership (so called auction), after having an 8 year old car with 80k on the odometer fail on the way home with a seized turbo and faulty injectors, ie. $4000). Obviously a non disclosed precondition. This is a brief account. The price was average (not cheap) for an unregistered vehicle (bald tires, unpopular brand, no roadworthy), but it was not a "written off" vehicle. I checked mechanicals as well as I could, being denied a test drive. The car was presented as "auction" stock, but documentation was completed in the name of the trader as owner and staff indicated that the principal regularly travels to buy cars to put through the "auction". It was marketed as "good motor", etc. My error was thinking there were normal consumer protections under motor trading legislation and fair practice ("fit for purpose", false advertising, etc). I accepted the vehicle and bought it before the auction.
What a bonus for these jokers to operate under an Auction banner when they have bought cars as their own stock to seemingly avoid Statutory Warranty, misrepresent the car's condition, deny test drives, and then deny any form of redress. Oh sorry, the principal, Jason Stubberfield, initially offered to put the car back through an auction. I asked for my money back, but was told that the car should go through auction first, and if it didn't sell... Blah, Blah, Blah. As I was not prepared to misrepresent the condition of the vehicle and inflict the car on another unsuspecting buyer, I declined. The dealership subsequently retracted their "offer". I approached Fair Trading, but after two months was told that the dealership was not prepared to offer any redress. The process of redress under Fair Trading is voluntary - i.e. ABSOLUTELY USELESS. I have written to the Queensland Attorney-General, who has carriage of the legislation that allows this unethical "self regulated" practice. I have provided details of various inconsistencies and ambiguities in the contract; that identifies the terms of a Statutory Warranty, identifies the trader as the owner, identifies the car as meeting the age and mileage conditions for a statutory warranty. For 12 months the car was not able to be used, as I did not have money for repairs. I was eventually forced to repair the vehicle myself (at a cost of nearly $4000) and am seeking redress through QCAT (Small Claims). It was interesting that the Small Claims process required an attempt at mediation prior to taking up court resources. I was happy to participate and joined in a telephone conference with the company principle, Mr Stubberfield and a mediator in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID 19 shut down. Mr Stubberfield phoned in, but complained from start to finish about how he was going bankrupt, didn't have the time for the process and that I would not see any compensation for my complaint. Ha! Ha! I have to await the reopening of the courts for any resolution.
There are many more reviews of this business on Google.
Be Aware and Beware. read more
