The Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) has charged Abe Martens under the province’s Fair Trading Act for selling a vehicle without a licence.
Martens plead guilty to being a curber and was fined $3,450. He was also ordered to pay an additional $3,900 in restitution to a Lethbridge father, who had bought a vehicle for his daughter from Martens.
Last summer the Lethbridge man had bought a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo from someone advertising it online.
After inspection, the vehicle was found to have serious problems, including a fluid leak and improperly installed parts. The seller did not offer any help, so the man contacted AMVIC.
The regulatory organization said it was able to link the seller’s phone number to a possible curber they were already investigating. Laura Lowe, communications manager for AMVIC, said Martens was connected to dozens of other vehicles that had been advertised over the previous year.
“It’s against the law to be in the business of selling vehicles without the proper licence. The practice is harmful to consumers and unfair to law abiding automotive businesses,” said John Bachinski, executive director of AMVIC, in a written release.
The company added that licensed sellers in Alberta must provide a mechanical fitness assessment before entering into a sales contract.
Licensed sellers are also expected to follow a high standard of professional conduct and commit to following consumer protection laws outlined in the province’s Fair Trading Act.
