Car buyer gets raw deal

16 April 2008 - 02:00
By unknown

Some credit providers appear to be too careless about the requirements of the new National Credit Act promulgated last year.

Some credit providers appear to be too careless about the requirements of the new National Credit Act promulgated last year.

The act demands that the credit providers must sell the goods at the advertised amount. There must be no hidden costs or unexplained extras charged to the consumer after the deal is sealed.

But, Menlyn Nissan Motors did not only charge Philimon Mpane an amount for an unspecified extra they also inflated his deposit and caused his bank to pay them R191991 for a car they were selling for a lower price. They had advertised the Chrysler PT Cruiser for R119000, the amount that attracted Mpane to buy from them.

He said he asked his bank to recalculate his loan based on the initial advertised amount of R119000, and discovered that the dealer had pocketed R60000 they were not entitled to.

Jaco du Toit of Menlyn Nissan Motors said he was not responsible for Mpane's transaction.