Used-car buyers' tales of woe

AS many as 20 per cent of consumers who buy used cars from dealers end up having a problem with the vehicle, a report by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said yesterday.

Almost 70 per cent of these problems come to light within the first month, the report said.

Nearly 30 per cent of those who contacted their dealer said they never did get the problem rectified. These unsatisfied consumers spent 425 each – 85 million a year in total – fixing unresolved faults that were the dealer's obligation to correct, the OFT said.

Of consumers surveyed, 27 per cent found dealers very unhelpful.