XN000022-1985-05-05 — Page 12

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 1985

11

POLICE WARN ABOUT USED CAR DEALS

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GETTING A POST-DATED CHEQUE DOES NOT MEAN A PROSPECTIVE CAR SELLER WILL GET FULL MONEY FOR VALUE.

NOR WILL A BUYER FIND PAYING BY INSTALMENT A BARGAIN.

THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF THE PITFALLS THAT AWAIT THE UNWARY CUSTOMER IF HE FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF UNSCRUPULOUS USED CAR DEALERS.

POLICE TODAY (SUNDAY) ISSUED THIS ADVICE FOLLOWING TWO SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS AGAINST USED CAR DEALERS LAST MONTH.

+OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE INTENDING TO BUY OR SELL CARS SHOULD GO TO REPUTABLE COMPANIES OR TO THOSE RECOMMENDED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, WOMAN INSPECTOR PEGGY NG WHO INVESTIGATED ONE OF THE CASES REPORTED AT TSZ WAN SHAN, SAID.

IF THEY CHOOSE OTHERWISE, INSP NG SAID, THEN THEY SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

THOSE INTENDING TO SELL CARS SHOULD BRING ONE OR TWO FRIENDS WITH THEM SO THAT THEY CAN BE WITNESSES IN CASE THE INCIDENT GOES TO COURT.

+ IF THE DEALER OFFERS A POST-DATED CHEQUE DON'T ACCEPT IT,+ INSP NG SAID.

FIRST OF ALL, SHE EXPLAINED, THE CHEQUE WOULD ACT AS AN ENTICEMENT FOR THE SELLER TO COMPLETE THE FORMALITIES WITHOUT BOTHERING TO EXERCISE COMMONSENSE.

SHE SAID THAT PEOPLE HAD ADMITTED THAT AFTER TAKING THE CHEQUE THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY SIGN THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP, A SALES AGREEMENT AND HAND OVER THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION TO THE CAR DEALERS.

+COMMONSENSE SHOULD PREVAIL. THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO BE COMPLETED AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. SIGNING THE SALES AGREEMENT WITHOUT READING THE CONDITIONS IS A FOLLISH ACT, SHE SAID.

+ANOTHER PITFALL IS THE FACT THAT MANY PEOPLE SIGNED AGREEMENTS AND LEFT IT AT THAT. THEY SHOULD HAVE DEMANDED A COPY, SHE SAID.

AND BECAUSE THE SELLERS DID NOT FOLLOW THIS PARTICULAR PRECAUTION THEY FOUND THEMSELVES LIABLE TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS INCLUDING PAYING FROM 50 TO 100 PER CENT COMMISSION, WHICH WERE ADDED TO THE AGREEMENT AFTER IT WAS SIGNED.

/BUT THEIR