Barrie R.V. Centre loses licence to operate

Toronto, February 17, 2005 - The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) – the provincial regulator of motor vehicle dealers – reports Barrie R.V. Centre is no longer registered to operate as a dealer. In Ontario all motor vehicle dealers and salespersons must be registered with OMVIC and operate within the boundaries of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) and other key pieces of legislation. Registration can be refused or revoked if it is determined dealers or salespersons will not operate in accordance with the law, with financial responsibility or with honesty and integrity.

OMVIC issued a Proposal to Revoke Barrie R.V.’s registration and that of its owner Donald Earle following a string of consumer complaints – many of which related to consignment sales of motor homes where consumers were still owed proceeds from the sales. The dealer and Earle abandoned an appeal against the proposal which resulted in automatic termination of their registration. Without registration, Barrie R.V. Centre (located at 1600 Highway 11 South) and its sole officer and director, Donald Earle, cannot engage in buying, selling or leasing vehicles.

“Consumers with complaints against Barrie R.V. are asked to contact OMVIC (1-800-943-6002) as well as Barrie OPP (705-726-6484) – who already have charges outstanding against Donald Earle,” explains OMVIC’s Director of Compliance Laura Halbert. “Our complaint team can advise consumers about their options for recourse if they had problems with transactions completed through Barrie R.V. From calls already received it would appear that some consumers may even be eligible to access the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund.”

The fund is financed by registered dealers and acts as a last resort for consumers who have had problems with their motor vehicle transactions. There are specific criteria for accessing the fund, and the total compensation available is $15,000. Also worthy of note is that the fund is only available to consumers who have purchased through a registered dealer.

To confirm dealer registration status consumers are invited to contact OMVIC or visit the consumer affairs section of OMVIC’s web site, www.omvic.on.ca. Consumers who leave vehicles on consignment should ensure they have a written agreement with all terms specifically detailed. Frequently checking the physical premises where the vehicle is being offered for sale to follow up on the status of the consignment sale is also advised.

OMVIC is the self-management organization of the motor vehicle dealer industry and administers the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act – a public protection statute – on behalf of the Minister of Consumer and Business Services. OMVIC’s mandate is to maintain a safe and informed marketplace by ensuring registration of dealers and salespeople, regularly inspecting all of Ontario’s 9,000 dealerships, maintaining a complaint line for consumers and conducting investigations. OMVIC’s Board of Directors includes 9 elected dealers and 3 consumer representatives appointed by government. OMVIC also administers the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund.