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Toronto, October 13, 2009
- Few Ontarians know what a
curbsider is, but many could
fall victim to one. The Ontario
Motor Vehicle Industry Council
(OMVIC) has launched a consumer
awareness program
(BuyWithConfidence.ca) to
encourage consumers to avoid
curbsider scams by purchasing
vehicles from Ontario-registered
dealers. Curbsiders are
unlicensed dealers who pose as
private sellers; the vehicles
they sell are often damaged,
stolen or misrepresented
(tampered odometers, missing
parts or worse). OMVIC regulates
Ontario's 8,400 vehicle dealers
and enforces the Motor Vehicle
Dealers Act (MVDA), a public
protection statute.
"Previous industry studies
have shown that curbsiders
account for approximately 25 per
cent of used vehicle classified
ads, so Ontario consumers could
easily get ripped off," says
OMVIC spokesperson, Brenda
McIntyre. "Ontario dealers must
be registered under the Motor
Vehicle Dealers Act so that
purchasers can enjoy the
benefits of Ontario's consumer
protection legislation."
Identifiable by a blue and
yellow "Ontario-registered
dealer" decal posted on
dealership doors or windows,
registered dealers are required
by law to represent a vehicle's
history and condition
accurately. Registered dealers
also pay into a consumer
protection fund that may cover
issues arising from a
transaction with an
Ontario-registered dealer.
"Registration can be refused
or revoked if it is determined
that dealers or salespersons
will not operate in accordance
with the law, with financial
responsibility or with honesty
and integrity. In addition to
the MVDA, all registrants must
also adhere to OMVIC's Standards
of Business Practice," says
McIntyre.
OMVIC has launched a consumer
awareness program to identify
Ontario-registered dealers.
Consumers can identify dealers
by looking for the blue and
yellow "Ontario-registered
dealer" decal or asking dealers
to provide their OMVIC
registration. To locate an
Ontario-registered dealer,
contact OMVIC at
BuyWithConfidence.ca.
The consumer awareness
campaign is designed to help
consumers distinguish legitimate
Ontario vehicle dealers from
curbsiders and will appear in
out of home, radio and online
advertising in places where
people look for vehicle
information. Online ads will run
on major vehicle-trading
websites, radio ads will target
consumers in their cars and
transit shelter ads will run
across the Greater Toronto Area
in regions with a strong dealer
presence. Consumers can view
campaign elements at
BuyWithConfidence.ca.
Signs that you may be dealing
with a curbsider include:
- Conducts business
entirely over the phone,
email or the Internet
- Offers to show the
vehicle in a public place
(instead of at their own
house or business)
- Will not provide a
Used Vehicle Information
Package (UVIP), as
required by law
- Is not listed on the
vehicle's registration as
the owner
About OMVIC
OMVIC licences and regulates
motor vehicle dealers in Ontario
and enforces the Motor
Vehicle Dealers Act on behalf of
the
Minister of Consumer
Services. OMVIC maintains a
fair, safe and informed vehicle
sales marketplace by regulating
dealers and salespersons,
regularly inspecting Ontario's
8,400 dealerships, maintaining a
complaint line for consumers and
conducting investigations. OMVIC
is also responsible for
administering the Motor Vehicle
Dealers Compensation Fund on
behalf of a Board of Trustees.
For more information, please
contact:
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