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Toronto, January 06, 2010
- The Ontario Motor Vehicle
Industry Council (OMVIC) advises
consumers that Prestige Toys
Ltd. (1017 Finch Avenue West) is
not legally registered to buy,
sell or lease vehicles.
Registration for the dealership
was revoked December 14, 2009,
but it appears the owners are
continuing to operate and are
maintaining an active website.
Consumers and other dealers
should avoid doing business with
this company.
In Ontario, all motor vehicle
dealers and salespeople must be
registered under the Motor
Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA)
before buying, selling or
leasing vehicles.
Consumers who purchase vehicles
through unregistered dealers are
not protected by provincial
legislation.
Registration for Prestige
Toys was revoked after it was
found consumers had been misled
about the history of the
vehicles they purchased or had
been provided bills of sale that
mis represented the actual
purchase price. The dealer
appealed this decision of the
Licence Appeal Tribunal to
Divisional Court, however the
Tribunal's order was upheld. The
dealer's application to appeal
the Divisional Court decision
was also dismissed.
Consumers are
reminded to check dealer
registration before considering
their next vehicle purchase:
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All dealers and salespeople
in Ontario must be
registered with OMVIC. To
verify registration, visit
www.omvic.on.ca or call
1-800-943-6002.
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Only transactions conducted
through registered motor
vehicle dealers are
protected through the Motor
Vehicle Dealers Compensation
Fund. The fund is financed
by registered dealers and is
available (under specific
criteria) to consumers who
may have suffered a
financial loss from their
motor vehicle transaction.
This protection is lost if
buying privately or through
an unregistered dealer.
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's mandate is
to maintain a
fair, safe and informed marketplace by
ensuring registration of
dealers and salespersons,
inspecting dealerships, maintaining a
complaint line for consumers,
conducting investigations and
enforcing the Act and its
associated rules and regulations. 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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