8:22 am, May 1, 2014
AN Essex car dealer has been ordered to pay £5,000 for selling a car with a false service history.
Presley Ogbondah, director of MPH Cars in Billet Lane, Hornchurch sold a car to a customer whose subsequent investigations revealed that its service history had been falsified – although not by Ogbondah himself.
The new owner of the car heard knocking sounds coming from the engine and it was discovered that a new engine was required – involving considerable expenditure.
The owner contacted the main dealership mentioned in the service log – but they had never been involved in looking after the vehicle.
Ogbondah pleaded guilty to engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action – an offence under consumer protection regulations.
He was fined £1,000 when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 7, as well as being told to pay £1,000 costs and £3,000 compensation to the buyer.
