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Dealers beware of new regs

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Time 8:51 pm, May 27, 2008

CAR dealers must make sure that they abide by new consumer protection rules that came into force this week, according to the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA).

 

The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) provides better protection for the consumer. The Directive harmonises unfair trading laws across all EU Member States, and introduces a general prohibition on traders not to treat consumers unfairly. 

 

This prohibition is intended to act as safety-net consumer protection legislation. Under the Directive businesses must not mislead consumers through acts or omissions, or use pressure-selling techniques. 


 

NFDA Director Sue Robinson said: ‘Previous rules on consumer protection did not provide a full safeguard for customers, as there were some remaining grey areas which could have been exploited by unscrupulous traders. 

 

‘The implementation of the Directive enables car dealers to focus their internal consumer relations monitoring, but the new rules will also mean more administration for dealers to deal with, and could add more work to the existing heavy load borne by Trading Standards officers. There are also some questions on where the burden of proof will lie in disputes.

 

‘NFDA member businesses who would like more information on the Directive and its impact are urged to contact the NFDA.’


 

More advice on the new rules – from HPI – can be found by clicking here.

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Car Dealer has been covering the motor trade since 2008 as both a print and digital publication. In 2020 the title went fully digital and now provides daily motoring updates on this website for the car industry. A digital magazine is published once a month.



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