Local Man Awarded Restitution in Faulty Vehicle Sale Case
LETHBRIDGE – A Lethbridge man was awarded $3900 in court-ordered restitution on Wednesday, July 20, after purchasing a vehicle from a un-licenced seller last summer.
The man bought a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo for his daughter from a seller who was advertising online. When he took it to a mechanic to be inspected, a number of problems were found including a fluid leak and other improperly installed parts.
After the seller didn’t offer to help, the man contacted the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC). It’s a regulatory organization under the Minister of Service Alberta that enforces and administers legislation related to the automotive industry.
Using a sophisticated data mining tool, AMVIC traced the seller’s phone number back to Abe Martens, who is a known curber. According to the Fair Trading Act, AMVIC-licenced sellers must provide a mechanical fitness assessment before entering a contract, but curbers sell vehicles without that mandatory licence.
