Αυτό που έμοιαζε αυτονόητο να ισχύει εδώ και χρόνια, τελικά θα τεθεί σε εφαρμογή από τον Μάιο του 2018. Το ευρωπαϊκό κοινοβούλιο ανακοίνωσε ότι θα απαγορεύσει την λειτουργία όλων των εταιριών που προσφέρουν διόρθωση (μείωση δηλαδή) του αριθμό των χιλιομέτρων των μεταχειρισμένων αυτοκινήτων.
Όλοι ξέρουμε κάποιον που το έχει κάνει και είναι ένας από τους βασικούς κανόνες ύπαρξης ενδοιασμών αγοράς μεταχειρισμένου τόσο στην Ελλάδα, όσο και στην υπόλοιπη Ευρώπη, καθώς η βρετανική εταιρία HPI, που ειδικεύεται στον έλεγχο των χλμ. των αυτοκινήτων, δήλωσε ότι στο 5% των οχημάτων που ελέγχει στην Αγγλία υπάρχει αντίφαση/αισθητή διαφορά στον χιλιομετρητή. Αυτό υποδεικνύει το μέγεθος του προβλήματος, με την απαγόρευση λειτουργίας τέτοιων εταιριών να οδηγεί στη μείωση του φαινομένου. Το παράδοξο της υπόθεσης είναι ότι μέχρι σήμερα η αλλαγή χλμ. θεωρούταν παράνομη, μόνο αν ο νέος ιδιοκτήτης του μεταχειρισμένου αυτοκινήτου δεν ήταν ενήμερος.
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HPI has applauded the announcement of new changes to EU legislation to outlaw mileage correction firms by mid-May 2018
HPI has been a long-running campaigner against mileage correction firms, not only lobbying Government for reform, but steadfastly raising awareness of the risks of buying a vehicle with a fraudulent mileage to better protect used car dealers and their customers.
One in 20 vehicles checked by HPI has a mileage discrepancy, highlighting the size of the issue. Dealers who unwittingly take in a clocked car, could wind up paying over the odds for it, which may damage their bottom line. If a dealer is found selling on a clocked car they could risk their reputation, as well as face legal repercussions, making the EU ruling a major step forward in the fight against this crime.
‘We welcome this new legislation, which can’t come too soon,’ said Neil Hodson, managing director for HPI. ‘HPI has been a committed campaigner against clocking and the exploitation of this loophole, so we applaud the EU decision. Unwittingly part exchanging a clocked vehicle is a legitimate threat for used car dealers. The tools to adjust mileages are easily available on the web, meaning that consumers are just as likely to be clocking cars as unscrupulous traders. This doubles the danger for dealers, who stand to lose their reputation and even face hefty fines and prosecution.
‘Of course, the new rules won’t end all instances of clocking, but it removes the firms that hide behind the label of legitimacy to help dishonest sellers adjust their mileage to make a fast profit.’
HPI runs the National Mileage Register, the largest independent database of vehicle mileages in the UK. By conducting a check against the National Mileage Register (NMR) dealers can quickly establish if there is a potential problem with the car they are looking to part exchange or buy. Not only does the National Mileage Register contain over 170 million mileage records covering vehicles of all ages, dating as far back as 1992, it crucially holds the mileage readings of vehicles less than three years of age.
Should a mileage appear discrepant, dealers can request HPI conduct a NMR Investigation to verify the mileage history. As part of the NMR Investigation, dealers will also be covered by a mileage warranty, so if the car turns out to be clocked the dealer will be covered. The NMR Investigation is considered to be the basis of a sound legal defense against trading a clocked vehicle and will give dealers the reassurance that they have met their duty of care under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.
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