Car dealerships caught cheating!

HAVE you bought a new car in Spain between 2006 and 2013? You may be in with a chance to get some of your hard-earned cash back as the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) has found 147 dealerships guilty of overcharging buyers.

The dealerships, selling well-known brands including Opel, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Land Rover, Citroen, Mitsubishi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Volvo and Lexus vehicles, have been fined more than €170 million by the CNMC but have kept quiet about the fact that buyers may be eligible to claim damages.

According to OCU consumers’ association, those who bought cars from the 147 dealers missed out on discounts due to price-pacts which went directly against consumer rights and free competition, and they can take their case to court and demand between €750 and €1,500 in damages.

OCU, a private, independent non-profit consumers’ association, has set up a system (http://www.ocu.org/coches/nc/calculadora/ concesionarios) to help users to see if they have been affected and will be helping members to take their cases to court.