Japanese Odometer Check

We got this ball rolling a long time ago....https://www.facebook.com/Japanese.Odometercheck/ Let's hope this will have a real and lasting effect on the industry. If you have bought an imported second hand vehicle from Japan or you are looking to buy one, please make sure you have the original paperwork or order it here: http://www.japaneseodometercheck.com Here is an update from the NSW Department of Fair Trading. We especially like the following part: "...each proven count of odometer tampering under the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act attracting a fine of up to $22,000." That could be costly:-) And: "Fraud convictions attract a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment." "16 February 2016 FOREIGN CAR DEALERS RAIDED IN OPERATION PARIS A joint operation between NSW Fair Trading and NSW Police this morning uncovered evidence of illegal odometer tampering at four motor vehicle dealerships in Sydney. Operation Paris has resulted in action against four motor dealers and three motor vehicle repairers associated with the four dealerships, following a two-year investigation by Fair Trading’s Compliance and Enforcement Division. All actions captured by this morning’s search warrants involved alleged winding back of odometers in used cars imported from Japan. Dream Car City, located at 219-223 Parramatta Road, Haberfield, had its licence to operate suspended on the spot following execution of the search warrant. The following dealerships have been issued Notices to Show Cause as to why disciplinary action should not be taken:  Master Cars, 1/40 Forge Street, Blacktown  Edward Lee Imports, 71-75 Parramatta Road, Concord  Prestige Auto Centre, 175-179 Parramatta Road, Concord Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said charges were expected to be laid for a number of offences including fraud (Crimes Act 1901), odometer tampering (Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013) and false advertising (Australian Consumer Law) if there is sufficient evidence. “Our investigators have identified approximately 100 vehicles that have had their odometers tampered with and sold to consumers,” Mr Stowe said. “Of particular concern is the fact all affected vehicles identified through Operation Paris were second hand stock imported directly from Japan with no local records that allow verification of odometer readings.” Evidence seized during the operation included deregistration certificates issued by Japan’s Bureau of Transportation, importation documents and papers relating to vehicle compliance with Australian road safety standards. Mr Stowe said the problem of odometer tampering in imported cars appeared to be limited to Japan, where automatic deregistration applies to all vehicles after a stipulated time frame from the year of manufacture. Mr Stowe commended Fair Trading investigators, NSW Police State Crime Command, Property Crime Squad, Roads and Maritime Services and Safe Work for their successful execution of Operation Paris. NSW Police State Crime Command’s Property Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Murray Chapman, said the offences uncovered were serious with each proven count of odometer tampering under the Motor Dealers and Repairers Act attracting a fine of up to $22,000. Fraud convictions attract a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment."

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/8915786/the-big-speedo-windback-scam

He just won!!!

BIG NEWS: An Australian Court has accepted authenticity of Japanese Registration Certificates provided by JOC This buyer of a wound back car has received the original Japanese papers from JOC and then went on to win his case in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. This is a break-through! Here is the text from the Daily Telegraph: READER Apurva Mishra has prevailed in his car-clocking crusade. In April, Public Defender reported Mr Mishra was taking action in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, alleging the imported Lancer he paid Sydney’s Prestige Auto Centre $30,000 for had travelled about three times the 34,000km the odometer said. The NCAT ruled Prestige Auto Centre had engaged in “misleading and deceptive conduct” and ordered it pay Mr Mishra $18,526. NCAT senior member Sabine Thode said: “I am satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the odometer reading was changed by the respondent or that a third party changed the odometer reading with the knowledge of the respondent in order to mislead or deceive the applicant.” The NCAT accepted the Japanese Registration Certificate Mr Mishra presented. This is important, as it was bought through a third party, not the registry in Japan, but Mr Mishra was able to demonstrate its authenticity. Until now there has been a question mark over whether such documentation is legitimate. This result should serve as a warning to any dealer considering winding back odometers. Read more on our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Japanese.Odometercheck

Yes, the Iron Chef and Import Monster are both on the look-out.

OK, good news: They got their $1000 back- still looking for a van though...

Thanks mate. I have passed their story to a contact from the Daily Telegraph. He will put in a good word/some pressure on as well. It might not be his conscience that will be the decisive factor... I'll keep you posted.. Cheers, JOC

A family with a disabled son was looking for a van converted for a wheelchair. They paid the dealer $1000 to source a Nissan Elgrand in Japan. The dealer not only happily takes the 1k 'sourcing fee', but he later presents them with a vehicle that was already landed/in stock ...with wound back kms! Luckily the family did contact us and ordered a JOC check. The car was advertised with 38'127kms on the odometer, but the registration documents provided by us proved that it had already done over 120'000kms last year before it was exported. (see pics) This is what the family wrote to us: 'Dear JOC We checked the odometer reading you sent against the advertised odometer. XXXX says the odometer reading is 38,000 – whereas the results you sent us say 121,200 (about 3 x more than what they told us). We approached the dealer (XXXXX) and were told that ‘it’s those people in Japan who are winding back the clocks’. We had paid $1,000 for this company to find us a wheel chair converted vehicle in Japan so we can transport our young son with cerebral palsy. The only thing they did was to try to sell us this vehicle they already in Sydney. Families like us struggle to find vehicles and are at risk of exploitation. We’re glad we did our research and found you but some other desperate family will get caught. Meanwhile – XXXXX promised we would get our $1,000 back but this has not happened. Hope you can do something proactive to ensure this vehicle is advertised at its correct odometer (not only is this fraud – but people may have a false sense of security about the safety and reliability of their vehicle. Regards X' Here is the link to the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Japanese.Odometercheck SHARE IF YOU CARE Thanks, JOC