Irish car websites targeted by ‘matching service’ cheats

MOTORISTS selling their cars on reputable websites are being targeted by cheats in Britain, who promise a list of potential buyers in return for a fee of up to €145.

Dublin’s European Consumer Centre confirmed it was getting daily complaints from Irish car-sellers about British firms marketing themselves as vehicle matching services.

The rogues scan reputable sites like carzone.ie and autotrader.ie and then ring up sellers, pretending to have lists of people in Britain and Ireland who want to buy their cars.

Sellers are told they can be ‘matched’ with the would-be buyers in exchange for a £99 (€145) fee and they can get refunds if they do not sell their car.

But consumer watchdogs say the sellers just end up with a listing on a lesser-known website instead of contact information for buyers with no chance of a refund.

Now some publications and websites, such as Car Buyer’s Guide, are alerting their sellers to the tricks.

Paddy Comyn, editor of Car Buyers’ Guide, said that British buyers would be unlikely to want a second-hand car from the Republic due to costly registration tax.

Sellers who placed ads featuring mobile numbers should also be wary of firms offering “local” buyers as the callers are unable to work out where they live.