OFT goes after Gold Coast motor dealer for ignoring trading ban

11 February 2021

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken a Labrador motor dealer back to court for advertising cars online after his motor dealer’s licence had been suspended. 

Parvis Amiri, also known as Pablo Amiri, was fined $8,000 in the Southport Magistrates Court on 8 February 2021 for unlicensed motor dealing. The matter was heard ex-parte as Mr Amiri did not appear in court.

This was the third action taken by the OFT in relation to Mr Amiri.

In October 2019 his motor dealer’s licence was suspended for six months by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal after he failed to release a consumer from a contract and refund her when she attempted to exercise her cooling off rights.

In January 2020, Mr Amiri was fined $1,000 for making misleading claims to a consumer about a vehicle’s warranty and for accepting a deposit from another consumer but failing to complete the contract or refund the deposit.

However, just days after his January 2020 court appearance, an OFT investigation found Mr Amiri was continuing to try and sell used vehicles and had placed up to 25 advertisements on a popular online trading platform, resulting in this most recent court matter.

Attorney General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman welcomed the OFT’s action.

“Consumers have rights when they purchase vehicles from motor dealers, and if need be, the OFT will help ensure those rights are upheld,” Ms Fentiman said.

“If you are in the market for a vehicle, make sure you are buying it from a reputable, licensed dealer. Consumers can do a quick, free licence check on the OFT website to see if a dealer is licensed.”

Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer reminded traders not doing the right thing that OFT investigators would find them.

“Mr Amiri is no longer licensed as a motor dealer in Queensland and the OFT has recorded his lack of suitability for licensing into the future,” Mr Bauer said.

Specific guidance on the legal requirements for motor vehicle sales and repairs is available from www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).