The news that a Brisbane man is to face court after allegedly selling written-off caravans to unsuspecting buyers will send a shudder down the spine of anyone who has ever bought a second-hand vehicle.
The 65-year-old is charged with 81 separate offences after it is alleged he bought caravans that had been irreparably damaged by crashes, hail and floods.
The vehicles, which were mostly from New South Wales, were legally written off and unable to be registered in Australia. However, it is claimed the man then brought them to Queensland and put new registration plates on them.
Detective Inspector Lance Vercoe said this sort of crime was potentially putting lives at risk.
“Not only are a large number of people substantially out of pocket through the purchase of these caravans, but there was a significant risk with these caravans being registered without the usual testing processes and driven on Queensland roads, despite being previously written off,” he said in a statement.
Police say anyone who has bought one of the written-off caravans can apply for compensation through the Office of Fair Trading.
The alleged culprit will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 22.
There is a rumour that all of the “stock” from his yard will be put into auction. There must be some mechanism put in place to ensure all this rubbish doesn’t come back onto market thus perpetuating this danger to other road users. Statutory write-offs must be seen to be wrecked rather than insurance companies auctioning them off.
This person was still advertising on Gumtree up to two months ago. I was a victim of this scam and I can assure you I did all checks with REV’s etc. and Queensland transport and van came up clean. Definitely a fault in the system. Beware if compliance plate reads “home made.”
I know how you feel Ken I was one of those buyers too
Have a feeling we got done by the same guy. Lovely van on gumtree. Then when we went to get a roadworthy it had been written off in the floods.
We bought a caravan from a man in Brisbane and when we went for a roadworthy found it had been in the floods and had been a right off.
We have heard that a caravan was written off by NRMA then sold bavk to the owner who has now traded it in on a new van. IS THIS LEGAL and how would the unsuspecting buyer then get it insured
The whole system in Queensland is corrupt And always has been . Even our local LNP MP isn’t prepared to do anything about it. His answer when i told him there is no proof of owners ship for the vehicle one buys . His answer you have a Receipt. It’s even written on the Green Slip that this document is not proof of ownership, when i phoned Mains Roads Qld .They said we are only interested in who pays the Registration.
Hi I’ve bought a van from Victoria done all the checks rego and finances all clear but can’t register it in Tasmania need help asap