Labrador’s Emilia Lloyd faces Gold Coast faces court for unlicensed motor dealing

A Gold Coast woman previously outed for falsifying vehicle information has again been sprung - and this time it comes with a big warning. FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS

A GOLD Coast woman previously outed for falsifying vehicle mileage and bidding at a dealers-only auction without the proper licence has again been sprung acting unlicensed, according to the Office of Fair Trading.

Labrador’s Emilia Lloyd - who has also used the names Milka Bibelova and Emma Kim in advertisements – faced Southport Magistrates Court late last month.

Lloyd pleaded guilty to unlicensed motor dealing and was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. A conviction was recorded.

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In April 2019, Lloyd was fined $6000 for unlicensed motor dealing.

Lloyd faced court for unlicensed motor dealing. File photo. Picture: Richard Cisar-Wright

In February 2018, she was fined $20,000 for unlicensed motor dealing and making false representations about the mileage of vehicles.

However, an OFT investigation found Ms Lloyd had begun advertising used vehicles for sale on multiple online trading platforms within two months of her 2019 court appearance.

Lloyd placed 50 separate advertisements on the websites under three different names between July 2019 and April 2020.

The latest matter was heard by Magistrate Michelle Dooley on February 23, who took into account Lloyd’s history.

She found fines imposed previously had not served as deterrent and community service would not be appropriate in the circumstances, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) stated.

OFT executive Director Brian Bauer said offenders would be pursued until they got the message.

“The OFT wants anyone doing the wrong thing to know that its investigators will find you,” he said.

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“Consumers need to be protected from unlicensed dealers.

“If you are a consumer looking to buy a used car, I urge you to use the OFT’s free licence check to make sure you are buying it from a licensed dealer.”

More information about legal requirements for motor vehicle sales and repairs can be obtained by phoning 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) dealt with 3488 complaints in the 2019-20 financial year, up 34 per cent on the 2602 in the 12 months prior.

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In total, $821,831 in redress payments was obtained for consumers through conciliation, investigations and court-ordered compensation in 2019-20.

Complaints specifically about matters impacted by coronavirus accounted for at least some of the significant increase over the financial years.

2602 complaints were filed with the Office of Fair Trading in 2018-19, compared to 3488 complaints in 2019-20 – a jump of more than one-third (34 per cent). Picture: stevanovicigor/iStock

“Consumers were understandably very concerned about holidays they had booked and paid for but were no longer able to take,” OFT executive director Brian Bauer said

“Thankfully, in most cases airlines and accommodation booking providers have stepped up and assisted their customers, generally by providing refunds or credit notes.

“In terms of local travel, many consumers found themselves in the difficult situation of having paid a deposit for holiday accommodation they were unable to use because of COVID restrictions.”

The three most complained about industries on the Gold Coast in 2019-20 were personal and household goods (804 complaints), motor vehicle sales (371) and personal and household services (350).

In 2018-19, complaints about personal and household goods headed that list (645), ahead of motor vehicle sales (333) and personal and household services (322).

The OFT provided two dozen examples of cases it prosecuted in the past two financial years, ranging from motor dealers tampering with odometers to dodgy first home-buyer schemes.

Complaints to the OFT include businesses deliberately ripping off customers – but also include instances in which businesses were simply not aware of their obligations, or made a mistake.

Want to make a complaint? Phone 13 QGOV or head online to www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading.

The most common complaints are about refunds, unsatisfactory or incomplete repairs, defective goods, the unsatisfactory performance of goods and the delay or non-supply of goods.

An OFT spokesman said: “The OFT takes compliance seriously, and assesses all complaints it receives and, if information indicates that a possible breach of the legislation the agency administers may have occurred, it is investigated.”

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“The Office of Fair Trading provides information to consumers and businesses and helps resolve disputes in the marketplace via a free complaint lodgement and conciliation service.

“Most traders want to do the right thing. Through conciliation of individual consumer complaints, the OFT is also able to provide education and advice to traders about their responsibilities under fair trading laws.

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“It is important to note that a consumer complaint does not necessarily mean a breach has occurred.”

Consumers with issues with goods or services, who have not come to an agreement with the trader, should lodge a complaint by phoning 13 QGOV or online at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading.