Practice doesn’t make perfect for unlicensed motor dealer

10 March 2021

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken a Labrador woman back to court for advertising cars for sale online without the appropriate licence.

Emilia Lloyd, who has also used the names Milka Bibelova and Emma Kim in advertisements, was charged with unlicensed motor dealing. She was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and a conviction was recorded.

This was Ms Lloyd’s third court appearance as a result of OFT charges. In April 2019 Ms Lloyd was fined $6,000 for unlicensed motor dealing and in February 2018, she was fined $20,000 for unlicensed motor dealing and making false representations about the mileage of the vehicles.

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

Between July 2019 and April 2020, Ms Lloyd had placed 50 separate advertisements on the websites under three different names.

The matter was heard in the Southport Magistrates Court on 23 February 2021. In sentencing Magistrate Michelle Dooley took into account the defendant’s history, noted that previously imposed fines had not served as deterrent to Ms Lloyd’s behaviour and found that community service would not be appropriate in this situation.

Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said the OFT would keep pursuing offenders until they got the message.

“The OFT wants anyone doing the wrong thing to know that it’s investigators will find you,” Mr Bauer said “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.” Specific guidance on the legal requirements for motor vehicle sales and repairs is available from www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).