Delayed deliveries has resulted in numerous complaints being lodged with Consumer Protection, the WA agency warning consumers to stay clear of a vehicle transport business.
Since May 2019 there have been 12 complaints lodged against Auto Transporters Pty Ltd, trading as All Australia Auto Transporters and AAA Transporters (unregistered) and MV Transporters Pty Ltd (formerly known as AA Auto Transporters Pty Ltd) for major delays to vehicle transportation services and some cases of vehicles being damaged during transit.
Auto Transporters Pty Ltd is registered in Queensland with Snezanna Mladenis the Director and Company Secretary. MV Transporters Pty Ltd is registered in Victoria with Scott Andrew Ingram the Director and Company Secretary. The business name All Australian Auto Transporters has been used on customer receipts.
Since January 2018, other agencies have reported receiving complaints: 20 lodged with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading; 12 with Consumer Affairs Victoria and eight lodged with NSW Fair Trading.
Ms Mladenis and her husband Paul have previously been prosecuted by Queensland Fair Trading over odometer tampering of motor vehicles: Million kilometre trip for couple of dodgy motor dealers – April 2017
AAA Transporters operated a depot in Mundaring as a place for WA consumers to drop off their vehicles.
Despite verbal agreements with customers that the vehicles will be delivered within 14 days, some have taken up to three months with the owners not being able to determine the whereabouts of their vehicles because of poor communication from the business.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe said, in some cases, owners have incurred storage fees when pickups were delayed by no fault of their own, which the company refuses to reimburse.
“There also appears to be issues related to damage being caused to some of the vehicles during transit but the business takes no responsibility and refuses to pay for repairs,” Ms Lipscombe said.
“We are currently reviewing the contracts offered by the business to their customers for possible unfair terms and conditions as well as clauses that may misrepresent the statutory rights of consumers.
“We are also aware of actions taken against the operators of AAA Transporters in the past and this, together with the current conduct, has the potential to have an adverse impact on members of the public.
“Until these issues are resolved and we can be assured that this business can operate ethically, we would strongly recommend that consumers look for other service providers to have their vehicles transported.”
Consumers dissatisfied with AAA Transporters service and who have yet to make contact are urged to lodge an online complaint on the Consumer Protection website
