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OFT revokes Shropshire motor dealer’s credit licence

198/04     3 December 2004

A motor dealer based in Telford, Shropshire has had his consumer credit licence revoked by the OFT.

An adjudicator decided to revoke Michael Tidmarsh's licence after he was convicted on the 25 March 2003 at Shrewsbury Crown Court of one count of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and one count of conspiracy to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception.

The adjudicator decided that the licensee was therefore no longer fit to hold a consumer credit licence and accordingly it was revoked.

In considering fitness, the OFT takes into account a number of factors carried on by the business or anyone involved in running the business including:

• any offence or conviction of violence or dishonesty
• failure to comply with the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act or other consumer protection legislation
• consumer complaints
• evidence of unfair business practice
• evidence of discrimination on grounds of sex, colour, race or ethnic/national origin.

Christine Wade, Director of Consumer Regulation Enforcement, said:

'The licensee's convictions demonstrate dishonesty making him unfit to provide credit to consumers.'

NOTES

1. The Consumer Credit Act 1974 requires most businesses that offer goods or services on credit or lend money or are involved in activities relating to credit or hire to be licensed by the OFT.

2. The OFT can refuse or revoke a licence if it decides that a trader is not fit to hold one.

3. It should be noted that proceedings under the Act are not the same as those of a court and the adjudicator's findings are not the same as convictions by a court. Therefore where the adjudicator finds that an offence has been committed or a provision of the statute has been contravened, it does not mean that the person concerned has been convicted under court proceedings of that offence or of that contravention.

4. An adverse determination (a refusal to grant a licence or the revocation of an existing licence) can be appealed to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

5. The Consumer Credit Public Register is maintained by the OFT. The register documents traders that hold a licence and any action taken against them. It also details traders that have applied for a licence. Enquiries can be made to the Consumer Credit Licensing Bureau on 020 7211 8608.

6. The determination to revoke licence number 382759 was published on 16 November 2004. The licensee was Michael Tidmarsh, New Inn Garage, Trench Road, Trench, Telford, Shropshire.

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