OFT REFUSES CREDIT LICENCE TO NORTH EAST CARAVAN DEALER

12 Apr 2005 11:15 AM

A caravan dealer from Washington in Tyne and Wear has had his application for a consumer credit licence refused.

Robert Gordon Drummond was refused a consumer credit licence because he had convictions for possession of a knife, curb-crawling, drink driving and driving without insurance.

An adjudicator therefore decided that the applicant was unsuitable to provide credit to consumers and rejected the application.

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.

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 refuse licence application number 558952 was published on 21 March 2005. The application was made by Robert Gordon Drummond, trading at Unit 1, Bentall Business Park, District 10, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 3JD.

http://www.oft.gov.uk

PUBLIC enquiries: 0845 7224499 enquiries@oft.gov.uk
OFT reports and consumer information leaflets are available free from:
OFT, PO Box 366, Hayes UB3 1XB 0800 389 3158 oft@eclogistics.co.uk