Don't Be Lured Into Paying for Car Report

BAY AREA (KRON) -- When you're buying a used car, it pays to be cautious and check the car's history thoroughly.

But with one online service, it's hard to be sure that the information is complete or accurate.

CARFAX is a service that allows consumers to do background checks on cars. It can help you spot a lemon or a salvaged car. But we found it could also cast doubts on a perfectly good car.

Mary Margaret works in the traffic office at KRON, dealing with commercials. She saw one for CARFAX and used her own vehicle identification number to get a "free report."

Mary says, "It came up with 9 records, whereupon I almost fainted and then I thought, 'I don't understand what 9 records could possibly be."

She's owned the car since it had just a few miles on it and has been accident free. The "free report" didn't say what the records were. Those details were only available for a fee.

"I was thinking maybe some kind of accident [or] some kind of vehicle damage," worried Mary. She decided to pay.

It turns out the 9 records were smog checks.

Even though she's owned the car since 1990, her carfax record only went back to 1994. "I had a broken window once... . But that wasn't even on it."

CARFAX does have access to some databases but not all. So a report could be missing something. For example, the DMV says CARFAX has limited access to police reports so it may not know about all accidents.

Bottom line, you could be lured into paying for a report you didn't really need. Also, the free report page never says those "important records" could simply be smog checks, tire rotations, oil changes or title changes. That could throw-off anyone looking to buy your car.

"If I were to go just as far as the free part and I saw there were 9 records against my vehicle, I would look for another car," says Mary.

CARFAX argues that showing service and maintenance records can actually benefit a seller since it gives proof that the seller took good care of the car.

But Mary Margaret says she has her own records to prove that and shouldn't need to pay to find out what CARFAX had listed. "I think it's discouraging and it is deceptive," says Mary.

CARFAX says it stands behind the information it provides, asserts that it "helps consumers make more informed decisions" and argues that customers who are not satisified with a report they paid for can request a refund.

If you have a consumer trouble, our Contact 4 team is ready to help. Just call 1-800-414-KRON or email us.

(Copyright 2004, KRON 4. All rights reserved.)







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