Jaco from Sannieshof was in a fix when it became apparent that the natis age of the vehicle and that indicated on the birth certificate did not match.

He wrote,

"Dear SuperSpark,

I sold a vehicle to a customer as a 2009 model as indicated on the NATIS document.

Later, the customer queried the fact that the year of manufacturing turned out to be 2004.

Upon investigation I found that:

The previous owner bought the vehicle in March 2004 in South Africa. He then emigrated to Botswana and took the vehicle across the border where he registered it.

He returned to South Africa five years later and re-registered the vehicle - hence the year of first registration of 2009.

I sold the vehicle in good faith as a 2009 model as reflected on the NATIS document.

The vehicle is financed.

How do I remedy this?"

SuperSpark replies,

Dear Jaco,

There are a few remedies available:

You can tender the vehicle back to the previous owner, if he did not disclose the discrepancy to you.

Or you can negotiate a settlement to cover the difference in value of a 2004 model compared to a 2009 model.

Remedies to your customer:

Reimburse your customer with the full amount less kilometres travelled.

Negotiate the difference in value and capitalise it to your customers’ account with the bank.

Get approval from the credit provider for the change of the description of the asset."

To avoid future mishaps, I would suggest using one of the electronic applications available here, to check the full history and bona vide of the vehicles you trade in or purchase .

I must fly.

SuperSpark