Auctioneer ordered to repay client

A Lenasia auctioneer has been ordered to pay over R140 000 to a former client who bought what he thought was a VW Golf GTI, only to find out the engine had been swapped for a much smaller one.

Judge Thifhelimbilu Mudau ordered Grand Auctions to compensate Ashraf Rocker for the original purchase price of the car, the over R13 000 he spent on repairs before returning the Golf, interest dating back to August 2016 and the legal costs of the application.

Rocker paid just over R126 000 in cash after buying what was advertised as a red Golf GTI at a public auction in July 2016.

He soon realised something was amiss as the vehicle performed poorly, but only found out that the engine had been swapped for a much smaller 1.4 litre TSI engine after taking it to the VW dealership for repairs.

When he complained to the auctioneer that he would not have bought the vehicle if he had known it was not truly a GTI, he was asked to return the Golf and was issued with a credit note for the original purchase price and the repairs.

He was asked to attend upcoming auctions to see if he was interested in finding a replacement, but when he would not find one and demanded payment, the auctioneer at first refused to repay him and eventually issued him with a post-dated cheque for only the original purchase price. Rocker then launched legal proceedings against Grand Auctions.