Kmart roadworthy checks need another go

Simon Corbell is letting people know Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS) have been missing some steps:

Kmart, on behalf of its business Kmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS), has provided the Commissioner for Fair Trading with court enforceable undertakings under the Australian Consumer Law (the ACL) after the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) expressed concern that certain provisions of the Vehicle Registration Regulation may not have been complied with at four KTAS approved inspection stations between 1 May 2012 and 31 October 2012.

“Ensuring the correct ACT Vehicle Registration standards are met when vehicles are being certified as road worthy cannot be compromised,” Attorney-General Simon Corbell said today.

“Testing for these standards includes a visual inspection, a road test and mechanical testing of brakes on each vehicle. In some cases, only a visual inspection and road test, but no mechanical brake test, was performed on vehicles inspected by KTAS. As a result of this, the ORS was concerned that KTAS may have contravened section 29(1)(b) of the ACL.

“After KTAS was advised of the ORS’concern it acted promptly, cooperated with the ORS and undertook an immediate investigation to confirm that all vehicles presented for inspection in the ACT underwent brake tests to ensure those vehicles complied with ACT Vehicle Registration standards.” “The ORS takes these kinds of matters seriously because of the importance in ensuring vehicles’ brakes comply with registration standards”, Mr Corbell said.

The ORS is committed to road safety and to acting in the best interests of consumers. As part of the outcome negotiated by the ORS, KTAS has committed to employ a compliance manager with oversight of its ACT vehicle examiners, to make a $50,000 donation to the ACT-NRMA Road Safety Trust and to provide independent reports on its compliance program for authorised vehicle examiners periodically for the next two years.

In November 2012, the ORS wrote to all consumers it thought may be affected. Customers who did not receive that letter and who presented a vehicle for registration inspection to the KTAS outlets at Wanniassa, Phillip, Westfield Belconnen or Braddon between 1 May 2012 and 31 October 2012 can contact KTAS on 1800 065 010 and KTAS will check their brakes again free of charge.

UPDATE: The KTAS undertaking is now online.