Check it or you might lose it - REVS Online

8/9/04
A new 24-hour a day, seven-day a week consumer service is now online in Western Australia, to help protect people buying vehicles or boats.
Consumer Protection Minister John Kobelke said because money was owing on one in every seven registered vehicles, it was essential that consumers used the new REVS Online to check that what they were buying was free from debt.
"It is very distressing and costly when consumers pay out their hard-earned money, only to find a vehicle or boat is not fully owned by the seller," Mr Kobelke said.
"The Register of Encumbered Vehicles Service has operated since 1988 and REVS Online is one of the Gallop Government's Consumer Justice initiatives, which provides access to accurate information and helps people to make informed decisions.
"With about half of all households having access to a computer and many people looking to buy on weekends or in the evening, it is vital to have 24/7 access to REVS."
The Minister said REVS received 55,498 calls from consumers during 2003 and 52,412 calls from dealers who were seeking information on cars, boats, trucks, motorcycles, caravans, trailers and farm machinery.
"Without this service, thousands of consumers could have been left seriously out of pocket, or had a vehicle they thought they owned repossessed," he said.
"A REVS check can also find out if a vehicle has been reported stolen or 'written off'."
Checks can still be done at Consumer Protection offices or by phoning 1300 30 40 24 during business hours. The REVS line also operates between 9am and 4pm on weekends.
Consumers wanting additional peace of mind are advised to purchase an optional REVS Certificate for $10 and those certificates can be arranged online and printed immediately or purchased over the phone to be mailed out or collected in person.
REVS Online is easy to use. Log on at http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/revs and follow the simple instructions to find out if there is money owing on a vehicle or boat, or if it has been reported as stolen or 'written off'.
Mr Kobelke said online REVS checks now put vital information at people's fingertips to help consumers feel confident when buying a vehicle and boat in WA.
Minister's Office - 9222 9211