The president of the Fiji Rental Car Association is worried about the number of complaints he had received about a particular international trading company targeting rental cars.

Mohammed Shafik said the complaints involved rental company owners facing car problems after their original 1.5 catalytic converter were changed. Upon trading, the company will give away $100 cash for the fuel.

Mr Shafik said: “They (company) will offer $100 to a client or operator in exchange for an original catalytic converter by replacing an old one.

“Mostly, this is done to Pirus vehicles. After the exchange, the vehicle performance drops and it starts to consume more fuel and the oxygen sensor starts to play.”

The so-called trading company had visited Labasa Town by doing a roadshow.

He said the complaint was reported at the Labasa Police Station in January this year.

Another rental car owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he was victimised twice – first in December last year and the second in January this year.

He said the trading company had given $100 to his client and replaced the old catalytic converter by removing the original one.

Police said they would respond with a statement at a later date.

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