Don't Buy Second Hand without Report of Thorough Examination

As recent news items have highlighted it is never sensible to buy secondhand fork lift trucks without the statutory Report of Thorough Examination.

An online trader who sold a second hand fork lift without such a certificate later refused to return the purchaser's full deposit stating transport and labour costs as the reason for declining the full refund despite obvious physical defects with the truck and its failure to start from cold. Trading Standards advised an inspection by the local CFTS (consolidated fork truck services).

They reported that it would have failed the legally required Thorough Examination and indeed it had been sold without this legal requirement.