A woman who purchased a brand new motorcar recently was both surprised and shocked when she was told by a motorvehicle examiner that her vehicle had no engine number.

"I told him that I purchased the vehicle a year ago from one of the most reputable car dealers in Jamaica and I was certain that the number was at some unusual place on the engine.

"I was really in for a big shock and surprise when I took my car to the dealer. There was a lot of running around and some of the employees made me believe that I was a real nuisance.

" I did not hesitate to write letters to several managers explaining my plight and queried what I was to do about the situation.

"Eventually good sense prevailed and a manager eventually admitted that my car had no engine number and the number was eventually engraved on the engine.

"This now leads me to wonder how did I get documents which contained a certificate of fitness from the dealer that my car had an engine number.

"I paid cash for my motorcar and no one should be allowed to go through such a trauma all because someone simply refused to do his or her job properly.

Someone should have checked to ensure that the engine number and the chassis number corresponded with the numbers on the car documents and I would not have to waste valuable time for several days going backward and forward to the car dealer.

"I am still not satisfied with the way I was treated and some of the comments that were made which gave the impression that I was a troublemaker. Is there an organisation I could complain to?

It is indeed strange that you were able to get documents bearing an engine number when there was no engine number on your motorvehicle.

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has the power under the Fair Competition Act to deal with your complaint.

The FTC has outlined in its latest newsletter of December 2007 that "all complaints will be thoroughly and objectively investigated".

The FTC is accessible to members of the public Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and you can telephone or go in person to make your complaint.