The owner of an online business has been convicted, fined and ordered to pay compensation to customers who paid him thousands of dollars for high-end car parts.

Daniel Wilde, 38, sold carburettors, race cylinder heads, oil pumps and other performance products through his business, Torqueline Garage Pty Ltd (ACN: 662 616 275).

The online business falsely implied on social media that products were in stock and ready for delivery, but the items were never supplied to paying customers.

Wilde pleaded guilty at the County Court to a single charge of wrongly accepting payment under the Australian Consumer Law. The charge covered 9 individual cases with goods valued at about $18,000.

He was also fined $9,000, with charges against Torqueline Garage withdrawn.

The court ordered Wilde to provide refunds, noting that 6 of the 9 customers involved as witnesses in the case against him had already been paid around $12,000 in compensation.

There may be other impacted Torqueline customers. If you want to pursue a refund or compensation, seek legal advice about your options.

Find more information about refunds, repairs and returns, or contact us for general information about your consumer rights, including when a product isn’t delivered.