USED car information service Equifax HPI has postponed a preview of its new mileage registration system as the motor trade protests about the way it is being marketed. Equifax has received dozens of complaints from motor traders after it sent a letter to its subscriber list which assumed they wanted to subscribe and would be charged for access to the new National Mileage Register unless they ticked a box and returned the letter.

The company was due to give a press preview of the system on Friday, but although this was postponed at the last minute, Equifax insisted it was unconnected with the controversy among its subscribers. An Equifax spokeswoman said the preview had been postponed because the system was not yet accessible to its subscribers and it was felt inappropriate to demonstrate the register before subscribers had seen it working.