A large estate agency refused to shortlist an 18-year-old woman for a trainee sales negotiator job because her car was “too old”.

Haart in Nottingham rejected an application from Alanah Thompson French (pictured) for a lettings agent position as her vehicle was not less than 10 years old.

Thompson French owns a 12-year-old Citroen C1, which Haart said did not meet its criteria for staff cars, BBC News reports.

Kick in teeth

She currently works in a coffee shop, but is keen to start a career in the property industry. And she had to state the age of her car in an online application for the role with Haart.

“It’s just a bit of a kick in the teeth because obviously when you’re applying for jobs, you’re applying for loads and loads of jobs and to get an email back saying that… I just don’t understand it,” she said.

It doesn’t seem fair because how am I meant to afford a bigger and better car?

“It doesn’t seem fair because how am I meant to afford a bigger and better car? And how am I meant to get insured?”

She saved up £2,800 to buy the car last year. It had one previous owner and less than 40,000 mileage, and she has not had any problems with it.

Frustrating

A Haart spokesperson said: “We understand why our car policy may feel frustrating for some applicants, particularly those starting out in their careers, and we recognise the concerns that have been raised.

“Our intention has always been to support people into the industry, not create barriers.

“In the past, we provided company cars for new employees. However, for many – particularly those at the start of their careers – the associated tax costs made this option unaffordable in practice. We therefore moved to a model that allows colleagues to use their own vehicles, which offers greater flexibility and removes that financial burden.

Reliable vehicles

“For roles that involve regular travel, often over long distances and sometimes working alone, it is important that vehicles are reliable and suitable for the demands of the job.

“That said, we are reviewing how this requirement works in practice, particularly for those entering the industry, to ensure it remains appropriate and supports our ambition to attract new talent.”

Picture: BBC News