THE SLICK USED CAR SALESMAN
Chris Veugeler or AKA Chris Scubert, is nothing but a SEASONED CON-MAN. He makes claims and promises and acts like he is looking out for your best interests. He knows the used car laws and what he can get away with, he is careful to not leave any messages on answering machines or voice mail that will get him caught. I was taken advantage of, and now after doing some checking on him and his businesses I know I am not the first.
I am out the money, and have an automobile that is worth half what I paid for it. I just want to tell people what happened to me so they are not victimized by this deceitful man.
THE PURCHASE
In January 2007 I purchased a Honda on Ebay from Chris who at that time had an Ebay name of zinskybinsky. He only had about 3 feed back so I contacted him and he told me he was a Honda dealership in Joliet Illinois and the Honda was a one owner trade in for new Honda. I asked about the condition, exterior, interior, mechanical, tires, glass, maintenance records and history.
I was told it was in excellent condition inside and out, it had regular maintenance at their dealership, no oil leaks, and that it had a clean car fax report. I asked him what problems the car had, it was a used car and I expected to have some things wrong with it. He told me the only things it had wrong was the hood had a small sun fade spot, the front valance had a crack, and a few minor dings. He assured me that the vehicle would be looked over cleaned and detailed and receive a full service before I would arrive to pick it up. I felt comfortable with him and the condition of the vehicle after our conversation, so I bid and won.
THE PAYMENT
He contacted me almost immediately and wanted me to wire transfer the money before I picked the vehicle up. I was not comfortable with the wire transfer and Ebay recommends not doing it, so I asked if I could bring a money order the following weekend when I picked up the Honda, he told me the listing states that payment must be received within 3 days after auction or negative feed back will be left. Chris told me wire transfers were only a couple dollars, so I sent the money. His couple dollars ends up being $35.00.
I then arranged a flight to Chicago's O'hare airport, but Chris talked me into Midway Airport because it would be earlier in the day and he would pick me up at the airport and save me the cab fairwhat a good guy huh. The flight to Midway cost an additional $80.00 but Chris said I would save that in cab fair from O'hare. I arrived at the airport and NO CHRIS, I got an excuse, and told I would have to take a cab. Cab fair would cost $20.00, It was $75.00 not $20 like he told me.
THE HONDA DEALERSHIP?
I arrived to a dumpy collision center not a Honda dealership, I was feeling my good deal was starting to go south. He had me fill out paperwork and sign the title, look over the car fax report, that was not an actual car fax report, and I now believe to be a fake also. I looked over the car and found a number of items that I brought to Chris's attention.
The first thing was that the interior was filthy, so much for the full detailing and servicing, 2 of the 4 windows would not roll up or down. One door would not even open there were a couple cigarette burn holes in the seats, the bottom of the engine and transmission were covered with oil leaks, and the voltage gage was erratic. He said if his mechanic or detailers was there on Saturday he would have had them fix the problems, and if I wanted to wait in Chicago until Monday he would have them fixed. Knowing full well I had to get going on my 8 hour drive home. He told me the charging system was checked over and fine, that it was just a bad gauge, and was ok for the trip. Chris told me when I got home to have a mechanic fix the windows, door, and the faulty gauge, and send the receipt to him for reimbursement. I said ok and left.
THE TRIP HOME OR ALMOST HOME
100 miles later I was stranded on the interstate. I called Chris, upset because the alternator was out, it was Saturday night, and I was stranded 5 hours from home. After talking to him he agreed to take the car back. He said if I could have it towed off the interstate for him he would pick it up on Monday.
I called on Monday to arrange for my money to be returned. I was told to bad, it's your problem you own it. I had to find a repair shop in Illinois and have it towed again to a repair shop for repairs. The following weekend I had to drive back 5 hours and spend $600.00 for repairs to get it home.
EBAY FEEDBACK HOSTAGE
Chris kept telling me that a check was in the mail and was insistant I leave him positive feedback. I refused to leave feedback of any kind until I received the check for repairs. I waited 7 weeks and I finally decided I was never going to see the promised money. He quit returning phone calls or answering the phone when I would call, I then found I could not leave feedback on ebay for him, because he was no longer an Ebay registered user. He lasted 3 months. I have since been told that is how he operates on Ebay. Once he gets to much negative feedback or gets shut down, he will start up again as a different user.
SUMMARY OF LIES BY THE CON-MAN CHRIS
The Honda dealership is just a used car / collision center. The one owner trade in was a purchased at the dealer auction NOT a trade in at his Honda dealership The photographs on Ebay were all taken in a manner to conceal defects the would have therwise been obvious. The door that would not open, that Chris said was just working earlier was a rusted lock solenoid that had been rusted for a long time. The power windows that was just a bad fuse, was a bad master control.
The mechanic found what appears to be a door replaced, and a large dented area under the driver's door / underbody from an accident, funny it did not show up on HIS car fax report. There was glass in the back end in a side storage compartment from.an accident???? The cruise control was out and so was the rear defroster. The cracked front valance was actually missing of it. Both rear bumper ends were broken and one blew off on the way home. The few minor door dings was more like 20 with 4 big enough to be called dents that had paint touch ups. He must have forgotten to mention the hail damage, and the fact that the front end was SHOT and dangerous to even drive. I spend close to $1000.00 in just the needed repairs to my needs nothing in great shape Honda.
CHECK OUT THE COURT RECORDS THEY DON'T LIE
To learn more about MPV Sales & Leasing, Chris Veugeler or Auto Concepts, visit the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court web site. Go to "Online Case Info" and then "Full Electronic Docket Search." In the Chancery division you may search "AUTO CONCEPTS" as the defendant. The case number is 2001-CH-00117, People of Illinois vs. MPV Auto, etc. If you believe that you have relevant information to add to the case, were given an alias, etc., you may contact the Illinois Attorney General Consumer Protection Division- which is easily accessible online.
Shawn
Lincoln, Nebraska
U.S.A.