Ripped-off customer still chasing thousands from Christchurch car dealer

Monday, 13 October 2025

Wronged customer Dominique Peyroux says he has not been paid by Christchurch dealership Affordable Autos despite a Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal ruling.

After six months and a successful legal battle, a Dunedin man is still chasing thousands of dollars he paid towards a car he never received.

Dominique Peyroux appeared before the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal (MVDT) last month after Christchurch dealership Affordable Autos pocketed the $7400 he put towards a Renault Koleos.

But despite the tribunal ordering the dealership to reimburse Peyroux the full amount, he is yet to see a cent and says there is a difference between getting justice and getting paid.

Paul Hoeper tried to represent Affordable Autos as a “self-employed consultant” in its latest dispute, but the Motor Vehicle Dispute Tribunal would not allow him to.

The Press previously revealed Peyroux’s complaint was not the first dispute for Affordable Autos. At the time, a manager who identified himself only as Todd said the dealership shied away from “predatory behaviour”.

The company has been linked to Paul Hoeper, who has a history of allegedly using fake names to sell vehicles that quickly encounter mechanical problems.

Hoeper tried to represent Affordable Autos for Peyroux’s MVDT dispute, claiming he was “a self-employed consultant” – but the tribunal decision said it disapproved of his presence.

This left entrepreneur Monique Lau, named as Affordable Autos’ owner and director on the Companies Register, to justify the company’s actions.

Peyroux paid a $900 deposit and a further $6500 towards a $9000 2016 model Renault Koleos in April, the MVDT decision said.

Dominique Peyroux says he is angry the dealership has not paid him after being ordered to do so by the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal.

He then lost his job and tried to contact the dealership about his options, but claimed he was ignored. Affordable Autos claimed it replied. The decision noted that Peyroux believed the texts the dealership supplied were fabricated.

The dealership alerted Peyroux it was cancelling the contract on May 6. It never returned his money, citing the clauses in the agreement.

Lau told the MVDT the company then sold the Renault at a clearance price on May 7. The dealership also claimed various damages from its dealings with Peyroux, including warrant of fitness, storage, grooming and administration costs.

However, the tribunal found the vehicle was actually sold on May 3, according to public records, which breached the contract with Peyroux. As he was not informed of this, he was unaware of his right to cancel the contract.

Peyroux had earlier breached the contract when he failed to pay the full amount by April 29, the tribunal noted, but Affordable Autos had affirmed the contract by giving him an extension.

The tribunal ordered the dealership to reimburse Peyroux the full $7400.

Peyroux said he was “angry” the dealership had not paid him. He was liaising with debt collectors and bailiffs, he said, and had not been notified of an appeal against the decision within the permitted 10-day window.

“I’ve put so many hours into it, I even contacted the serious fraud office, MBIE, my local MP, endless people and they all said ‘oh it’s very clear cut’,” he said. “Getting justice is one thing but actually getting the money back is another.”

Lau was approached for comment.

Affordable Autos is the trading name of MYLL Holdings Ltd.