Car dealership unflinching as accusations fly

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

A Christchurch car dealership that was ordered to repay a customer nearly $30,000 for not delivering their SUV, claims it has done nothing wrong in the face of fresh allegations.

In April, Wainoni-based MYLL Holdings Ltd was ordered by the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal to repay $29,650 to a customer who received “excuses at times, but not the vehicle” they paid for.

Now, Affordable Autos, a trading name for MYLL Holdings, has kept a $6500 part-payment on top of a $900 deposit from a customer who could not complete their purchase.

Do you know more? Contact brett.kerrlaurie@press.co.nz in confidence.

Affordable Autos denies any wrongdoing in the most recent sale turned dispute, and is unflinching in the face of a separate odometer discrepancy and “serious warning” one-star review.

The dealership claims to be the cheapest in New Zealand, selling everything from Lamborghinis to family vehicles on Trade Me.

When The Press questioned Affordable Autos, a general manager, who only identified himself as Todd, said the dealership shied away from “predatory behaviour”.

“We are committed to transparency, compliance with legal obligations, and resolving any issues fairly,” Todd said. “Affordable Autos takes all complaints seriously and has always invited customers to contact us directly if they have a concern.”

‘A failure of substantial character’

Earlier this year, Patricia Keelan paid $29,000 for a 2019 Volvo XC90 and $649 to have it sent to her, according to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal.

But Keelan never received the SUV.

She took MYLL Holdings to the tribunal seeking her money and, on April 24, an adjudicator had no issues ordering a repayment.

MYLL Holdings did not participate in the proceedings “until the last minute”, arranging for sales manager P Hoeper, unfamiliar with the matter, to attend the April 16 hearing, the tribunal noted.

At the hearing, MYLL Holdings said it did not deliver the vehicle because it required repairs and claimed it alerted Keelan. However, Keelan denied hearing anything.

The tribunal found MYLL Holdings failed to deliver the vehicle to Keelan as it was obliged to do so. “It offered up excuses at times, but not the vehicle.”

It was “a failure of substantial character,” the tribunal concluded. “No reasonable consumer would have found it acceptable to wait weeks, if not months, for delivery of a vehicle of this age, price and mileage.”

The sole owner and director of MYLL Holdings, Monique Lau, told The Press the $29,649 repayment had been made.

Lau said P Hoeper was a consultant and not employed by the company, and she could not delve into who it did employ for privacy reasons.

The director said she was unwell and unaware of the disputes The Press had discussed with Todd, but was “sure he was more than capable to answer any questions”.

Lau was a “Momentum Student Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist two years ago for her startup Endosoothe, for helping relieve endometrial pain.

‘Can you ring me please?’

Three days after MYLL Holdings appeared before the tribunal, Dominique Peyroux agreed to buy a 2016 Renault Koleos from Affordable Autos for $9000.

The Dunedin man put down a $900 deposit and then transferred $6500 days later. On the April 25 settlement date he told Todd he would pay the rest soon but a few days later, Peyroux advised Todd he had lost his job with Southern Clams Ltd.

Peyroux said he was keen to explore his options but claimed he was ignored by Affordable Autos. Todd disputed this, insisting he continued to message Peyroux.

Both provided The Press with conflicting photographs of their message history.

“Hi there. I haven’t heard from your finance guy,” Peyroux sent on May 1.

“Can you ring me please? You were going to get your finance guy to ring me,” he added the next day.

“Hello. Can you give me a ring please?” Peyroux asked on May 3.

“I haven’t heard from you for three days now,” he said on May 4. “I have been ringing, texting and emailing. I have paid you $7500 for the Renault Koleos. If I don’t hear back from you soon I will have to explore other options.”

Screenshots from Todd show the same messages - but in between each is a sizeable reply to Peyroux explaining the situation.

“As I told you yesterday there is no finance company in New Zealand that is going to provide you finance … You have lied to us on repeated and multiple occasions … Please pay the outstanding funds as soon as possible,” Todd sent in one paragraph on May 2, a screenshot showed.

Peyroux claimed he never received the large messages, while Todd suspected The Press had not been shown the full picture.

‘As per the terms you agreed to…’

Todd cancelled the contract via email on May 6 and claimed Affordable Autos was entitled to keep all Peyroux’s money, not just the $900 deposit.

“As per the terms you agreed to, all funds paid to date are forfeited in accordance with the contract,” the email concluded after citing numerous clauses.

Peyroux has since demanded his $6500 back, but Todd has refused to pay it.

Todd told The Press Affordable Autos was allowed to keep the money and had sought legal advice before each action it took.

“We acted only after granting multiple opportunities for Mr. Peyroux to fulfil his obligations, including a generous grace period. The decision to retain the full amount paid was not made lightly but was done in accordance with the legal framework outlined in the signed agreement.”

Peyroux’s promises of payment and claims about his financial footing - also disputed between the pair - left Affordable Autos “no choice”, Todd said.

Expert dispute lawyer Rion Norris reviewed Peyroux’s signed contract and told The Press Peyroux would have a reasonably strong claim for the return of the $6500 through the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal..

“The contract explicitly refers to a $900 deposit. The additional $6,500 was a part-payment toward the purchase price– not a deposit. It was never labelled or agreed to be treated as a deposit,” Norris said.

“Under contract law, part-payments are not automatically forfeited upon cancellation unless the contract clearly and specifically allows for that.

“Since the dealer did not deliver the car and there is no express right to retain the $6,500, the dealer is likely holding money it is not entitled to.”

Todd acknowledged different lawyers may interpret contracts differently and “ultimately, these matters are not resolved via an email thread involving a third-party reporter”.

‘It’s just been hell’

Peyroux has since lodged a claim with the tribunal, seeking $6500.

Being made redundant by Southern Clams “paled in comparison” to his current dispute, Peyroux said. The unreturned $6500 had created immense financial stress and he was now on a benefit, he added.

“This last couple months - it’s just been hell, actually, just putting it mildly.”

Now, there was nothing he could do but wait for his day in court.

“I’m convinced 100% he’s totally in the wrong and it’s just illegal what he’s done.”

‘Affordable Autos takes all complaints seriously’

Todd said he welcomed the opportunity to respond in full to any customers that wished to escalate their concerns through the proper channels.

Affordable Autos has attracted other online complaints including reference to an odometer discrepancy.

One reviewer told The Press their 2019 Great Wall Steed displayed about 5900kms at the dealership but AA Vehicle Inspection Sydenham - which refused to comment for this story - said the ute had done closer to 60,000km.

Todd explained this as a “typo” entered by VTNZ and claimed Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency had updated the system. Waka Kotahi confirmed it had inactivated the 60,000km reading, but would need more information to input a correct mileage.