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Cinthia Elias thought she was going crazy when she could not find her car after finishing a Pilates class last Tuesday.
It was 7.20pm when she emerged from the studio in Alexandria to find that her white Audi TT was no longer where she had parked.
"I spent 20 minutes walking up and down the street looking for my car in the dark [and] cold while crying on the phone to my sister," she said.
"I called the police ... only to get a call back from Mascot police station advising that the car had in fact been repossessed by Volkswagen Financial Services … [which] seemed very strange as our car finance was done through ANZ financing, not Volkswagen."
Audi is owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Mrs Elias and her husband Roly had purchased the car last year through the now-suspended and liquidated Gasoline Machine Pty Ltd, the Alexandria-based automotive business being investigated for failing to deliver at least $600,000 to customers in consignment deals.
The company was the subject of a public warning from NSW Fair Trading not to deal with the director of Gasoline Machine, Matthew Hale, or the sole director of Gasoline Australia (NSW) Pty Ltd, Jason Leppa. Both companies had been trading as Gasoline Motor Co.
Previous reports about the business have highlighted the losses of consumers yet to receive payment for the sale of their car, including television personality Larry Emdur, whose car was sold without his knowledge or permission.
However, the Elias' are among the first victims to have had their car repossessed after unknowingly purchasing a vehicle for which Gasoline Machine allegedly had not paid.
"We contacted the broker we dealt with at the time of purchase from Gasoline Machine. He confirmed that the previous owner of the vehicle had the car financed by Volkswagen Financial Services," Mrs Elias said.
At the time of purchasing the car for $43,000, Mr and Mrs Elias paid $15,000 in cash to Gasoline Machine and borrowed the remaining amount through a financing arrangement with ANZ.
"We have supporting documents to prove to Volkswagen Financial Services that the car is in fact registered in my husband's name and that repayment for the loan of the vehicle are under ANZ and have been paid on time for over a year now," Mrs Elias said.
"If ANZ paid this to Gasoline Machine, then where did that money go? Clearly not to Volkswagen or else we wouldn't be where we are today."
Legal representation for Gasoline Machine director Matthew Hale declined to comment.
Two days after his wife's car was taken, Mr Elias was told by Volkswagen that it was concerned a new financing arrangement had been put in place, when it already had finance over the car.
Mr Elias said he was told "if ANZ do have [a notice on the] Personal Property and Securities Register then we have a dual encumbrance on the vehicle. If Volkswagen have encumbrance first then that voids ANZ's."
After issuing legal assistance last Friday, Mrs Elias had the car returned to her on Wednesday morning. However she said she had still not been informed "where the error was," and was seeking compensation from Volkswagen for legal fees, and a week of Uber rides.
A spokesperson for Volkswagen Financial Services said the situation involved "a possible fraud by a Volkswagen Financial Services customer ... the on-selling dealership, Gasoline Machine".
"Gasoline Machine has had a public warning issued by NSW Fair Trading regarding their business practices and has also had their motor dealer licence suspended. Volkswagen Financial Services followed the appropriate procedures in the circumstances and this issue is currently being worked through with the parties concerned," he said.
"You should note that vehicle registration is not evidence of ownership and also that Volkswagen Financial Services holds a current PPSA registration over the company, our customer."