Banned car trader 'Wolf of Church Street' still selling cars on Facebook marketplace

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Who is Brent Smith?

The victims of a notorious car dealer who calls himself the 'Wolf of Church Street' are fuming over the banned trader being able to sell cars on Facebook's marketplace.

Antony Basturkmen, who has legally changed his name to Brent Smith, but still goes by Basturkmen, was the owner of a defunct Auckland car dealership called Motor Me, that was taken to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal at least 18 times.

Motor Me was issued a warning by the Commerce Commission in January last year for misleading consumers, and later in the year was banned from trading by government agency, Trading Standards. Trade Me has also banned Smith from trading on its site.

Euna Go, and her partner Ben Thomas, were sold a noisy smoking car by Smith. Go said she was fuming when she saw he was still selling cars on Facebook.

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Brent Smith, formerly Anton Basturkmen, has been banned from trading cars till 2021.

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'It's just so frustrating, I'm so angry he's still selling cars. He has no remorse,' Go said.

It appears Smith listed three cars on Facebook's marketplace last week using his personal Facebook account under the name Antony Basturkmen.

He is selling a 1996 Nissan Terrano diesel car for $2950, a 1992 Toyota Estima for $1950 and a 1999 Toyota Vitz Tidy for $1895.

Ben Thomas and Euna Go want to stop others from falling prey to the 'Wolf of Church Street'.

Smith has been banned from selling cars till 2021 according to the Motor Vehicle Traders Register.

Go, along with several other victims, tried to get their money back from Smith but they have had to jump through several hoops, as the he failed to appear at Motor Me tribunal hearings.

Have you had a bad experience with this second hand car dealer? Get in touch at anuja.nadkarni@stuff.co.nz

On Facebook's marketplace, it appears Basturkmen has listed three cars including this 1996 Nissan Terrano Diesel car for $2950.

Smith and his wife, Alexis, are directors of No Reserve Cars, which traded as Motor Me.

The pair live in a $2.15 million home in Auckland's affluent seaside suburb St Heliers.

Notorius car dealer Antony Basturkmen selling cars on facebook

Smith's No Reserve Cars dealership has also had a number of cases heard at the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal between 2012 and 2015. He appeared for two of the three cases, but lost them all.

Another couple left out of pocket by Motor Me, Olivia Mills and Adam Fursdon from Blenheim, said the company caused them to lose confidence in car dealers.

'This was our first car buying experience and our faith has plummeted.'

Mills has asked Facebook groups to remove car for sale listings posted by Smith under Antony Basturkmen.

Mills said she could not believe he was still being allowed to sell cars despite being banned and having cost numerous people thousands of dollars.

'Honestly, I can't believe it. It's such a joke. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. He just doesn't care.

'It's just so frustrating.'

Go is waiting for Smith to appear at the Auckland District Court in May for a financial assessment hearing.

She said if Smith did not appear this time she could apply for the judge to issue an arrest warrant.

'It's not even about the money anymore, I just want to stop him from doing this to others.'

Trading Standards and Facebook have been approached for comment.