Mike Moncrief
11-16-2005, 06:01 PM
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Mike Moncrief
Hi guys, I was just reading in the Philadelphia Daily News that the infamous Mike Moncrief aka Unlimitedvettes,CorvettesUSA and whatever other names he used is finally getting his payback. He sold a 69 Vette to the District Attorney in Montgomery County Pa from Ebay, for 22900. When car arrived it was a total POS. 40 things wrong with it and he refused to take it back. He is now being sued in PA courts and he couldnt of picked a better guy to screw. .Just wanted to let some of the people he beat know his days are numbered. Im a computer idiot or I would have posted the article. Paybacks are a bitch
11-16-2005, 08:27 PM
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Melting Slicks
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The District attorney was quoted as saying " I feel like such a fool, being taken advantage of like this."
I have to agree with him that he is a fool.
I have to agree with him that he is a fool.
11-17-2005, 12:43 AM
#6
Team Owner
I was going to be annoyed by another thread about this guy... but thanks for posting! This is great stuff!! 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has taken only one drive in the classic 1969 red Chevrolet Corvette convertible he bought from a California dealer for $22,900 in an Internet sale: to a mechanic, for extensive repairs.
In addition to the mechanic, Castor went to federal court, filing a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia citing 40 significant defects in the car that had been advertised as "a great looking vehicle that gets a lot of attention."
When the car he bought sight unseen was delivered to his home, Castor said he found the engine knocked and didn't have all its original parts, the fiberglass body had a five-inch crack, the headlights and gauges didn't work and the tires were the wrong size. "I feel like a complete fool, to be taken advantage of like this," Castor said.
The Philadelphia Daily News said the seller, Michael Montrief, of Huntingdon Beach, Calif., couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
and this:
I guess in the future when he "preapproves" his bidders he will have to make sure they have no legal connections!
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has taken only one drive in the classic 1969 red Chevrolet Corvette convertible he bought from a California dealer for $22,900 in an Internet sale: to a mechanic, for extensive repairs.
In addition to the mechanic, Castor went to federal court, filing a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia citing 40 significant defects in the car that had been advertised as "a great looking vehicle that gets a lot of attention."
When the car he bought sight unseen was delivered to his home, Castor said he found the engine knocked and didn't have all its original parts, the fiberglass body had a five-inch crack, the headlights and gauges didn't work and the tires were the wrong size. "I feel like a complete fool, to be taken advantage of like this," Castor said.
The Philadelphia Daily News said the seller, Michael Montrief, of Huntingdon Beach, Calif., couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
and this:
Posted on Wed, Nov. 16, 2005
M O R E N E W S F R O M topix.net
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Chevrolet
Montco D.A. suing over Corvette purchase
By JIM SMITH
smithjm@phillynews.com
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor now has a better, more personal understanding of the adage, "Buyer Beware."
Castor, who has a reputation as a hard-nosed homicide prosecutor, recently bought a classic 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, a red convertible, sight unseen.
"I guess at 44 years old, I'm having a mid-life crisis," he joked, somewhat glumly, when asked why he had wanted the expensive old ragtop.
Actually, a friend owns one and Castor liked the friend's so much that he wanted one, too, he explained.
His wife said it would be his birthday present, so Castor paid $22,900 to a California dealer, after seeing the car advertised on the Internet.
The eBay ad spoke of a restored vehicle, with an original, rebuilt 350-horsepower motor, a new paint job, new interior "and just about everything else."
"A great looking vehicle that gets a lot of attention," the ad swooned.
But when the red Vet was delivered from California to Castor's home last month, Castor discovered that its motor didn't have all the original parts, the engine knocked, there was a five-inch crack in the fiberglass body, and neither the headlights nor the gauges worked.
In all, Castor found about 40 significant defects on the car. Even the tires were the wrong size, he claims.
He has driven it only once, to a local mechanic, for extensive repairs.
Castor, who was elected as county D.A. six years ago and who has prosecuted more than 50 homicide cases during his 20 years in the D.A.'s office in Norristown, yesterday filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia against the dealer who sold the car to him.
The lawsuit, filed on Castor's behalf by Skippack attorney Christopher P. Fiore, alleges violations of Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law, fraud and breach of contract.
Michael Royce Montrief, of Huntingdon Beach, Calif., and Edlistine, Ill., and Montrief's company, USCorvettes, were named as defendants.
Allegedly, Montrief refused to take back the car or pay for necessary repairs voluntarily.
The lawsuit seeks to recover for Castor his out-of-pocket expenses, which he expects to exceed $10,000, to have the car restored.
The Daily News called Montrief yesterday but couldn't reach him for comment.
"I feel victimized," said Castor, "... and I'm frustrated that I can't do more than sue him [Montrief].
"I feel like a complete fool, to be taken advantage of like this," he added.
M O R E N E W S F R O M topix.net
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Chevrolet
Montco D.A. suing over Corvette purchase
By JIM SMITH
smithjm@phillynews.com
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor now has a better, more personal understanding of the adage, "Buyer Beware."
Castor, who has a reputation as a hard-nosed homicide prosecutor, recently bought a classic 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, a red convertible, sight unseen.
"I guess at 44 years old, I'm having a mid-life crisis," he joked, somewhat glumly, when asked why he had wanted the expensive old ragtop.
Actually, a friend owns one and Castor liked the friend's so much that he wanted one, too, he explained.
His wife said it would be his birthday present, so Castor paid $22,900 to a California dealer, after seeing the car advertised on the Internet.
The eBay ad spoke of a restored vehicle, with an original, rebuilt 350-horsepower motor, a new paint job, new interior "and just about everything else."
"A great looking vehicle that gets a lot of attention," the ad swooned.
But when the red Vet was delivered from California to Castor's home last month, Castor discovered that its motor didn't have all the original parts, the engine knocked, there was a five-inch crack in the fiberglass body, and neither the headlights nor the gauges worked.
In all, Castor found about 40 significant defects on the car. Even the tires were the wrong size, he claims.
He has driven it only once, to a local mechanic, for extensive repairs.
Castor, who was elected as county D.A. six years ago and who has prosecuted more than 50 homicide cases during his 20 years in the D.A.'s office in Norristown, yesterday filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia against the dealer who sold the car to him.
The lawsuit, filed on Castor's behalf by Skippack attorney Christopher P. Fiore, alleges violations of Pennsylvania's Consumer Protection Law, fraud and breach of contract.
Michael Royce Montrief, of Huntingdon Beach, Calif., and Edlistine, Ill., and Montrief's company, USCorvettes, were named as defendants.
Allegedly, Montrief refused to take back the car or pay for necessary repairs voluntarily.
The lawsuit seeks to recover for Castor his out-of-pocket expenses, which he expects to exceed $10,000, to have the car restored.
The Daily News called Montrief yesterday but couldn't reach him for comment.
"I feel victimized," said Castor, "... and I'm frustrated that I can't do more than sue him [Montrief].
"I feel like a complete fool, to be taken advantage of like this," he added.
I guess in the future when he "preapproves" his bidders he will have to make sure they have no legal connections!
11-17-2005, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by SharkAttack
Interesting. I'm not familiar with this guy or dealer. What a bust.
Count yourself as one of the lucky ones
But once again, IMO, anyone who would buy a 35 year old car over the internet, sight unseen, uninspected, is asking for major trouble
11-17-2005, 03:40 PM
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Melting Slicks
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Even if the DA wins, he still has to collect the money from Montrief.
No jail time in a civil case. If Montrief loses he'll declare bankruptcy, close the business and open another one.
A civil case can take a year before going to trial.
No jail time in a civil case. If Montrief loses he'll declare bankruptcy, close the business and open another one.
A civil case can take a year before going to trial.
11-17-2005, 07:50 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
I bet the DA would be very interested in the experiences of the other forum members who have been taken. If some could post a mailing address for the DA, I bet he would get some mail.
11-17-2005, 07:53 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
11-18-2005, 10:24 AM
#15
Race Director
...who cares about the "defects"...I thought we owned these cars just for the attention anyways.
11-18-2005, 11:26 AM
#16
This guy searches local paper ads - all over the country - for his purchases.
I won an auction - took a 500 mile drive - the original seller still had the car. The original seller still had not been paid and this Mike guy had it up for auction.
Bottom line - car was a POS - I'm only out time and gas.
All part of the learning curve.
I won an auction - took a 500 mile drive - the original seller still had the car. The original seller still had not been paid and this Mike guy had it up for auction.
Bottom line - car was a POS - I'm only out time and gas.
All part of the learning curve.
11-18-2005, 06:25 PM
#18
I agree that Montrief is shady and probably deserves what is coming to him.
But also consider this, the DA even if he got a perfectly restored car could have found many "defects".
Think about if you sold a car to a lawyer, man he could come back on you for just about anything. I mean come on....."40 significant defects including the wrong sized tires"????
I am sure many 35 year old cars have 40 defects and the wrong sized tires.
I am not defending this Montrief guy by any means, but neither do I completely back the DA.
But also consider this, the DA even if he got a perfectly restored car could have found many "defects".
Think about if you sold a car to a lawyer, man he could come back on you for just about anything. I mean come on....."40 significant defects including the wrong sized tires"????
I am sure many 35 year old cars have 40 defects and the wrong sized tires.
I am not defending this Montrief guy by any means, but neither do I completely back the DA.
11-23-2005, 08:57 AM
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This is Ebay's fatal flaw and is the reason fraud on Ebay is out of control. Feedback is the lifeforce of Ebay. Seller's withhold feedback until they receive f-back from buyers. Everybody values their f-back rating and buyers will not give neg f-back while the seller is still holding their card. I am not sure there is a solution...