FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2005
Interview Contacts: Rosana Olson Hedahl 515/255-1635 or
Don Shelley 515/865-0831
Staff Contact: Danny Wagener
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
515/255-0800 (w)
515/ 360-2315 (c)
danny@iowacci.org
DES MOINES,
IOWA –Hundreds of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
(CCI) members held a press conference with Bill Brauch, head of
the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s
office, to announce their commitment to seeking justice for customers
of Family Auto Network (formerly Dan Nelson Auto Network). The press
conference was held as part of Iowa CCI’s 30th Anniversary
Convention on Saturday, July 9.
“CCI is sending a strong message that
Dan Nelson must be brought to justice and held accountable for his
actions,” CCI member Brenda La Blanc stated. “We don’t
want the Attorney General to give up until justice has been served.”
Hundreds of customers have accused Dan Nelson,
who prior to filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, owned and operated more
than a half dozen car dealerships in Des Moines, Council Bluffs,
Sioux City, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls; of sticking them with excessive
interest rates, selling vehicles with significant defects, using
misleading and deceptive sales tactics, and selling vehicles at
inflated prices.
“Dan Nelson’s primary creditor,
MetaBank, has taken control of his assets,” stated Brauch.
“And we have told MetaBank that it is in their best interest
to work with us to maximize compensation for his customers. We will
go after as much money as we can for customers.”
In January, the Iowa Attorney General’s
Office filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Dan Nelson Auto Network.
Numerous lenders and finance companies have since stopped doing
business with the company. In addition to being sued by the Iowa
Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspector and the
U.S. Attorney’s Office are also investigating Dan Nelson.
The Iowa DOT has passed information from their investigation onto
the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
CCI members met with Dan Nelson via phone
on May 5, and he promised to meet with them by June 5 to discuss
how he will work to improve his business and resolve customers’
issues, but he has failed to follow through. If Dan Nelson is unwilling
to honor this commitment, members vow to intensify their fight to
hold Mr. Nelson accountable for his actions and expose his business
practices. At the time of the press conference, he had still not
met with CCI.
“It appears that Dan Nelson
has done everything for personal gain and doesn’t have a conscience,”
current Dan Nelson customer and CCI Predatory Car Sales Task Force
member Don Shelley said. “He leads you on to believe he wants
to help you find a reliable car and repair your credit, but then
he uses high pressure sales tactics to take advantage of customers
who trust him.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
is a group of everyday people that talk, act, and get things done
on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks
of life - urban rural, black
and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans- CCI has been tackling
tough issues and getting things done for 30 years.
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