Nightmare Buying in Europe

[blacknwhite]

Before I start my story, if anyone has any good connections in Germany, especially Northern middle of nowhere Germany I would love the help, but also not expecting anything so consider this more of a beware of what’s out there.

I bought a horse from ET Auctions in January 2022 with the intent to bring the horse back to the US. The sale went through, money was transferred over, and I began the process to get in touch with the old owners. The auction house provided me a name, email, and phone number. The email bounced, the phone number didn’t work. I continuously asked Valentijn, who appears to run the auction house, for help and it took him a number of weeks to put me in touch with someone who knew anything about the horse that I had bought.

After finally getting in touch, I asked for copies of the passport so that I could insure the horse for his flight to the US and for him to be gelded before shipping. The old owners said “no problem” and that they would be in touch as that happened. They sent me unusable passport photos and declined to respond when I asked for better photos.

Again, weeks went by and I tried continuously to get in touch with the old owners. Finally, after asking Valentijn at the auction house to get involved they responded telling me that in a month they had been unable to geld the horse because he was sick with some kind of cough for the whole month. I started to get sketched out and wondered if I had bought a sick horse and seriously questioning the condition of the horse. At this point, after over two months of little to no communication and surprise after surprise sprung on me I asked the old owners to resell the horse for me as I was unsure of the condition of the horse anymore and very wary of the entire situation.

Since this, now almost 2 years ago, I have not been able to contact the old owners, even the phone number of the person I was talking with has been disconnected. I found the barn he should have been located at and no point of contact works to get in touch there either. The auction house has ignored my repeated attempts to get help from them so I’m at a loss.

While I would love help locating contact information that actually works or just simply the horse, I also understand that probably my entire investment has disappeared and there’s nothing I can do about it. So buyers beware, my experience with ET Auctions and horse buying sight unseen was horrible.

For anyone who wants to sleuth on this, the farm I was lead to believe that my horse was located at was in Blender, Germany. The street address is supposedly Hinnersweg 1 and the farm is called Gestüt Eichenhain.

Update: We have been in contact with some folks in Europe and likely because of the way the claims would have to be filed the cost to pursue legally would not be worth it. Maybe it could have been if we went this route right away, but I also had faith that people are generally not out to scam you. Apparently in the world of horse auctions, this is incorrect.

[enjoytheride]

I was under the impression that the Auction House dealt with all of this?

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

According to the OP, the auction house is ghosting her as well.

This has been going on for two years? Do you know anyone in Germany or would consider a visit, given the investment must have been significant?

[blacknwhite]

While I do have friends in Germany, convincing someone to go to the middle of nowhere in Germany with me for what would likely be a 5 day trip has not worked out thus far. I also suspect that they don’t speak very good English so I would need a translator.

[ThreeWishes]

@Manni01 is in Germany and she seems very adept at nice warmblood horses. Perhaps if she sees this thread she could offer insight or you could PM her.

[Bristol_Bay]

Is this the phone number you have?

[vxf111]

This has been going on for two years!? I think at this point you probably have to write this off as a loss. Why did you wait so long after being ghosted for a couple months?

[blacknwhite]

Yes that’s one of three or four phone numbers I’ve had for them

[blacknwhite]

I’m sure it is a loss. I’m just sharing my story mostly. And I didn’t wait for long. I’ve asked multiples of people located in Europe to help find the horse (to no avail) and continuously harassed the auction house throughout the past 2 years. All with no results. Short of going to that location and hoping the horse might still be located there, there’s not much more I can think of.

[Bristol_Bay]

Have you contacted local law enforcement?

[Tha_Ridge]

I mean, different strokes for different folks but I would’ve been on a plane (or sent someone on a plane!) after, say, two weeks max of no communication. I have bought many horses overseas now and while squeaky wheel does indeed get the grease sometimes, I’ve never been straight up ghosted.

[blacknwhite]

I think I would need to either be there or get a translator/lawyer for this since I would have no clue how to navigate.

[vxf111]

Contacting a lawyer or the police, but it’s probably too late now

Not trying to rub salt in the wound but in case someone else finds themselves in a similar position. This is fraud and theft. This is something the legal system is for. The international nature complicates things but it doesn’t mean ignoring a system designed to protect people against exactly this situation.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Yeah, I agree. Even if you need a translator, I think you need to use your friends over there and go over there with them–or go over there yourself, heck, even hire a guide. Two years is crazy-I assume the loss was in the mid-five figures at least? I would have no clue about the exact amount you spent, but I am someone who gets irate being cheated of a few hundred bucks, much less a horse and a significant chunk of my savings.

What prompted your post now?

[Bristol_Bay]

My sister lives in Hannover. She could make a phone call for you to the local police. PM me.

Or maybe @Manni01 can advise you as far as statute of limitations. I assume you have documentation of the sale?

Germany has welcomed many refugees who lack language skills but I’m sure also may be crime victims. I’m sure they can deal with a case like yours.

[CanteringCarrot]

Directly from ET Auctions:

ARTICLE 14. APPLICABLE LAW AND COMPETENT COURT

The public official will, in the first and also in the last instance, settle all disputes regarding the adjudication concerned that may arise during the auction. The brokering and intervention of ET-A and the sale take place in accordance with Belgian law. In the case of disputes, only Belgian law shall apply and only the courts of the (territorial) jurisdiction Ghent, Dendermonde section, shall have jurisdiction to hear the disputes. In the case of dispute, only the Dutch text is valid.

[blacknwhite]

I do have everything from the sale documents to the wire transfers, I’ll send you a PM

[blacknwhite]

I do assume it’s a loss at this point, I honestly forgot about about the forums here and trusted people I knew on the ground in Europe to help, but they were unable to. So every now and then I get irritated over it and here we are. But likely I’ll never recoup anything so it’s more of a warning to others when looking for reputable auction houses and buying in Europe

[NaturallyHappy]

I’m so sorry…

[Posting_Trot]

I’m so sorry for you about being scammed! When I did a quick google search of the barn you named, they seem to have a number of 1 star reviews. Then if you read those reviews many seem to be from suppliers of various sorts who have not been paid.

I know that online reviews should be taken with quite a bit of salt, but these seem to indicate a business that has had significant financial mismanagement in the recent past. There may be, unfortunately, a number of people who’ve lost money by dealing with them.

Good luck!