AUBURN, Ind. (AP) – An automobile auction house known for selling the roadster used in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and other classic cars is drawing complaints that it has not paid some sellers for months.

The Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana says it has received 21 complaints about Auburn-based Kruse International this year, up from seven in 2008 and just one in 2006.

Owner Dean Kruse says he owes payments to 66 consignors. He blames the late payments on cash-flow issues caused by buyers who haven’t paid him.

Kruse says many of the collectors buying cars are automobile dealers who also are facing financial problems.

He says he expects to catch up with payments after the company’s annual Labor Day auction.

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Information from: The News-Sentinel,
http://www.news-sentinel.com

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AP-CS-08-29-09 1101EDT