Disgruntled employee

[Jonny TVR]

A sales guy who has our lease car, ipad and iphone is being uncooperative in returning these. She moved address recently and won't give the new address. The only form of communication is by our iphone. She was supposed to meet me at the train station near her house today but she has cancelled. She officially stopped working for us 11 days ago. What can we do. Report as stolen? other methods? she also has the spare key! even if we found it

[Jonny TVR]

Unfortunately its her apple account so cant find my iphone.

Already been paid (lesson learnt there!).

She has only moved to her new address so can't imagine she has registered it and its rented.

Only leaves the police.

[Jonny TVR]

p1stonhead said:

Threaten it first. Bet she will return it sharpish rather than risk a criminal record.

Already did but she said to do it!

[Jonny TVR]

Liszt said:

Did she need a reference?

No .. probably use previous employer as she only worked for us for 3 months as she was a complete bloody nightmare!

[Jonny TVR]

jammy_basturd said:

Is she disgruntled because you kept calling her a man?

You could have a point!!!

[Jonny TVR]

Called the Police and they have reported it as stolen. They have been really good and phoned me a couple of times already for more detail and will be searching cameras for it in the area she is from. Interesting how they can do that my car reg?!

[Jonny TVR]

The Police are still making enquiries. They will catch up with her eventually I'm sure. Problem is that the car is probably parked in a garage or off road so they can't identify it normally. All of this is costing my business money as its a lease car, wasted time for us and for the Police. I wonder what will happen to her, will she just be given a caution. I hope not.

She continues to use the company iphone as we have been monitoring her activity. I decided not to block it as its our only possible way of contacting her and the calls she is making fall within the free calls within the contract. It just bugs me that she is using our phone still 23 days after she finished working for us.

Edited by Jonny TVR on Monday 27th April 15:53

[Jonny TVR]

dudleybloke said:

Any joy finding her on social media sites?

Yes and passed them onto the police. She is merrily posting away, was tempted to post on her site from my personal email but thought better of it.

[Jonny TVR]

Dr Interceptor said:

Surely if they have her phone details, and she's still using it, they can find her location almost instantly?

Or is it a case of 'could' find her location instantly...

You would have thought so .. not sure how it works but have given them all her details and told them that she is still using the phone

[Jonny TVR]

Davel said:

Should you inform the leasing company that the car is now being driven by an ex-employee and without permission - and so therefore may not be insured.
done this

Have you spoken to your insurers?
done this
May not be relevant but just asking?

I assume that it doesn't have Tracker fitted.

no

[Jonny TVR]

bad company said:

I would speak with a private investigator. They are often ex plod and will devote more time to finding the car.

Not a bad idea but more expense. If nothing happens in the next week I think I may have to

[Jonny TVR]

JustinP1 said:

At the moment you don't have leverage.

She's thinking, she'll get a new job, get a new car and phone then at some time in the future and just hand everything back (if you are still hassling her) in her own sweet time.

That costs her nothing. However, if you were leasing those items to her, then every day she has the use of a car, phone, and iPad costs her money.

So, send her a letter to the iPhone, telling here that the lease of the car, phone and iPad from the end of the week is £150 per week. Send it by letter to her last address too. Most people have a redirection.

Then she'll realise that her plan will rack herself up a bill.

Then, you can sue her for it.

Her only defence will be claiming she didn't see the letter, but then she'd have to explain to the court why on earth she was still keeping the car and stuff otherwise! The counter to that defence would be that in any case it's breach of her contract of employment in any case, and you can sue for losses.

If the debt's over £600, then the High Court Bailiffs will find her and take her stuff.

If it were me, and she was taking the piss in this way I would have no qualms against doing the above, and following through.

Not sure this would work in this case

[Jonny TVR]

528Sport said:

Can you put her number up on here so we can call her and have some fun?
Tempted .. do you want her facebook page?

seriously thou, I do hope this gets sorted for you.

have you thought about going to the local media, offer a reward for information. Is she on twitter or linkedin? on linkedin and I know she reads my emails but doesn't now reply

I do like the recruitment idea posted above..

[Jonny TVR]

528Sport said:

Can you put her number up on here so we can call her and have some fun?

seriously thou, I do hope this gets sorted for you.

have you thought about going to the local media, offer a reward for information. Is she on twitter or linkedin?

I do like the recruitment idea posted above..

also like this one

[Jonny TVR]

FlashmanChop said:

I am assuming she still has a HMRC company car liability whilst she has this company car to ride around in.

Good point

[Jonny TVR]

Just got her keys back in the post with no note saying where the car is. She is still using the mobile so obviously that isn't with the car.

[Jonny TVR]

The Police have been able to speak to her and she has agreed to meet them Sunday. We now know where the car is parked. lets see what she says to them on Sunday!

[Jonny TVR]

Sorry for the length of time to re-post as only concluded this yesterday. Basically the police spoke to her and she made up a story that we still owed her money which is why she has kept the car, phone, ipad. She has indicated where the car is and we can collect that but she said that she is keeping the phone and ipad until she get whats owed. This is complete rubbish but the police now consider it a civil case rather than criminal so if we want to get the ipad and phone back then we have to take legal action against her. Not very satisfactory at all!

[Jonny TVR]

surveyor said:

Probably not worth the hassle pursuing the phone and ipad. I'd make sure that I reported them as stolen to the network to get the IMEI barred though.

I assume she's not putting you down for a reference....

I was going to go after her regardless of cost on principle and contact all her ex employers MD's to make sure they also never give references. However all this isn't good use of time and energy. Plus the cost is minimal. Lesson also learnt on how disgusting some people can be.

[Jonny TVR]

I appreciate all your comments. It goes against the grain but I'm going to leave it and move on.