Help - Fraud? Go to Court?
Discussion
Hello all
I've been a very silly boy. Having found a plumber and heating engineer through MyBuilder and having accepted their quote to supply and fit Victorian cast iron radiators throughout our house, I was asked to pay in advance for the materials because they were so expensive and they didn't want to be lumbered with them if I didn't come through. The person had apparently over 100 positive 100% reviews at the point I hired them and seemed knowledgeable and competent. So, yes, I foolishly transferred the money online via Faster Payments and not even by credit card. £6K!!!!
So the obvious has happened! Radiators haven't arrived. All sorts of excuses from the plumber and his office manager (wife) about why they haven't arrived. I contacted MyBuilder and apparently I'm not alone. At least two other people have reported similar stories.
I have done a little investigating and found their home address which is a rental property. So I'm wary of them doing one as they've only been there since the beginning of the year. Their website was only registered at the beginning of the year. Nobody is registered at their address on the electoral roll so I'm not even sure if their names are legitimate. I have found a genuine company registered with the same trading name but they're based in another part of the UK and isn't my particular chap.
I have now sent a letter recorded delivery under the Consumer Contracts legislation and will pursue via the courts, but I'm worried that they may disappear. He's not on Gas Safe register despite claiming to be. Didn't offer a formal contract or cancellation notice. I've reported him to Trading Standards on the advice on Citizen's Advice.
Is this something to call the police about? Do I have any other options or tactics?
Yes I'm a fool and going to learn the hard way so please save me from a berrating. Only helpful comments.
Most helpful comment I can offer is to go round there and speak with him / the office manager (wife)
From that you will more easily gauge if you have been had or not. For instance, can they show you the order placed with the supplier of said radiators and can you chase the supplier to see what's going on?
If you have been had, then yes you should pursue for return of the monies
Don't read this unhelpful bit
The time to do the due diligence that you have done since sending the money and not getting any radiators was before you sent the money
From that you will more easily gauge if you have been had or not. For instance, can they show you the order placed with the supplier of said radiators and can you chase the supplier to see what's going on?
If you have been had, then yes you should pursue for return of the monies
Don't read this unhelpful bit
The time to do the due diligence that you have done since sending the money and not getting any radiators was before you sent the money
I fear you've had it. I would go round there right now and force the issue and walk away with <something>. Tell him you want so see in his garage and see if they're in there, and if they are take them. He's going to screw young you over, and I'd do what I need to do to screw them over. I wouldn't call police.
mickmcpaddy said:
People ask me if I'm on checktrade or whatever it is as if its some kind of qualification, its hard not to laugh at them. Seriously only ever get a tradesman from a personal recommendation.
This. Bung checkat
t a few quid, and anyone can get on there. Same as any of these organisations.Federation of Master Builders, bung them a few quid in the old days, and they sent a sticker for their vans.
CoolHands said:
I fear you've had it. I would go round there right now and force the issue and walk away with <something>. Tell him you want so see in his garage and see if they're in there, and if they are take them. He's going to screw young you over, and I'd do what I need to do to screw them over. I wouldn't call police.
Victorian style cast iron rads are v heavy. Ours took 3 burly blokes to shift. Each one weighed about 17 stones. The rads not the blokes....There is certainly the potential for it to be fraud, particularly if there are 2 other similar cases.
Of course it could be that he is genuinely in some sort of difficultly and no fraud involved.
The fact is you won't know until you investigate - the difficulty is getting the Police interested.
in theory if you reported it to AF they may identify it as a problem and ask local Police to investigate.
Of course it could be that he is genuinely in some sort of difficultly and no fraud involved.
The fact is you won't know until you investigate - the difficulty is getting the Police interested.
in theory if you reported it to AF they may identify it as a problem and ask local Police to investigate.
Eddieslofart said:
mickmcpaddy said:
People ask me if I'm on checktrade or whatever it is as if its some kind of qualification, its hard not to laugh at them. Seriously only ever get a tradesman from a personal recommendation.
This. Bung checkatt a few quid, and anyone can get on there. Same as any of these organisations.Federation of Master Builders, bung them a few quid in the old days, and they sent a sticker for their vans.
TX.
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