URGENT - Bodyshop extortion attempt and threats
Discussion
can anyone advise me what's the best course of action?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
Once the initial crisis has settled down and you know you're car's out of immediate danger, engage Trading Standards and ask them to accompany you on a visit to the bodyshop.
Get two independant assessments of the quality of paint by reputable companies also.
Hope you get it sorted.
Tuan
Get two independant assessments of the quality of paint by reputable companies also.
Hope you get it sorted.
Tuan
CraigW said:
talk to a lawyer, document everything, phone garage where it is being serviced & warn them. Call police & tell them that you have been threatened. Horrible story, best of luck getting it sorted. God whats wrong with people.
+1Call the police and say oyu've been threatened.
GI Jnr said:
Once the initial crisis has settled down and you know you're car's out of immediate danger, engage Trading Standards and ask them to accompany you on a visit to the bodyshop.
Get two independant assessments of the quality of paint by reputable companies also.
Hope you get it sorted.
Tuan
Hi Police told me to call trading standards and was surprised at home much damages I'm probably owed. I mainly don't want to be threatened and have someone attempt to steal money from me. I had tried to put all the rubbish over the past 12 months behind me. But he's called today and it's back, so I may as well claim I guess.Get two independant assessments of the quality of paint by reputable companies also.
Hope you get it sorted.
Tuan
i would mix my two past times ! always willing to take on private jobs......pete
get in contact with the police again about the threats that is not a trading standards issue. i they palm you off insist on speaking to a senior officer and would go in perosn not on phone. If they wont deal with it, put it in writing and ask why they wont take action
tehn contact trading standards although they are likely just to casue him trouble and not help you
Contact your own lawyer and get him to threaten an injunction against the individuals or simply just go for one as there is a prima facia case
Get your cars away from this guy and if he approaches the garage where they are get them to call the police
I would then just sue him sensless
I am a lawyer and hate people mucking me about and do sue when I get annoyed but appeciate not everyone is the same
with idiots like that all they understand is unremmiting preasure and cost. Go for the jugular and never let go till they give in completley
get in contact with the police again about the threats that is not a trading standards issue. i they palm you off insist on speaking to a senior officer and would go in perosn not on phone. If they wont deal with it, put it in writing and ask why they wont take action
tehn contact trading standards although they are likely just to casue him trouble and not help you
Contact your own lawyer and get him to threaten an injunction against the individuals or simply just go for one as there is a prima facia case
Get your cars away from this guy and if he approaches the garage where they are get them to call the police
I would then just sue him sensless
I am a lawyer and hate people mucking me about and do sue when I get annoyed but appeciate not everyone is the same
with idiots like that all they understand is unremmiting preasure and cost. Go for the jugular and never let go till they give in completley
HI Pete.......Probably won't help at the moment, but I've used the same paint shop for the last 7 years for all my cars Countach / Diablo / Etype etc, very quick turnround excellent results. If it helps in the future.
Best of luck re current situ
Regards keith
Best of luck re current situ
Regards keith
diablo_pete said:
can anyone advise me what's the best course of action?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
R666LAM said:
HI Pete.......Probably won't help at the moment, but I've used the same paint shop for the last 7 years for all my cars Countach / Diablo / Etype etc, very quick turnround excellent results. If it helps in the future.
Best of luck re current situ
Regards keith
Thanks. wouldn't go back to them again for sure.Best of luck re current situ
Regards keith
diablo_pete said:
can anyone advise me what's the best course of action?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
plastik said:
get a nice little mp3 recorder/dictaphone and record the calls also.
Hi Pete,Under no circumstances record telephone calls without informing the other party that this is what you are doing - rightly or wrongly, it is considered to be illegal wire-tapping and will get you up to 2 years at her Majesty's pleasure! Tell them at the start that you're recording the conersation and you're in the clear
Contact Consumer Direct. They are free and will give you qualified legal advice. Be certain to have your explanation very clear and concise
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ or 08454 040506
Threats are a Police matter.
Be very carfeul how much you do and don't allege in public and under no circumstances publicly name them, this side of any court action finding against them!
You always have the option of going to the Small Claims Court. You don't need a solicitor to do so (indeed that is in part the point of it) and it is very cheap and easy to do. All the forms can be found online
Legal Advice, Legal Advice, Legal Advice!
Edited by evil_dr_fish on Wednesday 21st January 15:37
- COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH
COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH*
That sucks, thats why I do all my painting myself, granted not everyone can do.
Document everything, secure the cars, get Trading standards on the case, and get to a CAB. Where ever you put the cars, make sure you put up a camera, and a CCTV sign, make sure its a good camera, and throw a couple of angry badgers into the mix
If it was me, I would be tearing them to the ground, thats not on
Sorry to hear that. Try and keep a record of times, dates and what was said each time, as it helps when trying to remember events in the future. May help to get a witness to each conversation as well.
Trading Standards may already be aware of this company from other disgruntled customers.
Sab
Trading Standards may already be aware of this company from other disgruntled customers.
Sab
diablo_pete said:
can anyone advise me what's the best course of action?
A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
I know this wont help now but in the future drop me a line as i own a large bodyshop with plenty of experiance in painting top end cars and have seen plenty of sub standered work carried out by so called pros and it drives me mad,hope you get this problem sorted soon.A fairly well known bodyshop in west sussex painted one of my cars, taking 5 times longer (5 months) than estimated. I paid in full despite realising once the car was home that the lights weren't working as they hadn't been connected properly, and £1000 of under body panels and screws etc were missing. I went back to find 3 panels still on the floor the following week but still paid £400 for my other bits.
After just 1500 miles the font was totally wrecked with over 3000 chips. A local paintshop looked at the work and reckoned that the paint was soft.
In the meantime my other car was at the same bodyshop but this time I paind my own guys to strip and fit the car. I still agreed 4K price just to paint and laquer it. Once fitted together and finished the bodyshop stated that the paint hadn't set as they reckon they may have not put enough activator in the paint. So my guys had to strip and fit the car again costing me about 2K in total. The owner said that I'd get that back. Once completed he they refused the full reduction and still charged me about £600 over the top. I agreed this on the basis that there would be no quibble regarding sorting the chips on my first car. He agreed.
Again due to them losing parts I paid my guys to strip and fit the bumpers so all they had to do was paint and laquer them.
Once finished I received a bill at home for £1500 just to paint the detached bumpers. This was never agreed prior to the work being done. I didn't pay as he's agreed that it would be sorted on the basis that he owed me money for missinf parts, plus the 600 plus some sort of warranty for chipping so quickly.
He has just phone me stating that he knows where my first car is (being serviced) and he's on his way there now to "take back his paint". He also threatened to blackmail. He stated that he's not interested in the courts and he'll get his money back from me one way or another?
What should I do now?
Edited by autocraft on Wednesday 21st January 21:20
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