Please advise - it's all gone SO wrong

dangers

Emailed as requested. Thanks to Southernbelle. Good luck Mike, I have followed this for a while now and really hope that it sorts itself out sooner rather than later.

lisawaters

dangers wrote: »

Emailed as requested. Thanks to Southernbelle. Good luck Mike, I have followed this for a while now and really hope that it sorts itself out sooner rather than later.

Thanks, and to everyone for their good wishes and generosity.

x

savingforarainyday

Hi

I have been a lurker; not posted just read with interest.
I have sent my email and a copy to SB. Hope it does some good.

I good luck:D

MatyMoo

Ooooowwwweee, seems to have been lots of emails sent now, I hope we don't crash his email or pi55 him off!!!!! :eek:

I have everything crossed for the outcome we all want for Mike and The Dolls House :T :j

dancingfairy

Mike - moving house tomorrow (again! sigh - in 4 years I think this is house/flat number 4 - I hate landlords/estate agents) - not looking forward to it. It's horrible having your life in boxes all the time and I don't exactly travel light - anyway - I will try and check in for progress but we haven't exactly got as far as arranging internet or phones or anything for our new house yet so I may be popping in less often - but still with you all in spirit of course.
Good Luck and I hope the ball starts rolling soon with Mr Knight.
df

CarineG

lisawaters wrote: »

That's so kind of you to write, Carine. Welcome aboard.

I've only ever seen myself as someone who got conned, and then saw all the other wheels fell off one by one. I'm not sure what options I had other than to carry on - and that will be the experience of almost everyone on here. But you can have no idea how much the huge waves of support from people here have encouraged me, and also reminded me that I haven't done anything too stupid and that this all stems from dealing with a common thief, and a very convincing one.

There doesn't seem to be any 'grey channel' for pursuing someone unless you want a load more trouble. He is extremely careful to never say or do anything that could be seen as harassing or threatening or violent. There are people I know who could 'help me persuade him to pay' but then they've got your money and you can have an equally difficult job getting it back from them!

My sons have been the only reason I carried on sometimes, and I wish they hadn't been exposed to some of the lies and broken promises Paul Bridle made
to me or seen the effect of visiting the house after two weeks expecting to see real progress, only to find that, again, he hasn't even been there.

I know from another victim she had the same thing and you do reach a point where you just think - he's got to go. Then you remember he has a lot of unearned money which he won't just hand back, so you hope if you stay civil he will at least finish your job. But of course he doesn't. I believe thousands of people every year face this precise situation and what you do about it depends on your circumstances.

I was going down fast into depression and hadn't been able to work for 18 months, and had spent the remainder of my savings (plus a bit more on credit cards) getting the place habitable. By that I mean habitable, like a tent is habitable. Fun even - for two weeks if the weather's nice.

I saw - and can still see - the only thing that would get me free of the situation being to do the courts route. I had no idea that if you win every stage, you still get nothing.

Just as worrying is my discovery along the way that doing something wrong doesn't mean you get into trouble these days. The police don't bother with small crimes except for PR purposes, and the courts are totally inscrutable and archaic. They can deal with the results of a fight outside a nightclub, or a bank robbery, but they're not interested in anything much in between, certainly not if it's as boring as a builder ripping a customer off. Builders and many other traders have known this for years.

It's just a bit of a shock for the rest of us. We will modify our behaviour eventually and refuse to pay deposits for things we order, but that suggests mistrust, and I hope we don't get into a situation where we cannot trust anyone who provides goods and services.

x

I am baffled by the fact that even with a County Court judgement, you still don't get justice and the sentence is not enforced. What is the point of it all then?

And what would happen if he was to start a new business in a different part of the country? How would potential clients be protected?

If so many people get ripped off every year the law needs to be changed or at least sentences enforced. What are we paying our taxes for otherwise?


Although I can understand you are disappointed with regards to your kids not seeing your place finished, they also know that it is not your fault.
This project of yours is just being postponed for a while
It will all be sorted when you appear on DIY SOS and your place will be even better than you had imagined :T

lisawaters

CarineG wrote: »

I am baffled by the fact that even with a County Court judgement, you still don't get justice and the sentence is not enforced. What is the point of it all then?

YOU'RE baffled...! I have no idea what the point is

And what would happen if he was to start a new business in a different part of the country? How would potential clients be protected?

They wouldn't unless he used his real name. Most businesses don't. He doesn't even have to move to carry on doing this.

If so many people get ripped off every year the law needs to be changed or at least sentences enforced. What are we paying our taxes for otherwise?

Can't help you with that either.


Although I can understand you are disappointed with regards to your kids not seeing your place finished, they also know that it is not your fault.
This project of yours is just being postponed for a while
It will all be sorted when you appear on DIY SOS and your place will be even better than you had imagined :T

That would indeed sort it, but thousands of people apply to be on it every month. I don't mind slim odds and the emails people have sent so kindy will increase the chance they'll look at me twice. That's all I can hope for right now. Postponed, I can accept up to a point. I'm just unsure what happens otherwise. It's getting harder to stay positive, but the past three weeks has been unbelievably good and I've moved forward a huge amount.

SouthernBellE*

CarineG wrote: »

I am baffled by the fact that even with a County Court judgement, you still don't get justice and the sentence is not enforced. What is the point of it all then?

And what would happen if he was to start a new business in a different part of the country? How would potential clients be protected?

If so many people get ripped off every year the law needs to be changed or at least sentences enforced. What are we paying our taxes for otherwise?


Although I can understand you are disappointed with regards to your kids not seeing your place finished, they also know that it is not your fault.
This project of yours is just being postponed for a while
It will all be sorted when you appear on DIY SOS and your place will be even better than you had imagined :T

The CCJ issue is the reason why the One Show covered the story but sadly, instead of addressing the flaws in the legal procedures, they just suggested how you can check out a builders history first.

That doesn't work either!

The most frustrating part of all is that despite every success in following the procedures, it has not made the least bit of difference to Mikes circumstances. Can't say much more because this is a public forum! (rip-off builders can even read it! )

Stick with us and keep posting your support to Mike, hopefully success is just around the corner!

HUGE Thank You to everyone e-mailing and for responses to PMs! I've sent to as many of you as I could but please don't be offended if I've missed anyone, It wasn't a deliberate snub, just an oversight! ;)Please still jump in with your support! :T :A:A:beer::A:A

Time for me to draft my e-mail now.............OMG!:eek:

lisawaters

dancingfairy wrote: »

Mike - moving house tomorrow (again! sigh - in 4 years I think this is house/flat number 4 - I hate landlords/estate agents) - not looking forward to it. It's horrible having your life in boxes all the time and I don't exactly travel light - anyway - I will try and check in for progress but we haven't exactly got as far as arranging internet or phones or anything for our new house yet so I may be popping in less often - but still with you all in spirit of course.
Good Luck and I hope the ball starts rolling soon with Mr Knight.
df

I know we all hope the move goes well and you are happy in your new gaff. Take your laptop to McDonald's or Starbucks or wherever and use their free internet to catch up and send your post!

x

SouthernBellE*

Just seen your post Mike. Told you I was sloooooowwwww!