Help required on stolen hay

Andrea2528

Olias, we're not sure where the hay was taken to. We went up to the property where we thought it would be but the gates were locked and there was no way of finding out. They could have taken it somewhere else in any case. My partner is really down about the whole thing.

Mistral001

I think you are second guessing a lot here. You need to stay calm. If the landowner is operating a sting where he is has taken these bails of hay and denying that there was any verbal contract, he will be lieing and you can take them to court and let him repeat the lie in court.

If he is claiming that the hay has been stollen, then let him report it to the police and take the consequences.

Maybe the best thing is just to do nothing for now. Do not even contact the landowner. Certainly do not let your partner speak to the landowner without a witness being present. If the landowner contacts you put the phone down or say that you are presenting seeking legal advice on the matter. Do not let him have any information that would help him wriggle out of this.

PS. It might mean a sleepless night, but perhaps it will be worth it in the end. See a solicitor in the morning. Might even be worth while to go to a solicitor in another town, just to be on the safe side.

john539

Andrea2528 wrote: »

They say that the verbal agreement was legally binding. However, he didn't get the agreement in writing and so he isn't sure now what can be done about it.

He is so disappointed and he's still all the work to do on his own field and he is really feeling let down and depressed about it.

Is there anything that can be done?

Why didn't you get a written agreement ?

It would 2 deconds to draw up quick note to make things clear.

john539

Andrea2528 wrote: »

This person that he did the work for has got a reputation for taking advantage of people. So we don't know what to do about it. My partner should have had the contract in writing rather than as a word of mouth. However, this person convinced him that he was to be trusted.

You live & learn.

Why did you not trust your instincts & what you had heard about farmer ?

CraftyHen

Wow been there done that, with worse concequences, get everything in writing, trust no one. Sadly not everyone is decent and telling the truth like the rest of us.

getmore4less

Impossible to trace and easy to sell.

Any way of finding out who migh have taken it

Any CCTV on the roads nearby

I guess next year there might be a very hot day and unexpectedly the field catches fire.

Andrea2528

If it was me, I would have asked for a written agreement. However, my partner is the one that is involved in this case and I told him that he should have asked for it in writing.

Andrea2528

My partner had spent hours maintaining the field of docks and thistles as well as keeping the hedges nice and trim. He used his own fertiliser on top of everything else that goes into producing good quality hay. The field owner lives in a big hall and there is no way to access the building as the gates are locked and they have a cctv camera at the front of the entrance.

dickydonkin

maninthestreet wrote: »

OP - as your partner has worked all year tending this hay, it must surely be the last straw if it's been stolen.

Indeed - I would grass the field owner up!

Mistral001

Andrea2528 wrote: »

If it was me, I would have asked for a written agreement. However, my partner is the one that is involved in this case and I told him that he should have asked for it in writing.

.

As I have posted before a verbal agreement is just as valid in law as a written one. Boyfriend has done nothing wrong or has not been negligent in my view If the landowner has lied he is the one in the wrong. See a solicitor, if you do not believe me.