Spendaholic needs help and advice

Stilojon

Hi All.

Some of you may know me as the guy originally from Croydon who spent £54k on cars in the last 2 years.

Anyway I need some help BIG TIME!!!

As some of you will remember I had a bought a new Fiat Stilo, kept it for a year and then to took it to a well known garage in West Molsley for some work, which was going to cost a lot of money but I was prepared.

Anyway 2 1/2 years later the car is still there and it now looks like this:




You cant see from these pics, but the car is written off as the rear arches have been cut up so bad by the company that the structure damage is to much.

Anyway to date I have been forced to pay £10,000 to the company for this work , which has included a £1000 deposit and the rest for labour up front and materials, which obiously from the pictures has gone into the guys back pocket and done nothing about it. This figure has been made up from a number of deposits I have either put in his account or given him cash, all of which I have a long recipt for.

The problem is now that I have had enough, I recently asked him to put the car back to its original state and give me my money back, i never heard from him, until 2 months later someone from his company called me saying sorry for the delay, we will begin to put the car back together and do this with the money you have given us to date, which will mean we owe you nothing!!! Im like your having a laugh, I have given you £10k to destory and rebuild my car! I think not!!!!!

I recently went to seek help from a solicitor who has now gone quiet on me and I am therefore looking for some more help.

I believe we have a strong litigation case on our hands here as my previous solicitor told me I would be able to get all my money back plus money back for the car as it was when it went back into the garage.

To be honest I am looking for two things.

Yes the money would be nice, but I also want to make people aware to the crimes this guy has caused and the pain and headache he has also caused me over the last 18 months.

I am at my whits end, and I now no longer no what to do, as my parents are not willing to help or get involved.


So if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it!

misspoppy

I think you need to speak to trading standards and contact any trade bodies that this person claims to be a member of. Firstly call though should be to trading standards.

Stilojon

Thanks poppy, I will be looking to do this but I need help to get my money back first before shutting him down!

smudgemanc26

I was thinking trading standards and watchdog - see if this will force him to do something either fix your car or give you your money back or both!

Stilojon

Do you not think legal action is the answer.

To be honest I dont think Watchdog will be the answer, they are only a well known garage in the modified car world, where kids spend thousands on customizing their cars.

I could easily ruin his reputation by posting on a large number of car forums but I dont want to get into slander just yet!

smudgemanc26

But doesnt watchdog just try to resolve the problem rather than slandering businesses or people - i thought they gave the other party a chance to have their say and the other party has to be agreement to be on the show

I dont think slander is the answer but if you contacted trading standards maybe it would like you say prevent other "kids spending thousands of pounds on their cars" and being ripped off.

Stilojon

How funny.

My solicitor has just called me to say he is sending a letter this week to see what happens, but has not confirmed that he will be taking on the case as yet.

So will have to see what happens from this first.

nomoneytoday

I would agree to them putting it back to standard and then sell the car.
You could then sue the garage for the £10k, although whether they have the cash to pay it back is another issue...

Stilojon

Yeah he said he would put it back to standard but he would also do it with the £10k that I have given me therefore he will not give my money back.

The problem is he is a limited company and he could easuily shut up shop and open under a new name tomorrow which worries me. but he has done this before and his mum is not a co-director with him and she is also the secretary, so I think this will be a bit more of a problem for them, especially as she is a GP

Conor_3

I take it you've learned your lesson then or maybe not if your parents have washed their hands?

Solicitors...they'll tell you what you want to hear in order to lay their hands on your money. The worst thing you can do is say "This car I spent £54k on in the last two years" because they'll mentally rub their hands with glee and think "PAYDAY".

You mod boys eh? At least us Old Skool lads go for substance over flash. I see quite a few bodyshops run by people not much older than their 17-21 year old punters with stacks of cars outside in various states of dismantlement because they can bolt on a bit of plastic and wag a paintgun at it and somehow this gives them a reputation amongst the Max Moron brigade as being good.

Next time, take it to a place with old blokes in. If they've a beard and are called Ken, even better. Bearded old blokes called Ken can do wonders with cars. In fact bearded old blokes called Ken seem to be able to do wonders with anything mechanical.

Stilojon

Conor wrote: »

I take it you've learned your lesson then or maybe not if your parents have washed their hands?

Solicitors...they'll tell you what you want to hear in order to lay their hands on your money. The worst thing you can do is say "This car I spent £54k on in the last two years" because they'll mentally rub their hands with glee and think "PAYDAY".

You mod boys eh? At least us Old Skool lads go for substance over flash. I see quite a few bodyshops run by people not much older than their 17-21 year old punters with stacks of cars outside in various states of dismantlement because they can bolt on a bit of plastic and wag a paintgun at it and somehow this gives them a reputation amongst the Max Moron brigade as being good.

Next time, take it to a place with old blokes in. If they've a beard and are called Ken, even better. Bearded old blokes called Ken can do wonders with cars. In fact bearded old blokes called Ken seem to be able to do wonders with anything mechanical.

WOW THANKS FOR THE MOST AMAZING ADVICE!!!