Driving instructor vanished with £750

Bossypants

In autumn last year I was taking driving lessons with an independent instructor who had been recommended to me by a local driving school (they were fully booked so gave me his name and number). Things started out well and he was an excellent instructor, but over time it became clear that his personal life was in shambles, he was cancelling more and more often and visibly not well when I did see him. In early December, I got a text from him saying that due to ill health, he was cancelling all lessons and his students would receive a refund in the coming weeks, after some funds he was waiting on had come in. I texted him on 6 January to ask when we could expect payment, and he said that 'the bank should be sorting it next week'. Didn't get anything then, but on 15 January he messaged me asking for my sort code and account number, so I assumed something was happening. I responded the same day, but since then I have heard nothing. I messaged him yesterday morning, but have had no response (he's usually pretty prompt). I've just now messaged him again, but frankly I am losing hope that I am ever going to see this money again, at least not without a fight.

So, what do I do now? All I have is his name, mobile phone number and bank account details, no address. I know that he has moved within the last four months, so I am doubtful that the school which recommended him to me or even the DVSA register would have his up to date details. I know that he's still in town, because I saw him from the bus on Saturday (couldn't get off to speak to him, don't know what I would have said anyway).

I've never been in this sort of situation before, I don't even know where to begin. I was thinking letter before action/small claims, but not having an address seems to be a problem. Going to the police seems somewhat extreme, all things considered. Help, anyone, please?

weeowens

Could you find him via here: https://www.192.com/


Then follow the steps here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/taking-legal-action/small-claims/making-a-small-claim/


Hopefully he has the cash to pay as the CCJ will be harder to enforce if he does not have cash.

Bossypants

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately the last address for him is from 2016, and I know for a fact that he has moved since then.

I will do a bit more digging, but if I can't find his address, is it worth getting one of those tracing companies involved? I know he did have funds in December, though who knows what might have happened since then.

waamo

Have you tried ringing him rather than texting?

trailingspouse

Granted you know he's not well, could he be quite seriously poorly? Or worse? Sounds melodramatic, but...


Also, a letter written to his last known address may reach him either through the Mail Redirection Service, or the new owner passing it on - would be worth a try.

hollie.weimeraner

Is he on FB?

Personally if he had £750 of my money I'd text him and suggest he either pays me the money back or start posting messages on FB about the issue (and anywhere else I could).

Or why not get a friend to arrange a lesson with him and meet him when he turns up?

If that failed then I'd spend time finding out where he lived and then off to small claims court.

You could also report him to DVSA

Ganga

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Is he on FB?

Personally if he had £750 of my money I'd text him and suggest he either pays me the money back or start posting messages on FB about the issue (and anywhere else I could).

Or why not get a friend to arrange a lesson with him and meet him when he turns up?

If that failed then I'd spend time finding out where he lived and then off to small claims court.

You could also report him to DVSA

It says in the original post that the DI had stopped taking customers/cancelled all lessons.

Mercdriver

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

Is he on FB?

Personally if he had £750 of my money I'd text him and suggest he either pays me the money back or start posting messages on FB about the issue (and anywhere else I could).

Or why not get a friend to arrange a lesson with him and meet him when he turns up?

If that failed then I'd spend time finding out where he lived and then off to small claims court.

You could also report him to DVSA

Yeah, blacken someone's name when they could be in a coma or worse.

OP if you have his name see if DVSA has the latest address for him. It's worth a try. Also the school that couldn't take you might actually be a personal friend of his.