A local "highly recommended" trader may have ripped me off.

Aylesbury_Duck

Yes.  You've now got evidence no order was placed.

Aylesbury_Duck

RefluentBeans said:

AdamPD said:

Thank you both again, I won't go the facebook route then.

Regarding the delivery times, yea I was trying to find the section about lead times, it's in the FAQ where it states:

Stock items are normally dispatched within 5 working days.

None stock custom orders including fire exits are normally dispatched within 4 to 5 weeks

But I'm not sure if it's a non stock item or not.

I did customize the door as I suspect he would have to and it doesn't let you choose a delivery date, so hard to say.

But yea I will ask for proof of the order, I Was thinking about that last night.

‘sorry mate - my old smashed phone had the emails on’ sort of response

Well, that was good enough for the current and previous Prime Ministers I suppose.

Edited to add:  Oh, I forgot Truss.  Easily done.

AdamPD

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Yes.  You've now got evidence no order was placed.

Thank you. I was so hoping they'd confirm he ordered it.
Really disappointing.
Can someone possibly recommend a template for this particular situation? Happy to pay a fair fee if someone could customise one for me. I Want to get it right the first time.

RefluentBeans

AdamPD said:

As I suspected - "Neither postcode brings any order up on our system,"

Any advice on what to do now? Just skip ahead and send the letter?

Then that certainly changes things - see if he gets back to you today with the order number (it may be he has a credit account with them already or something and they may hold separate B2B and B2C databases - but this is very much giving the benefit of doubt). 

If he doesn’t get back to you by Monday I would send the formal cancellation request on the basis he’s not provided proof he’s ordered, and the service is now 2 months past original estimate completion date, with no confirmation of the date he’s installing the door, say you want the money back within 7 days.

Once that’s done, it clears the way for you to send the LBA and give a further 7/14 days to repay the money. Remind him that as soon as you file, additional costs (like filing fees) may be added. 

I think it looks better if you formally cancel the contract first then you can send the LBA as you’ve followed the protocol. Sending a LBA before you’ve formally cancelled can make it hard to show you’ve definitely cancelled, and why you’re claiming money, and stops him hastily placing an order to try and show the work is in progress. 

AdamPD

Is it considered ok to send the formal cancellation request via facebook messenger and/or text? (We originally communicated via FB Messenger).
Or should it be done by letter?

Aylesbury_Duck

AdamPD said:

Is it considered ok to send the formal cancellation request via facebook messenger and/or text? (We originally communicated via FB Messenger).
Or should it be done by letter?

I'd do it by letter.  No need for recorded delivery, just send it from a post office counter and ask for proof of postage (free).  Legally, it's deemed to have been delivered.  That way you have a proper record.

Google LBA template.  You'll find lots of examples, you don't need an expert to write it for you.

AdamPD

Thank you all, you've been amazing.
Would a letter like this suffice? I just want to make sure I'm getting it right....(Sorry for the huge gaps, it doesn't want to paste correctly)

MY NAME/ADDRESS

HIS BUSINESS NAME/ADDRESS

5 January 2024

Dear HIS PERSONAL NAME,

Re: The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013

 

On 2 November 2023 I ordered the following: 

Supply and installation of a Steel Security Door with Multi-Point Locking System (Single - Standard Duty) for an outside garage.

A payment of £600 (Reference: xxx) was sent to your business bank account on the 3rd of November 2023.

The delivery and installation of the security door was supposed to have taken place on the 13th of November 2023.

Despite numerous requests for updates, the work has still not been started.

A request for proof of the door being ordered has not been provided.

As the service is now 2 months past the original estimated completion date with no  confirmation of the date the door is to be installed, under the above regulations, I would like to cancel the order and ask you to provide a full refund of £600 within 7 days.

A refund can be issued to my bank account, the details of which are below:

Bank – xxxx

Account name – xxxx

Account number – xxxx

Sort Code – xxxx

 

Yours faithfully,

my name

ArbitraryRandom

Looks good to me  

All I might add is the actual date the payment is due by 7 days (give 2 days for the letter to be delivered, so 9 days from when you get proof of posting) 

eskbanker

RefluentBeans said:

Personally, commenting publicly calling him out when he’s got all your money is a sure fire way to make sure he drags his feet and becomes hostile towards you. Ultimately, you’ll be able to get the money back from SCC, but if you can avoid the court entirely it’s better, quicker and less stressful.

Just to be clear when setting expectations, OP may get a court judgment against the trader but that certainly isn't the same thing as actually getting the money back from him, as many previous threads have shown!

AdamPD

Thank you all, again.
Amended letter will be sent today
I called Barclays yesterday, I wasn't sure what to expect given that it was a bank transfer, but they were helpful
They've opened a scam complaint, I had to detail every step and precaution I took, it was like being interrogated, but they have to be thorough
They will open a case with his bank and try and get the money back
I should get an update on that within 15 days, so fingers crossed.