Plumber fraud - seeking help

[denso13]

True, it's best to redact personal info before posting.

That's the only point I'm trying to make. Well, that and "innocent until proven guilty".

There is legislation in place to stop organisations, including websites, from holding personally identifiable information whether publicly available or not. This may have been why rule 13 was introduced here;

13) NEVER post any other member's personal details or information which may be used for identification.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have said it sounds plausible. Good advice has been given but this could have been done without all of the personal information being given of someone who probably doesn't know it is even being discussed.

I do not think the story hangs together completely.

No genuine story ever hangs completely together, everyone embellishes a little, that is human nature. I would be more suspicious of a story which was 100% straight off the blocks, as would happen with someone with a grudge.

 

[denso13]

his story hangs together completely

No genuine story ever hangs completely together

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I am sure you understood what I meant.

 

[DIYnot]

Personal details removed.

 

[ianmcd]

I am in no way suggesting it is the case here, but what a way to get your closest competition a bad name free of charge if you wanted, not suggesting that is the case, but I know some companies that would do this

 

[johnny2007]

Op, if you want a better chance of recovering something, write the same letter to the director of the ltd company.
Then, name him/her as co-defendant in the county court claim.
At least they will be forced to act and spend some money to get their name cleared of any claim and let the ltd company take the ccj.
You could even be lucky that they are a bit up in it to their neck, hive you the money back and go to the next victim.
Won't cost anything and might get a result if not only to make them spend some money.

 

[MD SHAH]

The company in question has been put through the mill with a lot of detail posted publicly including a mobile phone number and what seems like a home address. And you "think" you believe the OP?

Tradesman’s Number given in RatedPeople was/is not working. I had been in touch with other number.

By the way, why shud I take so much pain and make up story

 

[MD SHAH]

Whilst having sympathy for the OP I must add this cautionary note.

The OP may go down the route of claiming via the County Court system, but even before you-know-what-19 came along they were starved of funds, slow, and IMO incompetant at times. The OP may get a CCJ against the company, but the Co. may still not pay. If the Co. is really just a front for a con then it's likely the Co. will be wound-up with no assets - result: no money for the OP.
Additionally, if the debt can be awarded against the individual (or one of the directors) then there are multiple ways the transgressor can avoid the debt, whether by ignoring it or by bankruptcy (again, having made sure all his/her assets are safely out of your reach). Result: even less money for the OP

To the Court system you will have successfully recovered your money (ie they record it as a win), but you are still five grand down plus court fees.
Unfortunately that is today's reality, though I hope to be proven wrong.

what is CCJ? How can I do it?

 

[MD SHAH]

Op, if you want a better chance of recovering something, write the same letter to the director of the ltd company.
Then, name him/her as co-defendant in the county court claim.
At least they will be forced to act and spend some money to get their name cleared of any claim and let the ltd company take the ccj.
You could even be lucky that they are a bit up in it to their neck, hive you the money back and go to the next victim.
Won't cost anything and might get a result if not only to make them spend some money.

can I write the same letter addressed to the director? But it’s already more than 14 days, will it be still valid? Can I write something like -
“This to inform you that I sent 14 days notice letter (Enclosed a copy) to cancel contract and refund my money to your company. As a director of the company, I’m giving you the same notice”?

pls advise

 

[MD SHAH]

Dear All,

after number of emails, RatedPeople said they have sent note to the tradesman but no reply and they have removed the tradesman from their site. I checked and clicked To see the company details but it says “invalid link”.

pls see attached. How can I get help from Citizen’s advice as they suggested? Just call and they will guide?

 

[MD SHAH]

Whoever doubt on me, I welcome you to visit my place and show what was done n how things r left scattered because of their two half-days work. Already I had attached payment screen shots. I live in Heathrow area. I invite you for a coffee. I don’t mind sharing my address & phone number

 

[muggles]

A CCJ is a County Court Judgment. It's the next step if they don't respond to your refund request - you take them to court and present your case before a judge.

Don't worry about sending another letter yet, that'll confuse the issue. You've sent your original letter to the Director's home and you know it's been received, so that's enough.

Citizens Advice won't tell you any more than you've been told here, and that's assuming you get someone who knows what they're talking about. The first time I went through this process myself, they advised me incorrectly

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Don't think its been 14 days since you sent the letters, if it has then apologies.

Anyway, while you're waiting, go to the .gov website here https://www.gov.uk/make-money-claim
And start putting your case together. Then come day 14 with no response all you have to do is submit it.

 

[johnny2007]

can I write the same letter addressed to the director? But it’s already more than 14 days, will it be still valid? Can I write something like -
“This to inform you that I sent 14 days notice letter (Enclosed a copy) to cancel contract and refund my money to your company. As a director of the company, I’m giving you the same notice”?

pls advise

Don't need to.
He or she is the company director and must know what's going on with their company.
If someone is suing the company and they want to claim that the director was not informed, that's their own internal communication problem.
Anyhow, we are talking about a one man band here, not multinational corporation.
Don't send any more letters.
At deadline start a money claim online and as co-defendants name the limited company and the director.
That should give them the shakes.
You can also check if they own their house by paying £4 to the land registry.
If they do, there would be a slight better chance to recover something, as long as they fall for the director named as co-defendant.
BTW, I note that you are in the Heathrow area, another coincidence.
I asked before because this scam looked identical to that I had already heard about, including names.
Could be that they changed characters but operation is still the same.
Keep us posted.