to think maybe I should report this to the police?

[chakra2]

Last week I moved home and I booked a moving company via a website called Shiply. Basically you post details of the job and a bunch of supposedly "vetted" moving professionals make bids. You choose which bid to accept.
I accepted a bid from a guy who had reasonable reviews. The price was confirmed and I paid the deposit.
On the day I noticed the guy seemed bizarre. He was flirting with me horribly and demanding I go on a date with him. His helper was a lovely guy and seemed embarrassed by this behaviour.
During the move the older guy just slammed my sofa and bed frame down on the dirty street. He seemed in an enormous hurry.
Right at the end of the move I paid the agreed amount and decided to add a £20 tip (mainly because the younger guy had been so hard working and helpful). The older guy then went mental.
He said that the fee I'd agreed to was not the fee he felt inclined to charge and he wanted at least twice that amount. It got really ugly. At one point he said he was disappointed in me (???) because he'd found me so attractive (WTF?). Then he said I'm a scammer and that he's going to drive away without accepting the cash I was offering him. I asked why on earth he'd do that and he said "don't you worry -- I'll be back to get my payment using other means."
It was HORRIBLE. He kept gaslighting and lying and asking for more and more money and telling me I should be ashamed of myself. I showed him the email confirming the agreed price, and he just tried to gaslight and say I was seeing things!
Eventually I got him to accept the cash payment but he demanded I make contact to send him more money at a later date.
I reported him to Shiply who did nothing at all besides email me his home address.
The guy is now bombarding me with calls and texts demanding more and more money.
He's a REALLY thuggish type of person. Not sure what to do.
I've now read every single one of his hundreds of reviews on Shiply and several previous clients of his reported feeling afraid for their personal safety and having been extorted out of 100s of £ by him

[Lhastingsmua]

I am also glad the police are taking this seriously. Hopefully they can get his address/details directly from Shiply - eg he may not necessarily live in your area if he drives for a living, so they could liaise with another force if necessary.

[CoraPirbright]

So glad you are being taken seriously by the police. The whole thing sounds horrendously frightening. And thank you for posting here - anyone reading this will now be very wary of using these cowboys.

[Notajogger]

Excellent news. The more publicity you can get about this locally and the more people know about this man, the better!

[Darkbloom]

That's awful, how unprofessional - I hope you are ok OP

[FelixFelicis6]

Re Shipley and the situation generally - it would be a good idea to contact your local MP and highlight the issue more generally. And if you are struggling to get the police to take seriously (though it sounds like they are) an MP can also contact the police on your behalf to chase up.

[Jux]

Well done op. You've done the right thing.

[Rainbowbrite11]

I'm sorry OP.
I've never used them but I've had a look not so long ago, will never do now.

[Evilmorty]

Just to say that my mother had this situation with Checkatrade.

After I spoke to them about why they would recommend a convicted violent offender as a suitable candidate to enter my vulnerable mother’s home, it transpired that their “vigorous” checks do not include a DBS.

[chakra2]

@notajogger They're looking to arrest and question him.

[Notajogger]

What did the police say, OP?

[chakra2]

@wondering7777

I'd say it depends entirely on the person themselves. I hired a man with a van for a small delivery the week before this one via Shiply and the man was lovely. It seems that when the service provider is a crook or criminal Shiply just don't give a shit and you're not protected in any way

[chakra2]

@Henhophouse

Yup, I'm weird as fuck. Thanks for your super insightful contribution to this discussion.

[wondering7777]

I've used Shiply once before for an Ebay purchase and had a good experience. I'm now thinking I had a lucky escape!

Sorry you've been through this OP - personally I think the sooner you ring the police the better.

[Henhophouse]

It’s so weird that you haven’t just got on with reporting him.

[chakra2]

@bobstersmum . That's pretty shit! I feel sorry for your friend

[Lhastingsmua]

You almost sound more annoyed about the deposit refund than about the actual harassment - why haven’t you informed the police yet? Many forces have a live chat service so you may not have to call

[CottonHeadedNinyMuggins]

I know they won't care, but it's proof in your dealings with the police, some back up that you have contacted them should it be taken further and hopefully a push that "we better behave better...." just to get yiu off their back with the police now involved and hopefully a full refund

[IndefatigableMouse]

Call the police.

[bakesalesally]

Please call watch dog as well once you have called the police

[chakra2]

@CottonHeadedNinyMuggins

Shiply aren't going to give a shit about a crime reference number. They are absolute cowboys.
But great idea about raising awareness of this in FB groups. People deserve to be warned!

[bobstersmum]

Bloody hell definitely report! What a loon! My friend had someone agree to deliver some furniture for her that she'd bought on gumtree, when they came the man did very similar. She did do some digging and he lived on the local traveller site, she reported him because he kept harassing her. She was paid a visit by a local police officer who said to her it wasn't worth pursuing. She didn't know if they meant because nothing would be done or because of the possible backlash.

[Lilymossflower]

Also you can tell the police your name information etc etc and tell them you don't want him to know its you because you are scared of him

[Lilymossflower]

Def tell the police !!

If it does escalate and he comes for an angry visit then just call the police again !!!

But really the police will scare him and he won't do shit !

[CottonHeadedNinyMuggins]

Do it as soon as you can and use the crime number in your contact with the place you booked them with.

I'd personally consider and 'annoymous' report to a facebook group locally to get it discussed on there - I bet there's lots who have experience with him and are too scared to talk about it. My little town has thousands of 'dogooders' using a bit of power as facebook admin for a local group who would publish this without putting your name to it.

[CustardySergeant]

When are you going to call them?