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

[pelirocco123]

As an aside ( and as someone who owns a Removal Company ) . You are trusting your goods which are worth thousands of pounds ( the industry recognised normal value id £25k ) , its really not wise to accept the lowest quote from someone who hasn't even been out to see you and discussed your requirements
There are an awful lot of people out there who think house removals are easy , and they wont even have the proper insurance

[SinkGirl]

Any chance you’re in the Bournemouth area?

Very similar experience when I was pregnant except this guy tried to extort a few hundred extra pounds out of me. When I refused to pay he launched everything from the back of the van, at me while threatening to come and smash it over my head, smashing it all in the street and leaving. Multiple onlookers called the police. A few things he didn’t smash because he stole them. It was all going to charity and / or the tip, but still.

They made him write me an apology.

[saraclara]

Yep. I wouldn't trust Shiply for a full house move. But for small scale man with a van stuff when you're on a really tight budget, it seems to make sense - especially if you don't live in the area where the pick up is taking place.

Having said that, I'll be more cautious after this tale of woe.

[endofthelinefinally]

You should contact Rip Off Britain or Watchdog.
Also trading standards for advice.

[123bananas]

Screenshot the reviews about his abusive behaviour on Shiply to show the Police too so they can see this is not a new pattern of behaviour, it helps them build a picture of the risk he presents.

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

I know you shouldn't have to but any burly chaps you can call on to issue a warning shot next time he calls?? If thugremovalguy thinks you have a bigger tame thug at your beck and call he might desist

Chummy but determined "look mate Chakra only asked you to help cos me and the boys (from burly chumsRus) were away, she has given you the money you wanted, now is there anything else you need assistance with?? No, didn't think so....."

...channelling Grant Mitchell sort of thing

Definitely get him reported though.

[dexterslockedintheshedagain]

If he's doing it to others, how would he he know it was you that reported him? You need to report it. Maybe it will stop someone else being treated this way.
And yes, he most definitely is committing a crime. This is harassment.

[pooopypants]

Report him, dirty fucker.


He goes on to be abusive etc and attacks someone, how would you feel?


Definitely report.

[CottonHeadedNinyMuggins]

Rogue Traders - <a class="break-all" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u23123288?ptrt=www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.bbc.co.uk/send/u23123288?ptrt=www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74

Please don't be scared of reporting him to the police. That is literally what they are there for! For catching people like this scumbag!

[chakra2]

This is the latest response from Shiply:

"We are so sorry to hear this.

I would suggest that you block their number to ensure no more messages or phone calls can be received.

We are not involved in the actual transaction between users and service providers. Consequently, we have no control over the quality, safety, or legality of the transactions themselves. Although every care is taken to verify the identity of service providers Shiply does not guarantee, prequalify or validate the claims of drivers related to their license, insurance or certification.

Therefore, we strongly recommend users verify licences, insurance and any other professional certifications that service providers claim to have once the quote is accepted, but prior to pick up.

Please note, we are not a transportation service provider, freight forwarder, broker or intermediary of any sort. The Site acts as a neutral venue through which Transport Providers and Users can meet and enter into negotiations with a view to entering into Transactions. We are in no way involved in the actual Transaction. We have no, and assume no, control over the quality, safety, or legal aspects of the Jobs and/or Transactions that take place through the Site.

www.shiply.com/terms

Kind Regards,


Shiply Support Team
//www.shiply.com"

[chakra2]

@pelirocco123
Try not to make assumptions?
Nowhere did i suggest I just accepted the lowest quote.
And this individual claims to offer £25k insurance.
Let's try not to blame the victim?

[chakra2]

@dexterslockedintheshedagain

Of course he will know it's me as the police will say "we've received . report that you are harassing [insert my name]"

[Cryalot2]

He sounds awful to say the least. Get a court order preventing him from coming near you.

[VenusTiger]

@chakra2 send your OP to BBC Watchdog!

[makingmammaries]

If he behaves like that he may have previous convictions. Report, OP.

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

How are you today @chakra2?

Did you speak to the police? That reply from Shiply is pathetic. Totally uninterested in your safety and dismissive.

Is he still calling you?

[Honeybee85]

OP call them

Even if you don’t report him officially, it might help you to tell them what is going on because

1. he might have done the same thing to other women as well and therefor be known to the police so they can advice you what to do
   
2. I don’t want to scare you but if he shows up at your home and police knows about the situation, they might give your call priority

[McT123]

Although every care is taken to verify the identity of service providers Shiply does not guarantee, prequalify or validate the claims of drivers related to their license, insurance or certification... We have no, and assume no, control over the quality, safety, or legal aspects of the Jobs and/or Transactions that take place through the Site.

And yet from their own website:

Trust & Safety

Delivery companies go through a rigorous multi-stage fraud, background check and verification screening process. Our customer support team is on hand by phone and email to answer any questions.

I would have thought that a verification screening process would involve validating claims...

[chakra2]

@McT123

They are absolutely taking the piss. I also asked them to return the "deposit" I had to pay them to hire this maniac. They've so far agreed to pay me just £4 of it back.

They are a disgusting company it seems.

[chakra2]

Hey @GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I have blocked him on my phone so I don't think it would show whether he's been calling or texting or not still? I'm not sure.
I'm surprised by how much the whole experience scared me. I'm actually just moving on from a relationship with a hardcore abuser/sociopath so I was already quite fragile. This experience has been very triggering. I'm calming down now though, I think. :)

[chakra2]

@Honeybee85

Although I've not yet called the police, I'm going to do so.

[RuffleCrow]

Definitely call the police!

[CustardySergeant]

When are you going to call them?

[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.

[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 !