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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just been scammed , feel sick

80 replies

billysboy · 15/11/2019 17:57

I feel sick , I am fitting a new kitchen for a client and they have asked for a stone worktop

A quick google search and I came up with a company that is also a member of a trade association so called them and they responded well and they came along and took templates

seemed pleasant enough and I later paid the £1k deposit into their account

I have since been given a proper runaround with no calls being returned , broken promises etc etc

A more thorough internet search of the director was not good with two other people coming up with the same experience

He is a ltd company aibu to send a letter of intent after just such a short time and ask for my deposit back ?

OP posts:
ThatsMeInTheSpotlight · 15/11/2019 21:29

Contact the trade organisation too. If the company is a member then the organisation can put pressure on them too.

MrFartPants · 15/11/2019 21:34

Can people stop calling it a scam, it's really nothing of the sort.

It's a legitimate business acting in bad faith, nothing more. Bank aren't going to be interested really. You paid money in to the correct business account, it's between you and the business now. Small claims court might be your best option. It's relatively cheap and shows intent. It's also hassle for the business owner even if you don't get any money out of them.

spongedog · 15/11/2019 21:45

My experience of "guild of master craftsman", although many years ago was not good. They are not a proper trades body. I am interested to see the comment from a pp about them being a paid for advertising site.

So if your supplier only has that as a trades body then yes I would be wary.

m00rfarm · 15/11/2019 22:02

Guild of master craftsman means nothing - you just pay and you are a member.

Original poster
billysboy · 16/11/2019 17:31

So I called the director today who assured me that they were a couple of days behind and the worktops would be with me on Tuesday
I pointed out his lack of contact not replying to text or returning calls just said he was snowed under
I will be calling Guild on Monday first thing and getting together a plan B so that client can use kitchen whilst getting this sorted
If he doesnt show on Tuesday the shit will hit the fan big style for him

OP posts:
Chickenpoxnamechange · 16/11/2019 20:37

Was it Vince someone or other? Well known conman

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 16/11/2019 20:46

Not much help but NEVER pay by bank transfer, it is as good as giving cash. Always pay by credit card. If any business insists on bank transfer walk away.

Letthemysterybe · 16/11/2019 20:51

Not helpful MaybeitsMaybelline. Your best friend has 30 years experience so
I guess he has probably learned from similar mistakes he made 20+ years ago.

Original poster
billysboy · 17/11/2019 10:16

Its very easy to be wise after the event , I will post further details up on Tuesday but keeping my powder dry at the moment

OP posts:
NoFucksImAQueen · 19/11/2019 18:37

Did they show up today op?

Original poster
billysboy · 24/11/2019 15:37

So they didnt show up on the Tuesday but after much haranging and persistent phone calls and texts , they showed up on Wednesday , not the director but two other lads who seemed pleasant enough and got on and fitted the worktops
At this point I would have been grateful for anything

Having finished they said their director Jamie Winters would give me a call later and ask me to settle up and they left
20 minutes later I got a call from him asking "wheres me money ? "
I told him that they hadnt asked for it and explained I did have cash on me or I could transfer , he sent them back round to get the cash

Never again , there was no point in arguing the toss about the delays caused and subsequential cost incurred of the direct delays caused by him

It would also seem that his phone worked fine when he wanted to get your money

His website is still up and endorsed by the Guild of Master craftsmen and a note about helping diy sos and a photo of him with the team

I will be writing to the Guild who have sent me the appropriate forms and also leaving a truthful review on google about his abysmal service and communication

OP posts:
Guavaf1sh · 24/11/2019 16:03

What is the name of the company?

Original poster
billysboy · 24/11/2019 16:29

sawn stone ltd

OP posts:
Aridane · 24/11/2019 16:39

Was this your review?

Just been scammed , feel sick
Aridane · 24/11/2019 16:45

I guess you can leave a review OMF the Master Craftsmen website

Just been scammed , feel sick
Original poster
billysboy · 24/11/2019 17:05

No i have not posted review yet

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/11/2019 17:19

Interestingly there were only two reviews for Sawn Stone on Trust Pilot, the company reported them both and no reviews seem to exist elsewhere

Also interesting that they started in November 2017 but were accepted by the Guild in spring 2019 - I thought they had to be trading for 2 years before admittance?

Original poster
billysboy · 24/11/2019 17:25

I just dont want anyone else to have this experience , we got the product in the end, but was delayed which cost money as well as the time, not communicating once the deposit was paid broken promises about delivery time despite the tight turnaround time pointed out at the onset

Massive inconvenience and caused a whole lot of grief

OP posts:
Prevegen4U · 24/11/2019 17:52

OP When I first read your OP I was also getting ripped off, only unlike you they won.

I'm having a building built. Not even halfway through I asked for an upgrade on something yet to be done and the contractor/builder told me it would be $2,500 extra which I quickly agreed to, even though it was a bit steep.

When your OP was first on here my contractor told me he would email the invoice for the extra $. I was expecting it to be $2,500 instead it was $8,500!

I emailed him back (to keep everything in writing) and questioned it and he told me the increased cost was for 'dirt work' in the foundation. This was all supposed to be covered in the original bid which my husband and son agreed to haul in the dirt and they did what they were supposed to. They dumped it the dirt (with dump trucks) into the foundation so a concrete floor could be poured on top.

My husband and son did their part, which took many days of hauling in dirt, many big truck loads, but the contractor, when questioned, started going on about "I don't work for free" which made me suspect some sort of MH issues. I have been told he has screamed and raved at other clients when they questioned anything. I paid up because I wanted the building completed.

I think the way I quickly agreed to the $2,500 upgrade and didn't haggle or complain made him think I was Miss Moneybags, but now with the extra $6,000 he demanded I've over my building budget and won't be able to afford some inside work to be completed.

This contractor has built two other buildings for my husband and son's business, and also two additions, and didn't cheat them - just yelled a lot as he does with everyone. My husband and son agree he has ripped me off as they did all the 'dirt work' as they were supposed to.

I believe he took advantage of me because I'm a woman who he could bully and bullshit. But my husband and son both agreed they would have paid up as well instead of taking him to court and having a not even half finished building.

The greedy man has lost all future business with us and I'm watching him like a hawk now. It's a very small community in the middle of nowhere and I know he's desperate for work. I will not be recommending him and will not let him take and publish photos of the finished building as he likes to do. I am so, so angry at losing that $6,000.

Aridane · 24/11/2019 18:18

@Puzzledandpissedoff

And also curious that since incorporation the money was going to be struck off the Register of Companies (ie dissolved) - though I suspect that was for failure to file accounts

Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/11/2019 19:11

You're right, Aridane ... in fact the whole thing sounds like someone planning a business on the back of a fag packet Hmm

Aridane · 24/11/2019 19:40

('money' was supposed to say 'company')

All fishy anyway

AlexBird · 22/06/2022 16:56

SAWN STONE - JAMIE WINTER :( Did anybody find an actual address where Ballifs can seize property? We have a County Court Judgment against Sawn Stone but only a small residential address - Nothing to seize when the Ballifs went in. Will definitely take criminal action against him but prefer our CASH.
POSTED TO TRUST PILOT:
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
In the final analysis FRAUD
In the final analysis - Criminals. Obtaining money under false pretenses. Ignore County Court Judgements. This Company is not some small-scale scam but a fraud. Months of promises after paying 50% deposit - all unfilled. Ignore calls and text messages. Plenty of addresses but no people. Shop and Factory - they publish photos but refuse to give addresses. I am sure they complete some jobs but.... Strongly advise don't take the risk - NEVER PAY BY BANK TRANSFER - RECORD EVERY CONVERSATION.

crosstalk · 28/06/2022 20:42

This is a ghost thread from 2019