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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I can't get my kitten....

271 replies

sugarpops · 10/11/2023 13:13

I have recently adopted a second kitten from a rescue. This is the second kitten I have adopted through them. I have also helped to rescue a cat through the same rescue. Everything seems above board and the lady is nice enough. Never assumed anything dodgy.

When I adopted my first kitten, I told her how I would think about getting another one. It just depended on financial things and if I could afford it.

A few weeks later (3 weeks ago now) she messaged me to say she has a little kitten who needed a home and has a very similar personality to my first kitten I adopted. She said they would be a perfect match and would I be interested. She sent me some photos and I agreed.

I then paid the adoption fee and a fee for neutering. She says if I pay for her neutering then she can get it done through her rescue (she is also a veterinary nurse) and it is cheaper.

She told me the kitten would be ready at the end of the week - 2 weeks ago. We were supposed to collect him 2 weeks ago today.

When I text her to arrange a time, she told me she was drunk at a party and would arrange text me the next day. She didn’t.

A couple more days passed by and I messaged her again. She didn’t reply for 2 days and told me her grandad had passed away. I replied with I was sorry to hear that, hope she was ok. She didn’t reply and I left it for a few days.

I text her again and to say I hope she was ok, and was there any update on when we could collect him. She told me she would drop him off this last week at some point. She hasn’t.

I have then text her again and I am being completely ignored.

I understand she may be having a tough time. But aibu to expect that I should still be able to collect the kitten? It would only take 5 minutes (she knows me well enough) and it would also be one less animal for her to look after.

I am getting concerned. Before she told me about her grandad, I was also trying to ask about the kitten I have got who is due her vaccinations and spay (which stupidly I have paid her for) and I’m getting absolutely no where with that either.

All in all she has about £250 of my money for 2 kittens, vaccinations and neutering and I am getting no where with any of it.

I thought I would text her again on Monday and ask one last time. If I get no response, I’ll have to take it further.

Who would I even speak to regarding this?

Or - am I just being completely unreasonable here? I have 3 dc at home who are asking when our new kitten is coming and I’m at a loss of what to tell them! My gut is he isn’t coming at all .

OP posts:
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6
TheHawkisHowling · 19/11/2023 16:38

sugarpops · 19/11/2023 15:59

It would cost me £30 to go to a small claims court. There was a pp who said she would also be responsible for the court costs if I win my case....which I don't see why I wouldn't.

But yes I will contact my bank in the morning too.

I'll happily do that and the small claims court. And contact the vets again. The good rescue are doing their side for me.

The only thing I'm reluctant to do is go to the police but only because im dealing with them already.

I genuinely think your bank is the best bet. Even a court can't force this woman to actually pay you. A bank can literally pull money out of her account.

CheshireCat1 · 19/11/2023 16:59

As far as I’m aware a cat is classed as property in UK law. You’ve got the adoption certificate, therefore it’s your cat, she needs to give it to you. Theft Act 1968, see Cats Protection - Cats and the law.

sugarpops · 19/11/2023 17:20

CheshireCat1 · 19/11/2023 16:59

As far as I’m aware a cat is classed as property in UK law. You’ve got the adoption certificate, therefore it’s your cat, she needs to give it to you. Theft Act 1968, see Cats Protection - Cats and the law.

I'll look into it thank you.

Tomorrow I'm definitely going to be taking it further.

OP posts:
Itsnotchristmasyet · 19/11/2023 20:17

I would be putting it on her Facebook wall.

Say you’ve waited x weeks for the kitten.
You’ve paid X amount.
You’ve asked for a refund and you’ve still not received it.
If you don’t get the money by X date, then you’ll have no choice but to take it further.

sugarpops · 19/11/2023 21:12

Itsnotchristmasyet · 19/11/2023 20:17

I would be putting it on her Facebook wall.

Say you’ve waited x weeks for the kitten.
You’ve paid X amount.
You’ve asked for a refund and you’ve still not received it.
If you don’t get the money by X date, then you’ll have no choice but to take it further.

She's still not text back and she's read the message. Will be texting her first thing in the morning. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight I'm so angry!

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 20/11/2023 00:40

sugarpops · 19/11/2023 21:12

She's still not text back and she's read the message. Will be texting her first thing in the morning. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight I'm so angry!

The more she ignores you the worse it looks for her, @sugarpops
It is infuriating to be dicked about, but hopefully the bank will be able to refund your money.
This woman is a con artist - she needs exposing for this fake animal rescue she is running.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 07:18

@oakleaffy as soon as the school run is done, I'm straight on the phone to the bank. I think that's the first step.

Not sure whether I should send her another text or leave it. I sent it at 12pm yesterday and the day before that was around 7pm. No response from that one either

OP posts:
sugarpops · 20/11/2023 09:12

The bank won't do anything as it's a civil matter 😩

OP posts:
EsmeSusanOgg · 20/11/2023 09:24

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 09:12

The bank won't do anything as it's a civil matter 😩

You can ask for them to look at this under the CRM code as an authorised payment push scam/ bank transfer scam. I'd call the fraud line again and ask to report it as a scam.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 09:30

@EsmeSusanOgg thank you, I'll do that. Just on the phone to citizens advice at the moment

OP posts:
EsmeSusanOgg · 20/11/2023 09:34

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 09:30

@EsmeSusanOgg thank you, I'll do that. Just on the phone to citizens advice at the moment

Might be worth filling in an Action Fraud report online too.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 09:36

Citizens advice we're actually really helpful. I'm going to send her one more text and then just follow all their advice.

I'll try the bank again too.

OP posts:
sugarpops · 20/11/2023 11:09

She is a scammer! The rescue has contacted me - there are Facebook pages and instagram pages about her. I had no idea! I've seen pages.

I feel such an idiot.

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 20/11/2023 11:18

Don't feel like an idiot because these scammers are very shrewd. I know her 'rescue' isn't directly connected to her veterinary practice but I'd be making life very difficult for her once you have things in place to try to recoup your money. What an awful person she is Flowers

thousandwhispers · 20/11/2023 11:21

Don't feel like an idiot. Do you think the kitten ever existed?

She has no business working in a vets. Contact whoever runs the vets and give them all the info.

The RSPCA need to go to her house asap as animals may be being kept in dire conditions.

MermaidEyes · 20/11/2023 12:16

She has no business working in a vets. Contact whoever runs the vets and give them all the info.

I agree with this just in case she's using them to advertise her 'business'. They won't be too pleased I'm sure.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 12:27

Honestly the good rescue I spoke to on the phone this morning gave me so much information. She knew who it was before I even told her.

I was on the phone for 1.5 hours to them. She's an absolutely horrendous woman. I had no idea. I'm absolutely drained from it all.

I've started writing an email to the vets but I'm having a break as my head is frazzled.

I've sent the kitten scammer another form text saying I need all of the money in my bank by tomorrow night or I will be taking her to small claims.

The good rescue told me to contact the police just to make them aware. No doubt others have called them before.

The rspca won't do anything unfortunately.

There is also the charity commissions helpline too but it's all taking up so much time.

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 20/11/2023 12:38

Is she actually a registered charity - I have found the charities commission to be utterly useless unfortunately :(

I am aware of a similar set up, but dogs, based in Portugal and registered as a charity in the UK. Endless requests for money for the 40 - 50+ animals they have, but never any transparency, few attempts to rehome, or reduce numbers despite claiming (variously) to be bin diving for food, down to the last meal, having 50p left in the bank...

Accounts outstanding on their charity listing, I am aware that they're breaking local laws regarding the running of a rescue/sanctuary/keeping that many animals, they follow zero quarantine or hygiene protocols and are absolutely bullying a very small group of elderly/vulnerable people for cash every week.

CC - not our problem.

Good luck getting your money back, I think small claims court may be your only route. I would write to the vets shes working for, she is using her position there to further her scamming activities.

ManateeFair · 20/11/2023 12:44

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 11:09

She is a scammer! The rescue has contacted me - there are Facebook pages and instagram pages about her. I had no idea! I've seen pages.

I feel such an idiot.

I suspect the vet practice she works at (assuming she definitely does work there?) would be very interested to know that this woman is scamming people over kittens. It's terrible PR for them.

Is she making a profit on the spaying etc? On the rare occasions when she actually does provide a kitten to someone and the vaccinations etc get done, my guess is that she gets it done at a staff discount or even for nothing, and then charges the owner a mark-up.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 12:50

@ManateeFair she isn't making a profit on spaying I have to say.

I've already found this out.

OP posts:
Concannon88 · 20/11/2023 12:52

People shouldn't comment about a chargeback with your bank. That's only for debit and credit card purchases not transfers.

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 12:52

So she's replying now....

Admitted she has had no income for the last 2 weeks.
She's also had a miscarriage.
She does everything she can to help animals.

She's sent me 3 very long messages with sob stories.

No mention of any refund other than she has no income.

I will be taking her to a small claims by the looks of it

OP posts:
MermaidEyes · 20/11/2023 13:56

Jesus 🙄 next week I predict grandma/great uncle Fred/next doors dog will die, followed by she can't pay her bills and she's about to get evicted. Stay tuned.

WickedSerious · 20/11/2023 14:02

I reckon she'll have three months to live by Friday.

oakleaffy · 20/11/2023 14:07

sugarpops · 20/11/2023 12:52

So she's replying now....

Admitted she has had no income for the last 2 weeks.
She's also had a miscarriage.
She does everything she can to help animals.

She's sent me 3 very long messages with sob stories.

No mention of any refund other than she has no income.

I will be taking her to a small claims by the looks of it

A new low to say she has had a “Miscarriage “
I highly doubt that.
Didn’t I say that there would be a new health issue used as an excuse?
Bingo!

There was no miscarriage.
There is a miscarriage of funds.

You @sugarpops are an honest sounding person who got suckered in.

Do not feel bad about it.

Sadly I’m not at all surprised about the bank transfer being unprotected as my family member lost £1000 plus to a scammer.

Small Claims
She needs investigation
Also contact head of vets .

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