Help! The guy doing my resto has gone AWOL....

The guy who is restoring my bus has gone missing. He is not answering his phone, texts or e-mails. My bus went in on 14th May 2011 and I was told the work would be finished in 6 weeks. Unfortunately, the guy’s father died during this period so he had some time out. I understood this and was OK that this may delay things a few weeks. However, we are now 26 weeks in and he has been elusive throughout this time.

The bus is 120 miles from me so I have not been able to just pop over and have a look at it and chat with the guy regularly. The last I heard was when he told me he was busy each weekend until the end of October but agreed he would be there on Saturday 27th October for me to go over and see the bus. However, when I turned, having spent a 2 hour train journey and £60 to get there, his workshop and yard were locked. When I called him it went straight to voicemail - not happy . Since then I have called several times, left messages, sent texts and e-mails, with no reply at all.

A friend of mine went there yesterday but there is still no sign of him and the yard and workshop are locked. He asked the chap in the unit next door if he knew anything and he said the guy had not been seen for a few weeks. The last time was when the landlord apparently sent bailiffs for collection of £12,500 of outstanding rent following a dispute about a leak in the roof.
The last time I saw my bus was the end of August (when I was told it would be done inside 4 weeks ish). The engine was out, most of the welding and panels were sorted at this time and the underside had been media blasted. The last I heard from him was mid October when he told me that some of the white paint was going on and he was just about to order the coloured paint and was keen to get things moving. However, I cannot be certain what stage things are at.

I have spoken to trading standards today and they have advised me to write to him at the business premises stating the Sale Of Goods Act 1982 giving a summary of events and that this is not being done in a reasonable time, and to ask for what I want. This can be completion in a certain timescale or return of my vehicle, parts and property.

I am happy to give him the chance to finish it if he gets back to me with a timescale, as taking it elsewhere partly done would be a real pain.

I don't believe he has ceased trading or done a runner. Why would he have paid the rent he owed if so? There are 2 other buses in his workshop plus a bug and LT in his yard, so I am not alone in this.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I just want to get this sorted as it is winding me up! :arrggh:

 

does anyone on here know the guy? i'm not instigating a witch hunt as he sounds like he's had a bad time of it this year but if anyone else can cotact him or at least let you know he is around it may help? where is 120 miles from you exactly? are you at liberty to divulge the place or not?

 

The landlords may have some info? They should be traceable through the guy in the unit next door maybe?

I'd be looking at getting my van out of there

 

What a nightmare...

 

Where is the bus currently at? Maybe a local person could pop in and find out

 

Bailiffs don't just jump in and run amock - particularly right now when they get nothing at auction from business stuff and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't take your van as it's registered to you.

How do you know he's paid? The bailiffs will want to drag the case on for a while to add charges for visits, letters and the like (which are limited by law) - that's how they make money.

 

i don't think the chap needs people to go round, it says in his post a mate of his went yesterday and it was shut.... that's why i suggested does anyone know the bloke who is in hiding....

 

Has anyone else tried ringing him - so he doesn't recognise the number???

 

Hi, I don't want to put his name or business on here as I think it's unfair to name and shame him. Like you say, he has had a tough time of things this year already and putting the boot in could damage his reputation. He has always seemed a nice guy when I have seen him. I like the chap, he knows his stuff and does some good work. However, this latest sequence of events is testing my patience.

The place is in East Anglia, north east of me in London.

I don't know if he has paid the rent for certain. The only things I do know is that everywhere is locked up and I have had no contact for some weeks now. I got hold of the landlords details this evening and will call them tomorrow, but they may not be able to tell me much due to the Data Protection Act.

Yes, it is the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, my error on here. His original timescale he quoted me was 6 weeks!!!!

I haven't tried to call from another phone, I'll try that tomorrow too but don't hold out much hope on that one.

 

I think the landlords may give you some info - they might quote data protection, but if you go gently they could be helpful. You don't need to get contact info, which they probably wouldn't give out, but if he has done a runner they will want him tracking down. Or, even if they don't know what he's doing, they might help you find out

 

Sounds a bit weird :S
Could see if a fellow member could pop down for you?
That's if they live close.

 

I have another friend due to pop over to check if he is there later this week, but a good idea to get other members help, thanks.

Getting the bus out of there is not a very practical option for me. With no engine, dash board or glass plus the fact I have no where to put it and no one else lined up who can do the work. Plus getting access, finding all the bits he has taken off and my new parts I have left him would be an issue.

 

i feel your pain and frustration. i really do.

sorry i can't be more help but the advice i've had is under trading standards too. Seems to be the only way in the initial period.
good luck and everything crossed for you x

 

My wife just said to me she hope's our guy is OK, and I said it's a bit of a leap of faith with this kind of thing.

By their very specialism these businesses are going to be small scale and vulnerable. I guess that there is no way any of us can be sure we won't end up in he same boat

 

My workshop near Mildenhall. If you get it out you can bring it round if you like - Icould find somewhere indoors for it in the short term while you work out what to do.

 

good work zed!