Hi to all Perth folks, and by extension to anyone on this forum.

I wish to advise you of a exceptionally shadey character that I have had the unfortunate privilege of doing business with.

I originally engaged him to do some panel beating work on the lead from a fellow Datsun nut, and it has turned out to be a very expensive exercise with very poor results. (no blame of any part is on the fellow Datsun nut. He didn't know either)

I can do into details of the whole story, but this dude has basically ripped me off around $5,000 and his quality of work is average to say the least.

The guy lives in Greenmount in Perth. I can provide more info about this individual if people want but this is sufficient for now. PM me for details if you want more

Whilst I don't expect anyone here to suddenly jump to my side and defend me,(particularly since you don't really know the whole story to decide for yourself) I would hope that at the very least everyone takes this as a warning to not do business with this man. He will rip you off at every opportunity and show no remorse for his actions. Do not let his stories sway or garner any empathy from you.

If you do wish to support me, my only request is that never do business with this man ever again and ensure that you let everyone else know to do the same. He does not deserve the generosity or helpfulness of the Datsun community.

Cheers

Name and shame is the only way to go with pricks like that! It's a shame you got the shaft I know only to well how you feel! Do you have any pics of what was done (out of interest). I'm sure you will find someone to do what you need that won't rip you, there is still a few good guys out there!

Thanks Dix. I know that there are a few good sorts out there. Its funny, I met a dude when I was driving a truck on a construction site who claims that by the time he finished his apprenticeship as a panel beater, he was so turned off the whole industry as to its corruptness and general dirty nature that he left and now works as a general labourer for a civil construction company for minimum wage. His opinion is that there isn't a straight panel beater out there.
Now I don't agree with him 100%, but its intresting to note that someone from the trade thinks that the whole industry is shonky, that the attitudes that permeate every facet is that of ripping people off at every turn.

D
As always, its not as simple as not paying. I could have walked away from the car but in the end I would have lost out everything. By the time I realised what was happening I had already sunk several thousands into the car for progress payments.
When I realised what was happening, I told him to stop work, provide me with a final bill and I would collect soon after.
Once he worked out that I was onto him, all the shonky stuff came to light.

He was also happy to lie both to my face and over the phone.
For example, I was told that the car was ready to go into final primer and paint. That everything else had been done. When I go to collect the car, its still in early sanding stage with 80 grit paper, and there are several dents in panels that haven't been straightened or filled out. Sure I can get antsy, but if I leave the car with him, he still has that over me. I can withhold payment, but he still has my car.

I also had to consider that he does not appear very stable. I have seen him flip out for no real reason on a few occasions. I was genuinely concerned that if I forced anything that he could turn violent. That is not a situation that I want my family or anyone I know to have to deal with. As it was, it caused my lady enough grief.

I also have to consider my legal position. if I commit any sort of crime, then not only have I sunk to his level, but I can still lose out. I have to craft my every step to ensure that he had nowhere to turn and that I was squeaky clean.
Sure I could rock up, push over his gates, tear off the shed doors, punch him in the face and take my car. I actually had quite a few genuine offers to help with that. (A good friend is Italian with lots of 3rd cousins + several other very good friends) But that means I have committed a crime, and my clean police record is critical to my career. (security, access to secure gov areas, working with children, amongst other things need a clean record)

Ultimately I should have identified the problems earlier and withdrawn my car sooner. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and it bit me hard.

X2 Reuby, once bitten..... 

Thanks D. I know that everyone here wants to see another 1000 on the road and lovingly driven regularly. Daisy will be finished soon enough. Its just a short term stall.

Thats the spirit! will be good to see the first twin cammer A series 1k