The grumpy thread

[Bobthebeard]

Hang on, I see she has paid already. In which case just delete her voicemail and put your feet up with a cup of tea.

That's pretty much what I did really. Am just ignoring her silly rants. Although she has form and a long history of taking legal action against all and sundry.

[John F]

I bet she loves Argos catalogues, though.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Well in the end it sounds like you've done all you can do, let her get on with it the mad old bat. She is going to have to persuade a judge that she's been stitched up, sounds like she has got her work cut out if the whole thing is about a £50 dispute.

[Bobthebeard]

Why did you get embroiled in this if you knew how difficult she was?

 

Anyway, ring her up and ask if you can come round and discuss the situation. Fix up an appointment, then turn up dressed as Mr Blobby/Mickey Mouse/an Egyptian mummy/pantomime horse etc. Carry on as normal, and politely point out the jobs you have done for which you have received no payment whatsoever. When she tries to respond, pull out a massive trumpet and start playing it super loud, so that you cannot hear her asking you to leave. Continue playing until she gets her chequebook out.

Amusing but not really helpful Mr B.

I got embroiled because I am far too soft and always try to see the good in people. Mistake.

[Bobthebeard]

Well in the end it sounds like you've done all you can do, let her get on with it the mad old bat. She is going to have to persuade a judge that she's been stitched up, sounds like she has got her work cut out if the whole thing is about a £50 dispute.

Indeed so.

Pretty much what Trading Standards said. Leave her to it. She has no case.

Upset me though, never been accused of dishonesty ever!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

How does she square her 'you didn't turn up' claim with the fact that she handed you a cheque for £100 when you had completed the job?

[Bobthebeard]

How does she square her 'you didn't turn up' claim with the fact that she handed you a cheque for £100 when you had completed the job?

That is what Trading Standards wondered about also... It seems she has altered her recollection of events since May. Initially claiming I didn't show up to I did show up but didn't finish the job. Whatever 'the job' was is unclear!

[Louise2cv]

It is horrible Mr Beard, I sympathize entirely. We have similar (but opposite situation) at the moment. I feel sick everytime an email comes through and I haven't done anything wrong.

 

We have just submitted a claim through the government "moneyclaim" website... What a Nightmare. Tantrums were had, keyboards were mistreated. Mostly about the summary section requiring that you use a maximum of 1080 characters but declining to allow me to proceed because I had run out of lines (with less than 1080 characters).

[tooSavvy]

^^ gotts 2say[Mr B]... I thought that, myself

 

TS

[Bobthebeard]

It sounds silly when written down. It is silly really!

I did what she asked and ended up out of pocket financially. But she is wealthy(and batty) and will spend any amount on legal action. Even if unfair and unjust.

Edit. The whole daft saga has just upset me I guess. I have always been proud of my reputation and have been honest to the point of stupidity really.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I would like to see the stats on this woman's success rate at sueing tradesmen, as she sounds like a total amateur rather than a professional extortionist. TBH any 'arbitrator' is going to ask that question immediately aren't they, just like your trading standards guy. 'Madam, If you weren't happy at the time why did you hand over the money?'. She sounds like a grade A nutjob.

[Bobthebeard]

I would like to see the stats on this woman's success rate at sueing tradesmen, as she sounds like a total amateur rather than a professional extortionist. TBH any 'arbitrator' is going to ask that question immediately aren't they, just like your trading standards guy. 'Madam, If you weren't happy at the time why did you hand over the money?'. She sounds like a grade A nutjob.

Not sure of the statistics, but she successfully sued a firm of decorators, a tiler and a builder. She also sued the guy that owns the stables where she has a horse, and won. Tenacious old bat that plays the 'wronged old lady' card' and the law is often on her side. I know this retrospectively, but hey ho.

[Parky]

Could you not just give her back £50 in pennies? Be worth seeing the old bat carrying that to the Bank just to prove a point

[mercrocker]

Solicitor's letter will sort her out.   I hate to use the legal profession but sometimes there is no alternative.   Especially since dog shit, paper bags and matches have become less commonplace.    

 

Mrs R. had a nasty situation with a silly old back-and-front who took on some vintage dolls of hers to repair.   When she came away from giving him a couple of extra ones to do he suddenly "lost" some stuff in his house and phoned the Old Bill who arrived with the big stick and wanted to cart Mrs. R. away there and then.  We negotiated this down to an interview "under caution" at our solicitors.    Once it transpired that it was he who had our property and not vice versa I got said solicitor to pen him a strongly-worded letter warning of slander, mischievous allegations etc etc.    

 
Old Bill weren't interested and all Mrs R. got was a letter to say no further action would be taken "unless you come to our attention again".   Not bad for a blame-less 60 years on Earth, is it?    Just because some poisonous/stupid old cock mislaid some stuff.    

[Bobthebeard]

Never done it before so have no experience of such things... Apart from the obvious, what exactly is a solicitor's letter?

Also I assume it would cost me more than the daft old bat is claiming that I owe her.....

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

 

Also I assume it would cost me more than the daft old bat is claiming that I owe her.....

 

- that ..........

 

Can't you do a quick online hunt for freebie versions, or citizens advice etc... so they can do it for you? A 'proper' legal eagle will certainly cost you more than this is worth at all....... but saying that, you can of course hit her for all costs incurred, damages, stress etc.... so it could end up a payday (not worth the whole nightmare though of course).

 

Best of luck with it.

[cort1977]

I really wouldn't bother with it any more Mr. B.   Keep all the information in a file just in case but ignore her and try to move on.   Did you get a reference no. or correspondence from Trading Standards? Keep all that stuff but no further action on your part.   It's very frustrating but you'll never win, involving solicitors will just cost you money for no real gain.

[Guest Hooli]

Most solicitors do a free 30min session, you could arrange one & take your paperwork with you. They'll tell you what go further would cost etc at the time.

[Bren]

Even old people understand what get fucked means.

[Bobthebeard]

I really wouldn't bother with it any more Mr. B.   Keep all the information in a file just in case but ignore her and try to move on.   Did you get a reference no. or correspondence from Trading Standards? Keep all that stuff but no further action on your part.   It's very frustrating but you'll never win, involving solicitors will just cost you money for no real gain.

Sound advice. Yes, I have a reference number from Trading Standards plus the verbal assurance of the chap I spoke to that they are going no further with this. Frustrating indeed, but I guess I will just have to take the accusations on the chin. As you say.

[scaryoldcortina]

Yeah, file under "ignore" but if you get a court summons turn up and argue the toss. She probably won the previous cases because the other side didn't show.

 

 

FWIW I just got an angry text from focus woman saying that the lack of a car is causing her SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE and she's thinking of suing me for compensation. I'm thinking of taking a shit under the back seat before I hand the car over.

[mercrocker]

Bit of hake up by the heater matrix used to do the trick at the BL garage (there was a fishmonger across the road....)   Don't suppose you can get to them these days (heater matrices or hake)

[Bobthebeard]

Having had a further conversation with Trading Standards this woman is firmly on the "ignore " list. They have cleared me completely of any wrongdoing thankfully.

[Cavcraft]

I wouldn’t bother with any legal red tape, nor a 1,080 word limit.

Just get toosavvy to dictate a reply to Hairnet over a phone on the ‘3’ network in the middle of the Irish Sea during a force 93 gale.

[Supernaut]

I wouldn’t bother with any legal red tape, nor a 1,080 word limit.

Just get toosavvy to dictate a reply to Hairnet over a phone on the ‘3’ network in the middle of the Irish Sea during a force 93 gale.

I think there's a clause in the Geneva convention about that kind of torture.

[loserone]

Yeah, file under "ignore" but if you get a court summons turn up and argue the toss. She probably won the previous cases because the other side didn't show.

 

 

FWIW I just got an angry text from focus woman saying that the lack of a car is causing her SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE and she's thinking of suing me for compensation. I'm thinking of taking a shit under the back seat before I hand the car over.

Pint of milk in the rear carpet less obvious and just as effective in a week's time

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Keep us posted on this Focus saga Scary, its most enjoyable for us outsiders who are not having to deal with these ludicrous people.

[loserone]

You should hear about his other ludicrous customers. There's one who's dumped two fucked cars on him and has been rallying round in his favourite car for four months. And then he has the cheek to dump fucked bits of 1950s tricycles on him as well.

[Bren]

Yeah, file under "ignore" but if you get a court summons turn up and argue the toss. She probably won the previous cases because the other side didn't show.

 

 

FWIW I just got an angry text from focus woman saying that the lack of a car is causing her SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE and she's thinking of suing me for compensation. I'm thinking of taking a shit under the back seat before I hand the car over.

You're very optimistic - there's probably no metal under the back seat....

[DodgeRover]

I think it's silly season ATM had a neighbour of a customer complain about me the other day to the boss of the company I was working for. Allegedly blocking the shared driveway for hours at a time, being confrontational, leaving concrete on the driveway etc.

 

<caution possibly rant ahead>

 

What I did was asked nicely if someone has given them permission to fill our skip with their shit as at £300 a time we need to get the most out of every one and they can take their stuff to the tip 1 mile away for free. Obviously nobody had so I took it back out and said if there was space at the end of the job it could go on otherwise they needed to get rid.

 

Luckily my dashcam runs all day so I could give exact times I was in the driveway and we had gone to absolute pains to cover the sodding driveway with plastic sheeting and ply - which the client had seen.

 

Having been the last one to leave as I had spent an extra half hour cleaning and tidying I told my boss exactly what I thought and what he could tell them.

Anyway the clients are absolutely lovely and know they've unfortunately bought at house next to the neighbourhood fruit loop.