39 replies to this topic

[tulip707]

I hope I can prevent anyone else suffering at the hands of Dave at Vale Mini in Evesham. http://vale-mini.co.uk

Please avoid at all cost !!!! after waiting for nearly two years for an engine i paid £1400 in good faith, I receive a heap of useless metal. All the parts I paid for had not been fitted, in the meantime I find out he sold the original engine for his own gain and quickly threw one together when I said Id had enough and was driving down to collect it in person. I ve had it stripped by an experienced engine builder, he was speachless... Dave at Vale mini lies and avoids telephone calls. The level of workmanship is terrible and to find out he actually fakes parts disgusts me. I purchased a Slark ported head as part of the engine deal, I saw it fitted to my engine during the build, but yet upon delivery he had removed the head, replaced it with a standard metro head and stamped the SRE number himself, the head was also cracked, so absolutely useless. To be honest the list goes on and on !! I have been left with no option except legal proceedings...I have made a very costly mistake trusting this company. If you use this company you will be ripped off... search the web for their reputation. See my original head I had purchased and look at how he faked a standard head and bolted it back together.!!!!
 photo.JPG   945.21K   343 downloads

Attached Files

•  _DSC8224a.jpg   158.36K   267 downloads

[E.L.M.O]

What does Slark have to say about what he did, surely they would like to investigate that also?

[Cooperman]

I think this should be reported to the Old Bill as an alleged offence under the Theft Act 1968. Plus, of course, a civil action.

[mike.]

That is just shoddy. Take him to small claims court!

[mingy]

So sorry to read about the way in which you were treated, i am curious as to wether you paid cash or cheque or by card and also received an invoice and breakdown of the work carried out upon payment.
I don,t want to sound like a doom monger but if this guy is capable of this type of thing he probably has done it before and got away with it.
I would suggest getting in touch with your local trading standards office before taking costly legal action.
Try and collect as much hard evidence ie: other engineers report regards engine rebuild, original estimate of rebuild (if any) also. photographs before and after to back up your claim,
I know you probably don,t want to see this guy again, but with a bit of hard evidence ( do not hand any paperwork or photos back to him) and a very cool head go back and ask for your money back,If you paid cash it could prove difficult as it,s your word against his that cash changed hands.
If it was a cheque or card ( i doubt it ) transaction to his business then it,s traceable which is hard evidence on your part.
I hope this helps you, keep on pursuing him and i am sure you,ll come out of it ok, these b- - - - - ds need closing down asap ,best of luck mate

[Sam14]

Some sort of theft crime in there somewhere isnt it? sold your orignal engine, all engine numbers changed then.

[Sleepy Stu]

Really sorry to hear about this. This guys is well known on turbo minis as a scammer. Occasionally his engines show up on ebay as well and a warning pops up on turbo minis to stay well clear of them.

I know that doesnt help you

[E.L.M.O]

Whats his ebay id stu?

[tulip707]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I have contacted Slark they said its not too uncommon in their game, but would put out a warning on their site.
I have full evidence including photos, details of the agreement and I paid via cheque. Unfortunately I think the company is on its arse, no wonder the way in which they treat people. So any small claims court action seems pointless.
I need to go down and help myself to stuff worth £1000.00 to get my investment back I think this is the only way forward.
He has unregistered on bay.

[hksubaru]

It mentions under new management....hope he's not tried to change the name over of the ownership of the company?

[hksubaru]

Sorry to hear about this aswell.

[Bungle]

was the cheque made out to him personally or a business name ?

[meetthespeakers]

Almost looks like the quality engine bay he painted for me, and the rebuilt 1275 I paid for... I mean, "painted" engine I got with bad compression. Some one needs to take a bat to his knees. I don't mean to be harsh, but it happened to me a few years back, and worse I live in the U.S.A. I bought the car from there shop, paid them to pull the 998 and drop a 1275 in it, paint the engine bay, and convert interior to black with part numbers I gave him from Mini Spares at the time. What I got months later was a crap engine(really cobbled together), no interior (Accept a set of budget door cards, even though I paid for the Monte Carlo ones), oh, and "Rust free car", that meant the rust was for free, he just meant the parts he painted didn't have rust. I mean seriously. I can't believe this guy is still around. I may still have to make a trip over the pond.

Edited by meetthespeakers, 22 September 2011 - 03:07 PM.

[retroracer1275]

report them to watchdog, or rouge traders!

might even check them out somtime, i dont think im to far away

[Sleepy Stu]

Im having a scan for hi eBay ID now

http://www.turbomini...p=vt&tid=356978

http://www.turbomini...id=333689&fr=25

Edited by Sleepy Stu, 22 September 2011 - 04:27 PM.