140 replies to this topic

[GreaseMonkey]

Sad times to see this happening, Martin is a great guy. Best service I've ever had from a mini company. Has even bent over backwards one day and sent a part by same day courier as it wasn't posted the day before! You will never get service like that from some of the bigger more well established companies who people claim are the best but can't sort simple problems out.

[MJWarren]

Cant go wrong with Min-its, great guys and service there

[ministar]

Cant go wrong with Min-its, great guys and service there

Too right!!

[Scallywag630]

Martin might be the nicest guy you could know, the most helpful and know everything there is to know about minis. However, none of these atributes qualify him to run a business. In a way, he should be applauded for trying. The country need small businesses It is a sad fact that many who have the "dream" of running their own business fail within a relatively short time. This is why Limited Liability Companies are so popular.

I can understand "both camps", those that support Martin and those that feel ripped off by him. There are always two sides to each situation involving dispute, but there is never an excuse for avoiding a customer. To avoid any suggestions of undue influence, I do suggest that Martin stands down from his TMF staff position until the situation is resolved.

[jenbachertech]

Having read Rick's side of things, and guessing Martin is too busy to reply, can I beg a moment of your time here to redress the balance?

Not fully knowing the way in which Martin and Rick agreed the schedule of works on his car, I can only make observations based on what I have seen first hand.

Rick had his car in the workshop at MRA for a period of around 3 months to my knowledge, during this time it seems he removed the engine and box, ready for building to his specification. While it was there Rick decided to remove the front end of the vehicle for some reason, as well as destroy the wiring loom, The front end was removed in several different stages, at first this appeared to be due to some surface rusting on ther front wings, but later I was told by Martin that this was for a flip front, or fibreglass front end (I forget which) at this time he then added a load more to the original order. THis was the pattern of works that continued to occur during the time that Rick had his car in the workshop, towards the end he had rendered the car immobile by also stripping the front subframe from the vehicle.

He was helping Martin that is true, but in return Martin was allowing the use of his workshop - a fair deal.

Rick chose to pay cash, in some odd instalments - I have been shown some evidence of this, but when Martin tried to resolve the matter, he asked both Rick and his Father for copies of all reciepts issued for the cash he claimed to have paid - just in case there was any accounting error, these were never forwarded, and to this date still haven't been. Martin has shown me all of the reciepts relating to this sad story, sadly it seems that Rick does not have proof to back some of his claims.

I can't say why Martin didn't fight this, I can only guess that he was more worried about trying to save his business, and maybe get to a decent position with Rick.

However, Rick's actions and his candour on other fora show me that perhaps Martin was right to call the job to an end, there is no way on earth I would have entertained this sort of customer during my time in the motor trade.

Thanks for your time, as I have said if anyone want's help or liason then let me know.

[Frisco]

Now who its trying to smear names!

sadly it seems that Rick does not have proof to back some of his claims.

If a court ruled against MRA id take it that he had the proof

However, Rick's actions and his candour on other fora show me that perhaps Martin was right to call the job to an end, there is no way on earth I would have entertained this sort of customer during my time in the motor trade.

Martin was right to take £2700 off Rick in return for nothing? Nice
If he was unhappy with a customer he should have issued a refund and returned all goods belonged to that customer. You can refuse to do work for someone but you cant just be off with their money IMO.

Edited by Frisco, 20 November 2011 - 11:17 PM.

[Kam]

jenbachertech - who exactly are you in relation to MRA? For just a friend you seem to know quite alot of info here than most would and in some detail aswell?

[rick.spi]

jebachertech some faults to what you have said, me working on my car in his workshop has nothing to do with this as it was in his workshop because he missed the first deadline i gave him in which the car was going to have to be moved from where it was so martain took it in for missing a deadline, so should there be a rule against me working on it, bearing in mind i had my own tools and own parts going on it, and even then this dosnt affect his ability to build my engine in a good timescale so it really dosnt have nothing to do with the situation. The engine wasnt taken out at the workshop as the car was taken there engineless as he had the turbo engine from the start. and in regard to helping him out, he had agreed a rate to pay me and after about 3 weeks of helping in the evening on and off he sprung that he cannoth pay me. Also the mini was there a lot longer than 3 months, was there for nearly a year as it went over a few weeks after the new unit was purchased as for the proof of money, i gave the court 3 receipts, paperwork from martain saying i had payed and details of my loan and my bankstatements which all coresponded to the receipts given to me. hence why the courtcase was won. Im afraid your knowlege is very warped. And to say you wouldnt entertain this sort of customer is very very ignortant especially with the patience i showed over a year and a half period of seeing no progress whatsoever, yet still helping out and being alltogether quite polite and peaceful. your whole comment is actually an ignorant load of rubbish.

[jenbachertech]

I am a personal friend of Martin's, I have helped him out at odd times over the years, and used to work with him many years ago. I used to run a mini about 15 years ago. I lost touch with Martin for a while, but went to him for an engine for my brothers car when Morspeed shafted us.

As I have said I have known Martin for 20+ years.

Yes, I know a fair bit of what has gone on, I also know how badly this has affected Martin both personally and professionally.

Rick,

You have your judgement, it is a shame that it went the way it did, but please do not try to say that you were beyond reproach. Sure there were faults on both sides, you got in first, and painted a very dark picture, I have tried to redress the situation a little. Perhaps if you had provided this proof directly to Martin when he asked for it, you may have avoided the hassle of court action - it is unreasonable to demand in a threatening letter payment of monies, without proof of debt.

Ive met you, and have no axe to grind, just remember, your opinion is just as valid as others. It is a huge shame that your experience has ended badly, and I feel for you. Your protracted campaign against MRA on the internet will not help your cause though - it will make life very difficult for any recovery of the business.

I have only commented on the duration that I was aware of your car being at the workshop - i only pop in there when work allows. - I cannot think of any other company engaged in the motor trade that would allow you to work the way you did - most car enthusiasts need to rent somewhere to work - I know I do.

You complain that the directors of MRA are the biggest creditors - I think if you look at most limited companies of small to meduim size this will be the case - How do you think companies start? a nice donation from a bank?.

Oh, so you can check companies house, my full name is Sean Williams, I have nothing to do with MRA, or the new company, the only thing I have done for Martin is offer help, and advice when it is asked for.

As for my comments being "an ignorant load of rubbish" Rick, GROW UP! - nothing I have written is ignorant - it is just a few words trying to redress the balance, there are always two sides to an argument, it just seems that you want to continue to wage a personal vendetta on a public forum. It is common knowledge in the case of small claims court action, the appellant (you) is nearly always the winning party - and normally because the defendant (MRA) are too busy to attend, and cannot afford legal representation - you have your judgement, you have filed your claim with the liquidator, and MRA engineering no longer exists, anything that you do or say now against Martin is personal, and should be between the pair of you, not aired here.

Someone asked if I thought it was right for Rick to be down £2700?

My answer is of course no, it isnt right, but heres the sticky point, he never provided any proof of this - Bank statements that cover cash transactions arent proof that the cash was handed over, only a proper reciept can be regarded as proof.

This is my opinion, based on what I have been told. Others are entitled to their opinion, democracy is good like that.

Im not here to cause offence, nor am I here to be gobbed off at, I want to help, I am aware that there are disgruntled customers, and yes, perhaps if things had been handled differently the outcome may have been different, MRA survived for 8 years, and probably served thousands of happy customers, If there is anything I could do to help others resolve their problems tha have not yet been dealt with I would do so, just to ease the pressure on a good friend.

[Sprocket]

With an alias of Jenbachertech I suspect you are in the Gas Engine/ CHP industry perhaps

[Frisco]

Someone asked if I thought it was right for Rick to be down £2700?

My answer is of course no, it isnt right, but heres the sticky point, he never provided any proof of this - Bank statements that cover cash transactions arent proof that the cash was handed over, only a proper reciept can be regarded as proof.

I cant see how he could have just forgot that he had taken nearly £3k off someone espicially given that the car was sat there for so long. Why should anyone provide bank statements to any company to prove they have paid, MRA should have their own files (I suspect they did)

[samsfern]

wow, first time ive read this thread, poor martin, seemed a great guy, and ive used him for mini bits before, with excellent service. im thinking of starting my own buisness up, but im too scared something like this would happen to me. forgive me, but shouldnt this topic be in the traders area?

[jenbachertech]

With an alias of Jenbachertech I suspect you are in the Gas Engine/ CHP industry perhaps

Guilty as charged m'lud

Reciepts, yes, I have seen some, but not to cover the whole amount, by showing proof to Martin, any argument would have been beaten. it didnt happen, so things went the way they did.

[wolfie]

I notice that when smart had complaints that there trader status was quickly removed, i take it that as staff have not been affected in this instance that Martains Trader and Doc status will be staying even though he has a comparable amout of complaints and unlike smart has made no efford to at least partially compensate the victims?

[rick.spi]

All the proof of payment that went to court was shown to martain prior to court. Letters where sent offering to find a solution but no replys where made. Your making this out to be me with a vendetta but if you look ive written nothing but facts. Not all of what martain has told you is true or you have misenturpreted it. I havnt written anything in bad taste either meerly what has happened and how i feel. If you feel that its ok to treat a customer like this then thats your opinion. He probably didnt tell you about times ive helped him like picking up a welding mask for his from a fait way away, not for money or anything other than helping. Do this picture your painting of me is very misguided and anyone one here that has met me will no doubt know what your making me out to be isnt the case. Your making me out to be the villain, the villain that has been robbed of his money and now has nothing.