140 replies to this topic

[jenbachertech]

Rick,

I understand that you feel hard done by, in an ideal world you would have a nice shiny engine, gearbox, and all the other goodies you wanted. I also know that you have helped out, Ive never said anything different.

It is frustrating having to wait, suffer missed deadlines, and all the other things that have happened. I think, from memory Martin was trying to help you with the car, while doing your engine, as well as doing all the other stuff at the same time.

You have always had the chance to pull the plug on this a long time before you did. By extending deadlines, and doing other things to your car the way you did would have sent all the wrong messages. when I last saw your car it was at least three months away from being on the road, and that's with professional help. Ive built several minis over the years, and yours wanted a lot of work for the sort of plans you had to make it safe to use.

Your complaint is valid, I cant argue with that, it is the manner in which you are complaining that i find distasteful, fortunately your stronger comments are not on this forum, but your anger is clear to see - none of this will get you to a position where you are happy. You have done all you can without resorting to libellous, or slanderous behaviour, you are a victim of circumstance, I respect that, but do ask that you stick to the official channels for recovery of your claim - this thread has already served its purpose by informing the community of the end of a company, a campaign against any new company is ill advised, any chance of recovering anything for you is down to a liquidator now, it would have been far easier for Martin to walk away from everything but he has chosen not to.

Good luck with your project, I really hope you get it finished.

[MRA]

I asked Rick to show me these "so-called" reciepts, some of which (and I have the exact amount) do exist this is fact, however some do NOT exist, and more to the point not even close to the amount that Rick keeps on talking about, this is a simple case of lets use any means possible we can to get the most from what was MRA.

Anyone who knows anything about small claims court will also know they can only deal with the information given, I did not send my information to the courts. As I said I was told not to bother, so I didn't, therefore the courts deal with the information accordingly.

And since when has a customers bank statments been admissible in court as payment given for cash that was drawn out ?, so you took out money ? it didn't come my way !!! I know exactly how much you paid me and I have the reciept stubs to prove that.

I held onto the gearbox that we built for you because we felt that you hadn't paid in full, if you recall I said that i would let my accountant sort through the "numbers" and once he got back to me I would discuss with yourself, both yourself and your Father agreed and left the premises. I sent a text to your dads phone as he was dealing with the situation, I never got a reply from him or you, I still have the text on my phone to confirm dates etc...

So who is painting a picture of who in what light ?

Wolfie, unfortunately you have never been impartial to anything I have said in the past so I do expect the statemnets that you are giving, even though I have helped you in several ways in the past, if any TMF mods would like to sift through the posts that both myself and wolfie have "shared" you will clearly see a pattern here.

I have so much more to say, however when someone has a vendetta agianst you there is little that can be done.

If the TMF moderators wish to remove my trader and Doc status then that is their decision and I would be happy with that.

[Scallywag630]

Just curiosity, but why did you decide on voluntary liquidation of the company and then start a new one?

[rick.spi]

I did try and pull reason for months. And any work done on my car was done by myself not martain. I can try and snc my texts onto my computer to show the full story and how i behaved and tried to reason to no avail and they will comletly back up what i have exlplained if that what it really would take to show you it not entirely how ypur seeing it. I dont know how you can justify it really.

[jenbachertech]

Im going to bow out of this now - Martin has responded to your comments.

Good luck for the future

[rick.spi]

To clarify the payment i have official receipts and paperwork from you with dates and with payments on which if you remeber rightly you said you cant show us one of thr receipt books because you had lost the book. All of which corresponds with the dates on the paperwork. And corrsponds with me taking a loan and then withdrawing it. Its all linked which is how it stands up. I dont think it wad accidental you managed to give me paperwork for payments with the same dates. Also have copies of the letters sent with what we intend to do courtwise unless you want to sort it ammicably, which wasnt replied to. I also have texts asking about the situation and summing it up.

Edited by rick.spi, 21 November 2011 - 01:43 AM.

[MRA]

Just curiosity, but why did you decide on voluntary liquidation of the company and then start a new one?

Because it was the only way to safeguard customers that we had either started work for or had their parts for work to be done to. My wife advised me to just call a full liquiditation, close it down entirely, As I couldn't do this to my customers.

I could have just "binned" the whole thing and gone and got a job, but this would mean that ALL outstanding work or jobs would then have to be "proven" by customers, this can take monthes, I am sure that Paul (shoutforjoy) would have been even less impressed.


Rick said that he was going to be paid to help me in my workshop ?, I don't remember this ? I also didn't see any help, all I saw was him working on his own car and leaving all the mess for me to clear up.

[rick.spi]

I have texts of you asking me about sorting a rate and then texts asking how many hours i had done. If you look on your iphone and click the "look at earlier texts" button its all there. Shall i publish this aswell? I get some screenshots tomorrow. As for now i need some sleep as work in the morning, needing to work to make up tge gap of money that was stolen from me. And you say you couldnt shut your buisness because of your customers. Does this mean im the exeption to the rest? And john?

[MRA]

To clarify the payment i have official receipts and paperwork from you with dates and with payments on which if you remeber rightly you said you cant show us one of thr receipt books because you had lost the book. All of which corresponds with the dates on the paperwork. And corrsponds with me taking a loan and then withdrawing it. Its all linked which is how it stands up. I dont think it wad accidental you managed to give me paperwork for payments with the same dates. Also have copies of the letters sent with what we intend to do courtwise unless you want to sort it ammicably, which wasnt replied to. I also have texts asking about the situation and summing it up.

I have not lost any books, I can show you all the reciepts that you handed money over for, yo usimply cannot keep on making it up to please yourself.

The simple truth do you have a reciept for this outstanding money that you apparently paid to MRA ?

If yo uwent in to another company and said look I don't have a reciept for this "XYZ" but I paid for it and heres my bank statement to prove I took the money out at a cash point machine so can I have my parts now what answer do you think you would get ?

[Sam14]

Martin i have never used MRA Minis in anyway but i have great respect for you, for coming onto this forum and giving the true facts.

Moderators i am very impressed by your level of authority but i do not see how this topic has been allowed to progress? As its seems to have turned into a "who's got the biggest..", It's rather pathetic to be honest on how some people have reachted.

TMF members and users who may have contributed something not needed should be ashamed of some of the things you have mentioned. My first post was without facts i thought it was just another situation of people being ripped of but as the facts and information have been correctly submitted my thoughts have changed. The behaviour and the way people talk on this forum is just embarrassing to the TMF community.

The proof is in the pudding, if martin was such "conman" as some people may interprit with some of the peoples suggestions would he have been in this business for so long?

Look at mini sport, the amount of issues with them or any other mini supplier. If you live in a world were you think every supplier has to be perfect, then i suggest you set up your own business and give a good old try in this market....HAVE fun.

[Sam14]

P.S Martin thank you very much for making it your goal to supply the Mini community and i am very heart felt and sorry to hear the way the things are going.

The way its going we wont have any mini suppliers and people will just slate them all..*sigh*

"Kicking the weak when they are down is a cowardice act and should be shamed upon"

Edited by Sam14, 21 November 2011 - 01:57 AM.

[rick.spi]

Just curiosity, but why did you decide on voluntary liquidation of the company and then start a new one?

Because it was the only way to safeguard customers that we had either started work for or had their parts for work to be done to. My wife advised me to just call a full liquiditation, close it down entirely, As I couldn't do this to my customers.

I could have just "binned" the whole thing and gone and got a job, but this would mean that ALL outstanding work or jobs would then have to be "proven" by customers, this can take monthes, I am sure that Paul (shoutforjoy) would have been even less impressed.


Rick said that he was going to be paid to help me in my workshop ?, I don't remember this ? I also didn't see any help, all I saw was him working on his own car and leaving all the mess for me to clear up.

Ok and heres the evidence to back up that last lie...





Goodnight.

[Sam14]

That would be strong evidence if you actually had the official number of MRA in the contact part

Edited by Sam14, 21 November 2011 - 02:02 AM.

[Frisco]

To do that he would have to completey delete the contact otherwise the iPhone puts the name to everything that comes from that number or email.

Edited by Frisco, 21 November 2011 - 02:49 AM.

[mk=john]

Hello All
I was trying my best to hold off from this conversation after my last post. Its 3:22 am and im not really in the mood, but feel i now have to say my part. Everything i will say about my experience is totally factual and can be backed up, but for this post I will give a summary with approximate dates and clarify more accurate dates etc in another post if necessary (when I have time to look through my emails, texts and PM's........ and when I am fully awake)

Firstly, on the TM forum, I must apoligise to Martin for the foul language that i used, but what led up to that was me being an extremely angry customer off MRA and also seeing someone else going through an ordeal with MRA minis just as I did.

The comment I made about MRA in an earlier post seemed to make certain followers think I was back pedalling when i said that Martin is very knowledgeable particularly in techical subjects, and that MRA's contribution to the forum has been excellent, and I still stand by my statement on that that as I think it must not be forgotten.

However, that alone is not enough to automatically mean MRA will treat all of its customers equally well. Sure, MRA may have had hundreds of satisfied customers, but sadly I aint one of them. My intention with the thread was and still is to help do my bit and protect other people from losing money, plain and simple, to make factual statement that a company was in liquidation. It was in the public domain anyway!!

Some people see fit to make me into the villian by starting this thread, to say that I have launched an attack to ruin someones life. They have seen fit to be juveniles by copying and pasting text i wrote on another forum on to this one, text that was written as I am a totally pis*sed off customer and anyone in my shoes i think would at least be thinking the same.

But without further rambling, here is my story, but as already mentioned, due to it now being 3:40 am i will explain it with approximate dates etc as I need to later raid my emails, texts, PM's etc.

• As part of my mini restoration, in October / November 2010, I spoke with MRA on the phone regarding bringing along my 850 engine for rebuild. I then promptly delivered the engine.
• During my visit I explained that I would like the engine ready no later than April 2011, in time for the 2011 show season, and he indicated this should be achievable.
• I explained that i would like the engine to retain some originality, but generally to be well built, as a matter of course anyway
• I then was then playing the waiting game which i was happy to do for the next few months, but I think i did send the odd PM to Martin and he promtly replied with progress reports.
• Then came March/April, when I wanted to know when the engine would be ready, and I did send various PM's (I need to look into more details for these). I need to check if MRA replied to these
• By this time I had already pre-booked and paid in advance for several show events, including classic car shows in which i was hoping to take the mini with the rebuilt engine. I did inform Martin of this and I guess early signs of anxiety on my part started to set in
• As time went on, I was missing each show deadline one by one to a point when July arrived, and i notified martin I was worrried about this. He didn't reply to these concerns with any significance.
• In early July I phoned MRA and was told by Debbie that the engine was ready for assembly and would be ready in 2 weeks
• July continued, and during the last week of that month after several phone calls and PM's or emails, I recieved either an email, PM or text from MRA saing the engine was ready for collection, and so on one particular evening I drove to MRA, and Martin was still assembling major parts of the engine, pistons, rods etc. I felt very let down at this stage. During this visit, i had the gearbox in the boot of the car, and Martin agreed to finish the engine and as an additional job, agreed to fit the gearbox and deliver it to me.
• Also during that visit, I explained to Martin i would have the next week off work so I could accept delivery of the engine to my house, and have that week to install the unit and get the car running etc. This is where the real problems kicked in for me, as after several false promises, the unit never arrived, only to arrive on Sunday 7th July at around 7:30pm. I had to go back to work the next day. During the latter stages of that week, is seemed MRA was totally ignoring many of my phone calls, texts and emails. I could have gone into work that week and earned money if Martin told me he couldn't complete and deliver the unit. I felt like a prisoner in my own home waiting for him to deliver the engine, or even to recieve a phone call regarding progress, but that didnt happen.
• In the next two weeks after recieving delivery on 7th August, i installed the engine, set it up and got it ready for is first start etc.
• Martin was happy to assist, and he came to my garage.
• Then we discovered the engine was not starting, cylinder compression was very low and Martin suspected the valve timing was off (Basic error!)
• Then he made a second visit, and adjusted the valve timing, and attempted to restart the engine again. Again, it wouldnt start, and after doing a compression test it was found that the cylinder compression was very low, and much more so in one cylinder. Then removed the cylinder head and Martin took it back to rework it.
• Around 2 or 3 weeks later, having no feedback from MRA I went round there to explain that i want to take the cylinder head back with me there and then as i was very unhappy with the service, communication etc and that i was becoming sick of this ordeal. He refused me entry into the unit as he said he had the cylinder head stripped and was examining it there and then. I was angry and did raise my voice...that was all. For the other chap on the forum (Sean Williams) who said he was there in the office and that i hurled abuse at martin, and that he would have called the police made me laugh when i read that post!!)
• Finally, a couple of weeks later, I collected the cylinder head, and installed it on my engine. Following everyting by the book, oil pressure, cooling system in good order, static timing done correctly etc etc i started the engine for its cam bedding process. During that time, after 15 minutes the engine seemed to be losing a lot of oil oressure when i had to finally shut it down after overheating.
• Then the damage was done, I was totally pi*ssed off with the ordeal of the whole thing, and demanded my money back from MRA (an amount to have the engine repaired by another builder). I sent an angry email to MRA explaining my dissatisfaction of the level of work, and that I will not be returning the unit to him but wanted a partial refund £1200) to have the engine looked at by some one else.
• He then called me withing 7 minute of me sending the email (Now that was a quick reply...showed his phone worked after all!!) , but I didnt pick up
• Next thing, he sent me an email stating he would fix the engine for free if the fault was found to be from MRA, but in the email suggested it could have even been my fault, and I would have to pay in that case!!! That infuriated me like you wouldnt believe. In the email he also infers that a refund would not be issued, as he pointed out options available to me.

Even though I actually was going to return the engine, I had no confidence whatsoever in recieving my engine in a a reasonable time. At this point i was considering legal action against MRA, but didnt want to go through even more stress of going to court etc. I just wanted to centre my energy to have the engine rebuilt again to have my mini on the road. it was not a big ask of MRA to have done this in the first place.


Total money paid is around £1900, around £1300 being cash (I have all receipts). During the week I took off work to receive the engine (see point 10 above), I had lost a lot of money in lost earnings. I calculate the money I have lost, together with my time for engine removal etc is around £3000. Includes the cost for pre-paid show entries.

The engine rebuilt once again had cost me even more money! Putting my engine rebuild including lost earnings somewhere in the £4000 mark.
Total time wasted is around 10 months, and I have missed EVERY show this year with the mini. Everything else on the car was 100% finished when i first handed the engine over to MRA way back late 2010

As a cusstomer, the way i have been treated is i think definitely bang out of order, not just the outcome, but also the ignored phone calls, emails etc etc.

If MRA have anyone to blame for this fiasco, and me posting this thread they have only themselves to blame. As mentioned by others on TM, it takes just a few unhappy customers to affect a company. I certainly wasn't going to just stand by and do nothng, especially when i also see other people affected in a simlar way.

Sure, we would all love to run our own business and do what we love, but along the way you also have to treat it like a business and treat your customers as you would wish to be treated youselves.

The only thing I am unhappy about is my language on the other forum, but that is all. if I didnt post this thread, it was only a matter of time before someone else would have. I am sure there will be a slood of MRA followers bombarding me now with their views.....but I have stated the facts above, no more and no less.

Edited by mk=john, 21 November 2011 - 05:08 AM.