201 replies to this topic

[cav]

Has anyone seen our green LHD Mini up for sale or know what James/Carl have done with the cars they had?

My uncle was dealing directly with these 2 and I have only recently found out about these issues, my main concern is to track down the car then persue our money.
I'm about a 2 hour drive away so can't just nip down there!

[Jordie]

there is a legal case here even more so if they have sold your vehicle. you really do need to get up there and have a look.

the project car they started for mannake and never finished/delivered was sold via ebay.

[cradley-heathen]

blimey, my eyes are knackered after reading all the pages on here and on other threads about the same subject!

i had no idea all of this had been going on as i havnt been coming on here much for the last few months. i had heard a rumour that he (james) had been in trouble over something or other but had no idea it had got like this.

i first met carl when i opened a thread on here asking for a young person to help out a few days a week where i had previously been working (paul higgs cars). at first carl seemed like a good guy, but it has to be said after a week or so he did become a little lazy, and seemed to much prefer talking to the guy next door about his xbox than helping out. however i did see carl a few weeks back when he asked me to patch up the sill on his g/f's micra. he didnt talk much about "midland mini clinic" when i asked him how it was going, and just told me he had parted company with james.

it wasnt long after carl stopped coming to p.h.c. that i was introduced to james, and i was told they were starting up a business of their own. now at this point is where it all got a little bit too much like the school yard, everytime i would see james at a show or or if they popped in to p.h.c. he would quite often make offensive comments about what we were doing and basically running us down. it was a bit un-needed really, but the fact that p.h.c is still going, and the m.m.c is no more kind of tells you something.

anyway i have been self employed now for about 12 months, so are not conected to any of the mini specialists, but i have to confess i did do half a days work for james at the m.m.c. i welded a pair of wings onto a green mini they had. i was told that the car was going to be completely smoothed and have a body kit however as stated previously i had no idea of all of these problems, and at least i was paid in full for my work, and on the same day, so credit to him for that at least.

what a sad end to all of this! i had however predicted that m.m.c would come to an end fairly quickly, but i had no idea it would be as unpleasant as all of this with court action and such like.

[Manneke]

As jordie mentioned I was (probably) the first victim of these two http://www.theminifo...tom-mini-build/

more documentation / information on this legal case (stil ongoing) against them is available upon request.

I would like to report them to Trading standard but rather than being a lone voice I think it would be beneficial to all if we would share resources - prospect to recover funds are dim I am afraid for anyone who has been stolen from them but a collective action would ensure they cannot trade again, especially James Alma who seems the leader of this. But for this they have to be tracked down & more chance if multiple act together...

I am launching this invite out there, feel free to respond or PM me directly. My lawyer is already on the case, hence any additional claim / new information will help to track them - would avoid paying multiple lawyers as well, they have cost us a lot already...

[Manneke]

sorry last post now, given the scale of James' operation reporting them to the Police may make sense - this is a civil matter though so they won't do much more than taking note... but at least any fraud check on these for any mortgage application or any job they would apply for would show their illegal activities. I entail anyone unfortunate enough to be involved not to be fooled by the vain hope that going alone will alow you to recover parts of your funds...but up to you to judge of course, my invitation stands

[Carlos W]

sorry last post now, given the scale of James' operation reporting them to the Police may make sense - this is a civil matter though so they won't do much more than taking note... but at least any fraud check on these for any mortgage application or any job they would apply for would show their illegal activities. I entail anyone unfortunate enough to be involved not to be fooled by the vain hope that going alone will alow you to recover parts of your funds...but up to you to judge of course, my invitation stands

I can't see how fraud is a civil matter, it's a crime and should be investigated as such!

[Shifty]

If you need anymore help from TMF just ask, we are all keen to see justice done and at the very least the cars returned to their rightful owners.

[Manneke]

Many thanks Shifty, Jordie & you all the admin team have been more than supportive & I cannot thank you all enough while your great forum has been misused by these two...for the time being what I need is more information - about their whereabouts to help the bailiffs & other victims (but for that they have to come forward themselves of course) - I will report to you guys once I contacted Trading standard & what they tell me about reporting to police if it make sense... It is my lawyer who told me it was a civil matter hence police would not do much...but I'll give it a try as well, u never know!

[Manneke]

quick update, just reported to Citizen advice service who is passing the case to Trading standard - have been given police number to contact will update in due course - Apologies to Nome for highjacking his post...mine has been locked by admin for obvious reasons M Thanks all for your support

[mini-luke]

The fact they he owes you money is a civil matter, but if he intended to deprive you of money (i.e. taking the car and money not intending to do the work) it's fraud. If he sold your car/engine etc it would be theft and would most definitely be a criminal case

[Manneke]

Many thanks Mini-luke, he did sold the car so I guess it can be reported as theft... I will inform my lawyer see what she thinks & contact the police see what they see Vs the evidence I have - the good thing is that James effectively acknowledged on this forum that he sold the base car he bought with my own money

[Carlos W]

I really hope there is a fraud case to answer here!

You may have to give the Police a little nudge tho

[mini-luke]

A printout of the post with him admitting it will come in very handy with the police

[Manneke]

Hello, would you mind to share the address at which James is now "trading"? pm me if you do not want to do it here...any information on them would be useful

http://www.theminifo...s/page__st__150
>> another unfortunate "customer"

[mini*mad]

Whats James full name and borough hes working in?
Ill be able to find out :)