28 replies to this topic

[Minigirl]

Please do this. It's the ONLY way to deal with this kind of business. If he doesn't get reported then he won't stop conning people.

my thoughts exactly. don't leave it any longer a 4 hour drive is nothing to get whats rightly yours

i remeber when i last went to their garage, he was telling me how in 30 years he had never had a dissatisfied customer

as i've already said i just wish i'd put something up on here about them then maybe you wouldn't be in the situation you are now - not how your first mini ownership should be

Edited by Minigirl, 29 May 2008 - 08:27 AM.

[Jordie]

Please send me a PM with the specialist in question as theres 2 in sunderland and i dont want to flame the wrong one.

As it was on ebay, i would guess that its "Mini Parts Centre"

I have rung alan, the owner today in regards to a blank chassis plate and i can tell you hes on holiday until monday.

If you need a subframe, tell him I will collect it along with a cheque to cover the postage and i will arrange courier delivery down to you. THEN he has no excuses for not sending it down to you.

If you could also PM me the address of the MOT testing station which shows on your MOT, i will look into their background and report them to VOSA if you wish to do so.

Anyone buying a vehicle from this company, please go view it before buying, take someone who knows what they are doing with you and ask for the MOT to be carried out at Gateshead Council MOT testing station, Sunderland Council MOT testing station or south tyneside mot testing station. The local council testing stations do not carry out work, so theres no reason to fail the vehicle for profit/gain. If the vehicle is road legal it will pass, if its not, its not.

If hes not willing to do this, dont buy the car. All we can do is advise you of these companies, its your choice to listen to our advice or not.

I would advise anyone to get him to take it to Gateshead Council MOT testing station, as i work with that department and can check any vehicle over when they come in.

Jordie

Edited by Jordie, 29 May 2008 - 11:55 AM.

[ourkid]

Please send me a PM with the specialist in question as theres 2 in sunderland and i dont want to flame the wrong one.

As it was on ebay, i would guess that its "Mini Parts Centre"

I have rung alan, the owner today in regards to a blank chassis plate and i can tell you hes on holiday until monday.

If you need a subframe, tell him I will collect it along with a cheque to cover the postage and i will arrange courier delivery down to you. THEN he has no excuses for not sending it down to you.

If you could also PM me the address of the MOT testing station which shows on your MOT, i will look into their background and report them to VOSA if you wish to do so.

Anyone buying a vehicle from this company, please go view it before buying, take someone who knows what they are doing with you and ask for the MOT to be carried out at Gateshead Council MOT testing station, Sunderland Council MOT testing station or south tyneside mot testing station. The local council testing stations do not carry out work, so theres no reason to fail the vehicle for profit/gain. If the vehicle is road legal it will pass, if its not, its not.

If hes not willing to do this, dont buy the car. All we can do is advise you of these companies, its your choice to listen to our advice or not.

I would advise anyone to get him to take it to Gateshead Council MOT testing station, as i work with that department and can check any vehicle over when they come in.

Jordie

Hi Jordie,

I'll pm you now

Ade

[BoyracerAU]

Gosh, what a nightmare. I read both threads.

Hope you get a good outcome. Got my fingers crossed for you!

[ourkid]

Well,

I've just E-mailed and threatened him with VOSA and a report to E-bay and he replied straight away asking for my address (again ) as he is sending me a new one!

Hopefully a result,I'll let you know how it goes

Ade.

[Marroon]

From both threads ive read theres somthing dodgy going on. I think even after you get your refund .etc. We should as a forum at least try and carry this on. After all its too late when an unsuspecting victim is seriously harmed in a crash caused by the faulty car.

Ive read of about 6 people now in these two threads and if not more people. It sounds disgraceful.

[ourkid]

From both threads ive read theres somthing dodgy going on. I think even after you get your refund .etc. We should as a forum at least try and carry this on. After all its too late when an unsuspecting victim is seriously harmed in a crash caused by the faulty car.

Ive read of about 6 people now in these two threads and if not more people. It sounds disgraceful.

You are right,there is a lot of history here.I need to make it clear though as i've just realised my thread may cause some confusion.There are 2 "specialists" in Sunderland - the Mini place and the Mini parts centre.As far as i can see most people have had trouble with the parts centre.My dealings are with the mini place next door.I don't know how they are connected but neither of them have a good reputation from what i can gather.I think if you live in Sunderland you should go out of town!

[ourkid]

OK - Another update,he's just e-mailed to let me know a new one will has been despatched and will be with me on Monday.It's funny how nothing happened until i posted on here so maybe he has seen this post.I remained polite to him throughout which i think is always the best way to be.Hopefully my next post will be asking for advice on how to fit the bugger!


Thanks for all the advice and let's keep our eye on things in the Nort East!

Ade.

[tuktuk]

theres only one mini specialist here in the north east as far as im concerned... green and whites

[Jordie]

He should reimburse you as fitting a subframe as a novice isn't the best job in the world. But looks like with the hassle, you might have to settle for a subframe. id have challenged him for a new one, since he described it as mint. Small claims would have probably been my action.

The story behind the 2 shops is that Jon and Alan used to work and own a shop together. An argument caused them to split the shop and now they operate as 2 independent shops, which both are as dodgy and poor as each other.

Please please if you read this and thinking of buying a mini, research the seller. im still wondering where they take the cars for MOT, as i think that should be reported to VOSA. A car with a rotton subframe could cause a crash or accident injuring lives. Its not like just having a indicator bulb off, its a main component.

[ourkid]

He should reimburse you as fitting a subframe as a novice isn't the best job in the world. But looks like with the hassle, you might have to settle for a subframe. id have challenged him for a new one, since he described it as mint. Small claims would have probably been my action.

The story behind the 2 shops is that Jon and Alan used to work and own a shop together. An argument caused them to split the shop and now they operate as 2 independent shops, which both are as dodgy and poor as each other.

Please please if you read this and thinking of buying a mini, research the seller. im still wondering where they take the cars for MOT, as i think that should be reported to VOSA. A car with a rotton subframe could cause a crash or accident injuring lives. Its not like just having a indicator bulb off, its a main component.

Hi Jordie - The last mot was done at SCOTS BANK MOTOR SERVICES,SOUTHWICK,SUNDERLAND

[Jordie]

thanks for that. I'll keep an eye on his ebay adverts and check where MOT's are done.

[blacktulip]

its hard to imagine someone into minis being so deceitfull. good luck with it. i hope it turns up monday for you. welcome to tmf

[taylor1000]

Hi guys,

Unfortunately this post is a bit grim because it concerns some trouble i'm having with a mini "specialist",the guy i bought my car from.I don't want to name and shame but i made the long journey to Sunderland from Ellesmere port to pick up my first ever mini (i'd never even driven one before!)
It was advertised on E-bay as a truly stunning example of an original low mileage car (13,400) so seemed ideal,as it is my daily driver and needs to be useable and relaible.I'm used to 70's vehicles,having owned/restored loads of v-dubs over the past 20 yrs and i know bodywork especially can be a major issue.The website for this specialist states that he has 30 yrs experience and gave the impression of being a leading,respected and knowledgeable guy running a business that only does things the correct way.

I asked the guy about the condition of the subframes over the phone.He said they were "like new".So i agreed to take the car and travelled up 2 weeks later.

To be fair,the condition in general is great(bar a few bubbles on the lower doors).It has all paperwork to back up the genuine low miles
IT CAME WITH A FRESH MOT.He was fixing the speedo and fuel gauge as i arrived and said that he "wanted it to be right" before i took it

After a few issues with fuel leaks,and being very low on oil (not registering on the dipstick at all)it got me home ok.The speedo and fuel gauge were not fixed at all and still don't work.

The next day i got underneath to have another look and took the back wheels off..........

The rear subframe is Sha''ged,rotted on the upright all down one side.

So i e-mailed him and explained politely that this was NOT a car that should have just passed an mot,especially at a garage that knows exactly what to look for.He agreed and asked me to send photos which i did straight away.I asked for compensation to buy a new subframe.He suggested sending one to me from a cooper that he was stripping because it would be better for me to have a fully built up one,so i went along with it (i'm still learning)

Anyway, that was 2 months ago.I've sent him loads of e-mails and he just makes excuses.I've told him the car is stripped down ready and i'm biking to work.Every weekend he says it will arrive and it doesn't.I'm beginning to lose hope.I'm sure there are good mini specialists out there but i found a bad one.He knows that i won't visit him because he is 4 hrs away.

I'm not sure what to do next.The car should never have had an mot.I think by stalling he knows that i will find it almost impossible to prove the facts.

Oh..He also warns about 8" oversills on his website claiming "always fit genuine parts".....Guess what he fitted on mine?.(I only realised this recently and i think he took advantage of my naivety after i admitted i knew nothing about mini's)He told me they were "late type larger sills and were better"I can't afford a new subframe but will accept a used one and fit it myself.I think this is very reasonable



Sorry about the rant guys,i should have joined a community like this before i parted with my cash.On the plus side,the car is running well,(after doing the head gasket-but that's another story)is very tidy and looks well and i'm loving every minute of it

Ade.

absoloutly shock him by turning up on his drive, with the mini, show him the bad points and ask him to fix it. People shouldnt stand for this trash, especially with minis!