I have paid 1400 pounds to have a business plan made up, via a friend of a friend, he told me originally he cud do it in a couple of days, but he'd do it cheaper for me, that normally he charged £700 a day! but would charge me £350p.day.
I had given him, all the numbers to crunch, and all the details of whole business idea. Next visit, he tells me he needs a couple more days, at further cost of £700!! Yes, I know at this point, im realising my costly mistake..all we did was 'proofread' what he'd basicly copied off my original idea's plan, and yes, had done some number crunching, costs of investment needed, how much projected sales, but again from my basic figures..when it came to the third time, and he asked for anotha £700 I called him2 cancel the meet with story that I couldnt raise the 3rd £700 and we'd have to stop where we were, with apologies. He told me not to worry, to come to the meet anyway and that as id already paid so much, that he would take all future payments out of the investment once secured.. ..again, it was a day of long drawn out proof reading and correcting his secretarys typing errors, the plan hadnt changed much in essence from the first meeting!
All of this was done without written contracts and bad for me, without receipts!! Again, i realise my mistakes, but it was started on a very informal setting..at first..
Finally feeling im being had, i showed the only plan i had, with our red penned amendments, printed off his office documents (no spread sheets!!) to a business man I know..who promptly told me not to pay him a penny more, that it was totally amateur (which I had gathered and Im not exactly a prosperous business woman..yet! ) He told me to ask him to return my plans via email or disc.. so that then he cud go thru and help me.. wich I did, and it was then it turnd nasty!
He refused to send what he called the completed report, until I had paid £700 PLUS £1050 that had somewhere been 'accrued' and that it would take a further 3days work to complete and was reluctant to release it until it was finished. In all that totals £4,200 for a very amateur plan/report.. thats not even on a workable disc, to make amendments, with changes in the economical climate might make necessary. Not only that he is holding onto MY plans, my intellectual property im told.. which is if done correctly worth 5million euro's a year when finished!!?? He could sell this idea to the highest bidder!! I feel so sick!
I have since on various advice ignored his 3further demands for cash.. but now he has twice sent me letter telling me he is going to call legal bailiffs onto me, in now 5days!!
I cant afford a lawyer/solicitor as he has wiped my surplus cash right up! Any advice..but without tellin me Ive been incredibly naieve, cos I know that.. my first lesson in the business world!! Sadly!
What can I do from here.. more than anything I want my plans back.. ( I have copies but thats not the point) and even if i got them back, he's got a hard copy and its on his hard drive anyway.. I cant believe how we cant protect ourselves from this sorta thing. How does one trust Anyone anymore..
That wasnt meant to be in relationships.. it changed itself somehow.. sorry..
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Answer by hairhorn
threatening to send baliffs and actually sending them are two very different things.
you should probably pre-empt him and take HIM to court. If you can find some money of course.
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Orignal From: Ive been conned and now he wants to take me to court??!! Sorry its a long one!?
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