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Advice required please

ArtistsRifles

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ArtistsRifles

ArtistsRifles

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OK folks I have something more than a slight problem right now and could use some advice.

 

Just over 2 years ago I left my Landrover 109" FFR in a secure storage area to be repainted. When it went it was running fine and intact.

Problems with the Stolly kept me away till just after W&P this year - when I finally got back there I found to my horror over £900 worth of either damage or missing parts inc. the chassis ID plate from the drivers seat box. The cost of damage has been determined by checking Paddocks and Craddock's websites for those parts identified as missing or damaged.

So - as it stands right now my Landie is a pile of scrap with no ID as there is no way I can afford to repair/replace £900 worth of parts.

 

Questions I have are:

 

The keys were left with an individual and, last time I saw it, the vehicle it was locked up. The fact it is now unlocked suggests that the key holder has been complicit in what has occurred - do any of you legal experts out there know if this person can be held liable for whats been done? I have managed -eventually - to contact the person to get the keys returned and was assured they would be placed in the vehicle. This has not in fact happened.

 

Is this something that insurance will cover or is the fact it was in allegedly secure storage going to be a let-out clause (Insured with Footman James).

 

It's not been reported to the police yet - it will be this week unless a miracle happens in the mean time but I'd like to know where I stand as the ones believed responsible were ones I thought of as friends and I hate being taken for a sucker!!

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Simon Daymond

Simon Daymond

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Firstly what a bloody shame, but I think you're in for a lot of grief with this one? You say you left the vehicle for painting, was this with a company or an individual offering a service on the side? If it were a company, you could claim against them and it could be a claim on their insurance, however an individual working on the side is unlikely to have any cover in place.

 

However, for the Police to do anything, they would need proof, holding keys isn't proof, as the chap in question could have simply forgotten to lock it, and although this could then allow some of the damage, through easy access, I doubt it would be enough to get a prosecution, without which how can you hope to make this chap reimburse you?

 

I think it might be better to walk away, as I can't see how anything you do now can make things better, unless you feel the vehicle was clearly in this other person's care, and therefore you could I suppose hold him liable for allowing the damage rather than blaming him for actually carrying it out, if he has failed to keep your vehicle safe by locking it etc? If you took this course it would be a civil matter, and would be for you to sue him for the damage.

 

It's really annoying, as you most likely know what happened, but proving it will be a different thing, unless you have proof, i.e. someone who saw the vehicle being stripped, saw the parts that were yours on another vehicle etc?

 

From my own experience: years ago I had a Ford Escort. It was parked in my yard, shared with another business. One weekend, we went away and I left it at work on the Friday night. We returned Sunday night to find my car on blocks, and the entire N/S suspension and wheel assembly missing. We noticed that there was a Escort Van parked outside the neighbouring unit, with evidencer of the recent fitment of a N/S wheel assembly and suspecsion strut etc. A blind man could see it had been nicked from my car, but nothing could be done, I even had the Police dust it for prints etc. I know that the thieving scum who occupied the unit next to mine not only nicked the suspension strut off my car for a customer's van, leaving mine immobile, and even to the copper it was obvious, but there was supposedly nothing that could be done. ( so I nicked it back :) )

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Markheliops

Markheliops

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Bad news Neil.

 

Unfortunately I am with Simon on this one mate.

 

By all means go to the Police and see what can be done but I suspect as you willingly handed over the keys to another person - you will struggle for any sort of legal case.

 

Secondly I also suspect that you will have no luck with an insurance claim as again you handed over the keys willingly and I would gather that as you haven't seen the vehicle for 2 years - it wasn't taxed (if it needs a tax disc) and we all know if a vehicle isn't displaying a road tax (whether zero rated or not) it is not covered by insurance as in the small print.

 

Best thing - send the boys round - who said that!!!!!

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diamond-t-steve

diamond-t-steve

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You need to report it to the police asap if only to cover yourself. If the chassis id plate has gone then there could be a Landrover driving around with your number plates on and if that person breaks any laws i.e. speed cameras or parking tickets ect it will come back to you. Once you report the crime to the police you will not be liable. Also the police will give you a crime number which you will need in any insurance claim should you decide to go allong that route.

 

 

Regards...Steve.

Edited by diamond-t-steve
spelling :-(
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ArtistsRifles

ArtistsRifles

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Spoken to a police officer today - have to go to an Essex constabulary nick ASAP to file the official report. As expected - the missing chassis plate attracted the bulk of the attention.

 

As for just letting it go - wish I could. But I found the hard way at W&P this year that walking to and from the LH field 4 times a day killed my feet. Badly. So I planned on using the Landie next year - and as the paintwork had not been done despite numerous promises I was going to take her back home and do it myself.

Sadly the cost of the parts involved plus the fact I cannot get the keys back from the so-called "friend" who has them means it is now beyond my means to repair - my company pension barely covers the cost of running the house - so I am left with essentially a pile of scrap for breaking.... :mad: And I seriously doubt what I get for the parts will cover the cost of transport for next year. Using the Stolly as a runabout is non-starter for oh so many reasons.

 

The REALLY big fear though is this - the Landie is in the same storage location the Stolly normally lives in (fortunately she is currently elsewhere having more remedial work done) and as we all know - the parts on one of these are worth a lot more than a Landies. If they start going walkies as well........

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ArtistsRifles

ArtistsRifles

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Thanks guys - this is most generous and much appreciated!! Not to mention totally unexpected!! Yet again HMVF may be able to the rescue.

 

I've attached (I hope!) a PDF file taken from the excel sheet that lists all that we found when checking the vehicle. It might well turn out that there is yet more horror to find but for now this seems to be the extent of it.

 

Repair costs (parts) for Landrover at Fort - no images.pdf

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ArtistsRifles

ArtistsRifles

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Obviously upsetting, but with a following tailwind it looks like a couple of hundred quid and a lot of elbow grease to get this vehicle mobile again. Doesn't feel like quite the basket case it may have looked... :undecided:

 

The parts prices quoted come from Craddocks/Paddocks/C&S Tats web sites. Totals out at some £947 - of which some £330 is for the slashed tilt. Rest is all odds and sods - but it totals up when the only known source of supply are the dealers listed.

 

A replacement starter (24v) is £150 exchange - I've been told who has mine in this one instance though, same guy who was supposed to be painting it so the initial temptation is to wander down one day and swap them back... Knowing my luck - I'll be the one that gets shafted though if I do......

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