Warning

[Doofer]

This is just to inform our bikers of the misfortune my husband recently had with a company in Chesterfield in England. After saving up our money for a long time, my husband began his dream of getting a one of custom build, we contacted a company with a view to have a customised frame but on speaking to the owner he seemed to have a real idea of what kinda one off my hubby actually was after and we agreed to use this shop to build the entire bike. The fact that he had also won British Biker Build Off on men and motors also encouraged us. We had already purchased a 1340 EVO engine and along with exhausts, forward controls and tanks we got the whole lot shipped to the shop. The shop requested payment of £6500 to allow them to purchase other required parts and this was duly set. I should point out this was all during Summer 2006. Last week we finally had to go over to the shop (we live in Northern Ireland) and bring back the original parts we shipped over. No work (with the exception of the frame build) had ever been completed on the build and despite emails ensuring us that work was straming ahead and 10 trips (rather expensive as well) to the shop where we received guarantee after guarantee we finally had to cut our loses. We got our parts back (altho they had removed the Harley Davidson spark plugs from the engine) and they did allow us to take the frame but the £6500 cash was not returned to us nor any parts other than what we sent over and the frame. On contacting various organisations I discovered that BSH magazine refuse to take advertsising from the company or cover them in any was as they are aware of how they operate, also MAG are aware of them and the solicitor they put me in contact with is also aware of them and has received numerous complaints of a similiar nature. But apparently it is impossible to chase a man of straw, so we must cut our loses. This was a lot of money to us and has left us with some parts, down money and no-one to build the bike for us. It has been a very stressful and expensive learning curve and anyone out there thinking of going down a similar path be very careful where you go to

[indie]

id buy a cheap old bus and drive it straight through the place

[Doofer]

Hubby is devasted, like I say, we had saved and saved for this and taken a loan and 2 and a half years later we are back where we started, actually were not, we are further back, we have a loan, lost a large percentage of our saving and husband has no bike, he had to sell his bike to help finance the build. I know it could be worse but knowing that doesnt actually help much at the minute. And according to the solicitors and biking organisations we have contacted there is nothing we can do. I think the shop always knew they had us over a barrell anyway

[Spree]

Sad to hear that Doofer, it certainly makes you think twice about paying for work upfront doesn't it

[grotbag]

Thank you for the warning Doofer.

I should point out this was all during Summer 2006. Last week we finally had to go over to the shop and bring back the original parts we shipped over.

10 trips to the shop

10 trips to the shop yet you let 'no progress' continue for 2 years?

On contacting various organisations I discovered that BSH magazine refuse to take advertsising from the company or cover them in any was as they are aware of how they operate, also MAG are aware of them and the solicitor they put me in contact with is also aware of them and has received numerous complaints of a similiar nature.

I would have though the first place to go would be the Police or Trading Standards?



A complaint about another 'shop' was posted in the forum in the not too distant past and as there are two side's to every story, both parties involved posted on this forum. It's possible your bike builder is a member and may respond to you.


With all due respect, this seem's to be the business of the solicitor's, trading standards and police etc, rather than this forum.

[BLACKPANTHER]

I'd be on to as many bike mags as possible to get this story in peoples minds and hopefully see this w&*%er put out of business.....MCN would be my first port of call.

[jonnywombat]

Not that i'm ever likely to be in the market for a custom build, but thanks for the heads up...
Sorry to hear about your problems, it really sucks that there is no legal recourse for you. There is something wrong when you can't get your own money back.

[Manky Cat]

With all due respect, this seem's to be the business of the solicitor's, trading standards and police etc, rather than this forum.[/quote]

While it is sad to hear story's like this, thats both a well balanced view and and food for thought gb...

[Doofer]

Hi we did contact Trading Standards, Office of Fair Trading, citizens Advice etc etc but as the shop in question stopped trading as one name and changed to another we were told we had no rights whatsoever. They remained trading from the same premises and the same people were employed etc etc. And when you are over a barrell like that you try to hold out and mimise your losses. Unfortunately in our case this was to no avail. I have contact BSH, MCN, 100% Biker etc etc, BSH are already aware and refuse to advertise said company, I contatced MAG who are also aware of said company. And I have posted on this forum, this is simply as a warning to others who may be considering going down the same road. We did check things out but at that stage (Summer 2006) everything appeared OK with this company, BSH said it wasnt until Xmas 2006 that they became aware of the problem and by that stage it would have been too late for us anyway. A learning curve if nothing else.

On a more positive note anyone have any ideas on where we could get the build continued?

[grotbag]

Try google -

Results 1 - 10 of about 35,900 for Custom motorcycle builders.