## WARNING ## @ BLOKE

[Crybert]

He’s fucked up and I think he knows it from the reply. It’s a shame it comes to this. One bad experience and any reputation goes to s**t. Hopefully they can get it sorted

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

There is a reason I avoid car groups on FB. I joined a couple of Fiesta ones as I have been looking at buying an ST and the stuff you read on there is unbelievable. God forbid you ask a simple question, you just seem to get lynched. Social media really does bring out the worst in people.

This sounds like a much more complex story than the original posts suggest anyway. Talk of Police involvement and assaults doesn't sound good either way.

 

[Eddie555]

@Eddie555 - I see your point, but what build takes a specialist 18 months to complete ... ? Does that car look likes its 18 months in to a build or 18 months on the back burner?

Well, personally speaking, no build should take 18months if :

• All parts are available.
• Payment/prepayment terms are adhered to.
• Build time agreed with both parties.

Carl has already said that it was mostly his own fault for taking a bit too much on..

And if it was me, I would have gone and picked my car up and got someone else to do it..

The part I will not understand is why would anyone want to leave it for 18 months?.





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[imprezaworks]

Agreed

 

[White16valver]

The part I will not understand is why would anyone want to leave it for 18 months?.

Some people are very conflict-averse and don't like to make a fuss, especially with 'blokes' who may be 'robust' in their response to any implied or overt accusations of accidental or intentional wrongdoing.

 

[steviekyle13793]

OP works offshore for 3+ months at a time. He was filled with numerous empty promises and he put Carl's reputation first, thinking that he would eventually pull through and make amends.

There was a similar bust up around June/July time on a smaller scale, where Carl promised to have the car ready for August/September. OP went back offshore to work and when he came home and it wasn't completed decided to retrieve the car.

He messaged Carl everyday last week telling him he was coming to collect the car on Saturday and Carl ignored every message, it's a 3+ hour drive each way to get to Carl. OP rented a trailer and a stihl saw, Carl was not present and the unit was locked. When he began cutting the locks off, Carl seen this on his CCTV and phoned the police and made his way down.

There was a lot of words said between both parties. Carls son laughed in the face if the OP and his mate so the OPs mate give him a thump and was then temporarily arrested until the situation calmed down.

OP was encouraged to stay clear of Carl by the police, get his car on the trailer and leave to avoid any more confrontation. It wasn't until the car was home and off the trailer that the extent of the damages were present. Hoses chopped rather than removed, bolts missing, no cams in the engine, loose spark plugs exposed to the rain so engine is full of water, exposed sensors and plugs rusted over due to water ingress, chopped battery tray ... you get the picture.

There was a delay in the payment of the turbo but I believe this was paid off towards the end of 2018 so this wasn't the reason for the delay. This is shown by the fact that Carl had agreed a completion date of August/September after the first bust up.

This is completely undeniable poor workmanship from Carl. OPs car is now in a state where it drove in to the workshop as a 330bhp Megane with a forged engine in perfect working condition, to leaving 18 months later in boxes and a engine in need of a full rebuild.

 

[Eddie555]

OP works offshore for 3+ months at a time. He was filled with numerous empty promises and he put Carl's reputation first, thinking that he would eventually pull through and make amends.

There was a similar bust up around June/July time on a smaller scale, where Carl promised to have the car ready for August/September. OP went back offshore to work and when he came home and it wasn't completed decided to retrieve the car.

He messaged Carl everyday last week telling him he was coming to collect the car on Saturday and Carl ignored every message, it's a 3+ hour drive each way to get to Carl. OP rented a trailer and a stihl saw, Carl was not present and the unit was locked. When he began cutting the locks off, Carl seen this on his CCTV and phoned the police and made his way down.

There was a lot of words said between both parties. Carls son laughed in the face if the OP and his mate so the OPs mate give him a thump and was then temporarily arrested until the situation calmed down.

OP was encouraged to stay clear of Carl by the police, get his car on the trailer and leave to avoid any more confrontation. It wasn't until the car was home and off the trailer that the extent of the damages were present. Hoses chopped rather than removed, bolts missing, no cams in the engine, loose spark plugs exposed to the rain so engine is full of water, exposed sensors and plugs rusted over due to water ingress, chopped battery tray ... you get the picture.

There was a delay in the payment of the turbo but I believe this was paid off towards the end of 2018 so this wasn't the reason for the delay. This is shown by the fact that Carl had agreed a completion date of August/September after the first bust up.

This is completely undeniable poor workmanship from Carl. OPs car is now in a state where it drove in to the workshop as a 330bhp Megane with a forged engine in perfect working condition, to leaving 18 months later in boxes and a engine in need of a full rebuild.

Well if that's the truth and BTW I dont disbelieve it's the truth.. It would have better to have explained it in this manner right from the beginning.........

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[steviekyle13793]

Yeah I agree, but I guess red mist played a major part in the OPs post and he just wanted to get the message out there, whilst understandably being full of hell.

It'll be interesting to see the final result of this.

 

[Nathan Evans]

Rob‘s and Jackson’s cars spring to mind 😂

 

[davo172]

OP works offshore for 3+ months at a time. He was filled with numerous empty promises and he put Carl's reputation first, thinking that he would eventually pull through and make amends.

There was a similar bust up around June/July time on a smaller scale, where Carl promised to have the car ready for August/September. OP went back offshore to work and when he came home and it wasn't completed decided to retrieve the car.

He messaged Carl everyday last week telling him he was coming to collect the car on Saturday and Carl ignored every message, it's a 3+ hour drive each way to get to Carl. OP rented a trailer and a stihl saw, Carl was not present and the unit was locked. When he began cutting the locks off, Carl seen this on his CCTV and phoned the police and made his way down.

There was a lot of words said between both parties. Carls son laughed in the face if the OP and his mate so the OPs mate give him a thump and was then temporarily arrested until the situation calmed down.

OP was encouraged to stay clear of Carl by the police, get his car on the trailer and leave to avoid any more confrontation. It wasn't until the car was home and off the trailer that the extent of the damages were present. Hoses chopped rather than removed, bolts missing, no cams in the engine, loose spark plugs exposed to the rain so engine is full of water, exposed sensors and plugs rusted over due to water ingress, chopped battery tray ... you get the picture.

There was a delay in the payment of the turbo but I believe this was paid off towards the end of 2018 so this wasn't the reason for the delay. This is shown by the fact that Carl had agreed a completion date of August/September after the first bust up.

This is completely undeniable poor workmanship from Carl. OPs car is now in a state where it drove in to the workshop as a 330bhp Megane with a forged engine in perfect working condition, to leaving 18 months later in boxes and a engine in need of a full rebuild.

f**king shocking tbh.

 

[davo172]

Well, personally speaking, no build should take 18months if :

• All parts are available.
• Payment/prepayment terms are adhered to.
• Build time agreed with both parties.

Carl has already said that it was mostly his own fault for taking a bit too much on..

And if it was me, I would have gone and picked my car up and got someone else to do it..

The part I will not understand is why would anyone want to leave it for 18 months?.





Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk

Twice as quick as fred thou ask sharkey! 🤣🤣

 

[npt]

There are others had issues also, was one last week about him selling parts, money paid to him and never received them 2 months later, again he never responded to emails etc and his post was deleted by the admin, second one ive seen in the last month, boys a prick end off imo

 

[william84]

It's a shame on both parties as both will definitely feel this financially...

Hope it all works out in the end where both parties are happy and the situation resolved..

11years of owner ship so by my figures the op has atleast 20-30k invested and a lot of love for his car clearly.

I wonder if anyone else in the op's shoes would feel awch it's ok I'll go somewhere else. As not many mechanics I know would touch a project as in my opinion that's what it is now...

Very sad day tbh.

@bloke has gave invaluable experience and help on this forum and is clearly respected by others, it's a shame to shoot him down for a few bad jobs when clearly the good out weights the bad...

Communication is the key...

 

[SharkyUK]

Twice as quick as fred thou ask sharkey! 🤣🤣

I feel like I should and could offer some lengthy reply here, but I can't be arsed anymore. I feel sorry for the Megane owner, I really do. My Trophy has been 'away' for some 7 years of the 12 years I've owned it with specialists and owes me big time. Sure, I'm a tw*t for wasting over 40 grand on a Clio and to come away with nothing having trusted 'specialists' to work on my car. The 'wrong' specialists as it turned out. Damn right I'm bitter and damn right I can wholly sympathise with the Megane owner. I hope there's some way a half-decent ending can be reached for those involved.

 

[steviekyle13793]

Yeah the OP believed he had just shy of 30k invested in the car including the initial cost price.

I do agree with @william84 stating that Carl has offered an abundance of advice on this forum and helped a lot of people out. However, speaking from personal experience, and I know @Gus is another, Mr. Greer also offered a lot of valuable advice on this forum and helped a lot of people out. Look how that saga ended ...

Reputation is all well and good but the bad can't just be overlooked because he has done some good work. The Andy Greer situation went on for far too long, especially on this forum because he was an admin and it kept getting overlooked before enough was finally enough. At what point do we say we have to draw the line and make these cowboys face the music before more people begin to suffer?

 

[Eddie555]

@bloke has gave invaluable experience and help on this forum and is clearly respected by others, it's a shame to shoot him down for a few bad jobs when clearly the good out weights the bad...

Communication is the key...

THIS^^^^

Fortunately for me, but I'm sure something will pop up, I've not had to many issues. And that's because I've read many of other peoples threads where by @bloke has helped immensely with other peoples problems and therefore when I have have had a hiccup I've been able to refer back.. We are all human, we all have our faults and make mistakes but we cant just go and curse and turn our backs on someone that has helped EVERYONE in the past... obviously both parties need our support as a "community" and cursing and slagging people off is not a resolve..

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[william84]

Yeah the OP believed he had just shy of 30k invested in the car including the initial cost price.

I do agree with @william84 stating that Carl has offered an abundance of advice on this forum and helped a lot of people out. However, speaking from personal experience, and I know @Gus is another, Mr. Greer also offered a lot of valuable advice on this forum and helped a lot of people out. Look how that saga ended ...

Reputation is all well and good but the bad can't just be overlooked because he has done some good work. The Andy Greer situation went on for far too long, especially on this forum because he was an admin and it kept getting overlooked before enough was finally enough. At what point do we say we have to draw the line and make these cowboys face the music before more people begin to suffer?

I have to agree

 

[william84]

THIS^^^^

Fortunately for me, but I'm sure something will pop up, I've not had to many issues. And that's because I've read many of other peoples threads where by @bloke has helped immensely with other peoples problems and therefore when I have have had a hiccup I've been able to refer back.. We are all human, we all have our faults and make mistakes but we cant just go and curse and turn our backs on someone that has helped EVERYONE in the past... obviously both parties need our support as a "community" and cursing and slagging people off is not a resolve..

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Very well put 👍

 

[steviekyle13793]

I do agree in that both parties need help to get back on their feet. However, what happens here? This all gets brushed under the carpet and the OP is left with a car in bits and a massive dent in his pocket. Carl gets away with a small blemish on his reputation whilst still trading on here ... ?

For me, the only way Carl could possibly salvage his reputation and the OP come out of this relatively happy would be to put this right in an agreed, timely manner. Do it to a very high standard and admit to his wrong doings and say look, I messed up. I've held my hands up, I've done this to put it right.

On the flip side of that, if I was the OP I wouldn't be overly confident handing my car back to him so I genuinely don't know where this goes from here.

 

[Iain C]

This happens so often i wonder why people actually bother having their car tuned!

 

[william84]

Diy

 

[davo172]

This happens so often i wonder why people actually bother having their car tuned!

Yep it does make you wonder.

 

[SharkyUK]

Diy

If only it were that simple sir - sadly not everyone has the skills, knowledge or time. That's why many entrust our pride and joys with those who do. That's the boat I was in. I wouldn't trust a Renaultsport specialist to write software for Pixar and nobody in their right mind would trust me with performing a high-boost forged build either!

For the record, I have absolutely no personal issue with Carl / bloke - I know he's done a lot of good for many people. I'm purely commenting on my own situation - but can fully empathise / sympathise with the owner. It simply should not have got to the point it did. As said, I hope a resolution is reached that is fair (albeit unlikely).

 

[R3k1355]

I'd imagine it'll need to end up in court.

The water-logged engine sounds like the big ticket item.

 

[Crybert]

I do agree in that both parties need help to get back on their feet. However, what happens here? This all gets brushed under the carpet and the OP is left with a car in bits and a massive dent in his pocket. Carl gets away with a small blemish on his reputation whilst still trading on here ... ?

For me, the only way Carl could possibly salvage his reputation and the OP come out of this relatively happy would be to put this right in an agreed, timely manner. Do it to a very high standard and admit to his wrong doings and say look, I messed up. I've held my hands up, I've done this to put it right.

On the flip side of that, if I was the OP I wouldn't be overly confident handing my car back to him so I genuinely don't know where this goes from here.

You need to be careful with starting a which hunt.

 

[steviekyle13793]

You need to be careful with starting a which hunt.

What do you mean mate?

 

[Crybert]

What do you mean mate?

The way you’re calling for his head basically. This thread alone has probably ruined his reputation and the Facebook posts have stuck the knife in and twisted.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

There seems to be a lot of comments being made based on what people have read on Facebook, rather than those who are directly involved, i.e. the customer who is upset and the proprietor of the business, i.e. bloke.

A bit of caution is required perhaps, as there might be a lot more to this than meets the eye, from either side.

 

[steviekyle13793]

I'm not calling for his head as such. I'm merely stating facts and trying to find a means of both parties losing as little as possible. If this was my car I would 100% be calling for his head as I'd be furious as I'm sure yourself and everyone else would be so can't blame the OP in the slightest. Most people would have made sure Carl was leaving in an ambulance if that was their own car.

I do think he does need outed for his wrong doings here otherwise this will just become acceptable and that is all I'm trying to do. I got burned hard off Andy Greer so I'm just trying to prevent others going in the same direction.

I'm very good mates with the OP as most have probably guessed so I have followed this story from start to finish hence can back up every word I've said on here. The OP is a Megane owner so isn't in here hence me fighting his corner although I've chose not to comment on the facebook groups.

Another mate of mine went down there a few weeks before the Megane was dropped off for some 197 cams fitting to his 172 Cup and swore by Carl, thus the OP trusting his word and chose to take his own car there. So I have experience of both the good and bad with Carl.

 

[JB21]

I've had work done by him in the past and lets just say I wouldn't use his services again.

I do feel sorry for the guy with the Megane though as he's surly the innocent party in all this. Ultimately he left him with a perfectly healthy car and 18 months later has to retrieve it waterlogged and in bits.

IME you live and learn so this time when I've needed major engine work I'm learning how to do it myself.

 

[welshname]

Just going to throw it out there that anyone taking their car to one of the "newer" specialists for serious work is taking a risk.

I don't care who they are or how big their following is, if I was getting belts done then fair enough it's less of a risk. Most competent people on here can do it on their driveway so it's no big deal. But getting £1000's worth of work done is stupid. There are enough places around that will get the job done that are long time specialists who do this level of work day in and day out and aren't just regular "mechanics".

If one bad review can take down the business then it's not a well established business. RS Tuning for example, renowned in the RenaultSport community, but also within several others. That's where I'd be taking my car for a big bit of work.

My guess is that bloke was cheaper than some of the quotes the OP had been given so that's the real reason they went that route.

 

[botfch]

I'm not calling for his head as such. I'm merely stating facts and trying to find a means of both parties losing as little as possible. If this was my car I would 100% be calling for his head as I'd be furious as I'm sure yourself and everyone else would be so can't blame the OP in the slightest. Most people would have made sure Carl was leaving in an ambulance if that was their own car.

I do think he does need outed for his wrong doings here otherwise this will just become acceptable and that is all I'm trying to do. I got burned hard off Andy Greer so I'm just trying to prevent others going in the same direction.

I'm very good mates with the OP as most have probably guessed so I have followed this story from start to finish hence can back up every word I've said on here. The OP is a Megane owner so isn't in here hence me fighting his corner although I've chose not to comment on the facebook groups.

Another mate of mine went down there a few weeks before the Megane was dropped off for some 197 cams fitting to his 172 Cup and swore by Carl, thus the OP trusting his word and chose to take his own car there. So I have experience of both the good and bad with Carl.

What a stupid thing to say, it's a car ffs.

 

[steviekyle13793]

What a stupid thing to say, it's a car ffs.

Guessing you haven't been reading peoples replies on the Facebook groups mate. I for one would be causing hell on if my car for 11 years that I was £30,000 deep in was left in this state after 18 months. I'm guessing you would just laugh it off and tell him not to worry about it though ...

 

[welshname]

Guessing you haven't been reading peoples replies on the Facebook groups mate. I for one would be causing hell on if my car for 11 years that I was £30,000 deep in was left in this state after 18 months. I'm guessing you would just laugh it off and tell him not to worry about it though ...

I'm guessing he'd go through the courts / police like an actual none mouth breathing adult. Bloke should have insurance for incidents like this.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Guessing you haven't been reading peoples replies on the Facebook groups mate. I for one would be causing hell on if my car for 11 years that I was £30,000 deep in was left in this state after 18 months. I'm guessing you would just laugh it off and tell him not to worry about it though ...

Get them away from a keyboard and I bet 95% of those wouldn't say boo to a goose. Anyone can be a hard man on the internet, as seen on here many times.

 

[leeds_182]

I’ve never been self employed but I don’t understand businesses that don’t understand the importance of customer updates.

Take 30 mins out of a week to email / text / call your customers to let them know what’s happening. If you’re struggling, let them know and they might be alright about it.

If nothing else, this is terrible customer service and there’s never any excuse for that in my opinion.

 

[botfch]

Guessing you haven't been reading peoples replies on the Facebook groups mate. I for one would be causing hell on if my car for 11 years that I was £30,000 deep in was left in this state after 18 months. I'm guessing you would just laugh it off and tell him not to worry about it though ...

No I'd take him to court like a normal person...

 

[william84]

If only it were that simple sir - sadly not everyone has the skills, knowledge or time. That's why many entrust our pride and joys with those who do. That's the boat I was in. I wouldn't trust a Renaultsport specialist to write software for Pixar and nobody in their right mind would trust me with performing a high-boost forged build either!

For the record, I have absolutely no personal issue with Carl / bloke - I know he's done a lot of good for many people. I'm purely commenting on my own situation - but can fully empathise / sympathise with the owner. It simply should not have got to the point it did. As said, I hope a resolution is reached that is fair (albeit unlikely).

Was only putting it in there DIY is an option

 

[steviekyle13793]

No I'd take him to court like a normal person...

I don't believe he is even set up as a registered business so don't think it would even get to court.

Also, not everyone has the money sat there to pay for legal fees

 

[iimushroomzii]

Most people would have made sure Carl was leaving in an ambulance if that was their own car.

That's such a stupid thing to say! Absolutely no need for that. I wouldn't be surprised if threats like that are part of the reason Bloke didn't finish the car.