A couple of years back when I took on my first job, one of the first things I did was to buy my dad a new car. My dad has only driven old cars. I remember when we were kids, he had this old Morris Marina and on the way to church there was a thunderstorm, the wiper stopped working and the bonnet flew up covering the window. I have no idea how he managed to pull over and close the bonnet back, but that was probably the best car we had growing up. And so it was really nice to get him a brand new car. He was so happy.
After a few months, the new car had a small dent (it happens) so my dad sent it to a workshop for a paint job. Unfortunately at the workshop, a 3 tonne lorry smashed into the car.
Coincidentally the workshop claimed to represent the car manufacturer and the police were there recognizing the credibility of the workshop. They claimed to be able to replace all brand new parts as the car was under manufacturer's warranty. I agreed to the repair.
Unfortunately they half-cut the car and patch it with another junk car. It only cost them 10% of the insurance amount they filed for the repair.
It was fraud and an illegal move but they paid off the car legal inspection to claim it was safe. There are certain angles that you can half cut the car so that it won’t split open, but they did not abide by any engineering rules either.
I refused to take the car and filed a police report but they also paid off the cops. I filed 11 reports, and no actions were taken. There was a time I remembered the cops just laughed.
And all throughout this time I served the car loan for my dad’s car (and my car) so that my credit scores didn't get hammered. And I also had to pay off the numerous summons under my name and parking tickets the workshop caused me as they were using it.
I asked the bank to repossess the car but they could not enter private premises. I spoke to the car insurance and that’s when they told me they had many cases like this and it was a massive car scam.
Eventually I took the case to court. I won the case, and was awarded a very decent sum of money as reimbursement. My dad passed away before this so he never knew I won the case.
But I soon learned that winning a case and getting the money is two different things.
The workshop filed for bankruptcy, as they also defaulted payments to the banks.
There is a gov’t insolvency agency who is in charge of liquidation and after 4 years of me following up on the money, they sent a letter 2 weeks ago saying the workshop has no assets and they will not be pursuing liquidation.
I don’t know if they were paid off too but corruption is so common here, it won’t be surprising to me.
The workshop is humongous, with a lot of tractors and big machinery. Ironically, they are still in operation, just registered under a diff company name.
A lawyer friend of mine asked me to go down the path of engaging the courts to hire private liquidators instead.
It would be nice to have the money but the thought of another legal process is just overwhelming. I have not been able to decide.
Sometimes I want to stand for what I believe in, but sometimes I’m so beaten down I just want to give up and move on.
pam
npub1pvg…dx8c
2024-04-22 14:51:31
Author Public Key
npub1pvgcusxk7006hvtlyx555erhq8c5pk9svw57snlxujpkgnkup89sekdx8cPublished at
2024-04-22 14:51:31Event JSON
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"content": "A couple of years back when I took on my first job, one of the first things I did was to buy my dad a new car. My dad has only driven old cars. I remember when we were kids, he had this old Morris Marina and on the way to church there was a thunderstorm, the wiper stopped working and the bonnet flew up covering the window. I have no idea how he managed to pull over and close the bonnet back, but that was probably the best car we had growing up. And so it was really nice to get him a brand new car. He was so happy. \n\nAfter a few months, the new car had a small dent (it happens) so my dad sent it to a workshop for a paint job. Unfortunately at the workshop, a 3 tonne lorry smashed into the car.\n\nCoincidentally the workshop claimed to represent the car manufacturer and the police were there recognizing the credibility of the workshop. They claimed to be able to replace all brand new parts as the car was under manufacturer's warranty. I agreed to the repair.\n\nUnfortunately they half-cut the car and patch it with another junk car. It only cost them 10% of the insurance amount they filed for the repair. \n\nIt was fraud and an illegal move but they paid off the car legal inspection to claim it was safe. There are certain angles that you can half cut the car so that it won’t split open, but they did not abide by any engineering rules either. \n\nI refused to take the car and filed a police report but they also paid off the cops. I filed 11 reports, and no actions were taken. There was a time I remembered the cops just laughed. \n\nAnd all throughout this time I served the car loan for my dad’s car (and my car) so that my credit scores didn't get hammered. And I also had to pay off the numerous summons under my name and parking tickets the workshop caused me as they were using it. \n\nI asked the bank to repossess the car but they could not enter private premises. I spoke to the car insurance and that’s when they told me they had many cases like this and it was a massive car scam.\n\nEventually I took the case to court. I won the case, and was awarded a very decent sum of money as reimbursement. My dad passed away before this so he never knew I won the case.\n\nBut I soon learned that winning a case and getting the money is two different things.\n\nThe workshop filed for bankruptcy, as they also defaulted payments to the banks.\n\nThere is a gov’t insolvency agency who is in charge of liquidation and after 4 years of me following up on the money, they sent a letter 2 weeks ago saying the workshop has no assets and they will not be pursuing liquidation.\n\nI don’t know if they were paid off too but corruption is so common here, it won’t be surprising to me.\n\nThe workshop is humongous, with a lot of tractors and big machinery. Ironically, they are still in operation, just registered under a diff company name.\n\nA lawyer friend of mine asked me to go down the path of engaging the courts to hire private liquidators instead.\n\nIt would be nice to have the money but the thought of another legal process is just overwhelming. I have not been able to decide.\n\nSometimes I want to stand for what I believe in, but sometimes I’m so beaten down I just want to give up and move on. \n",
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}