British couple done a runner with our money! | ExpatWoman.com
 

British couple done a runner with our money!

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 12:42

I can't believe that this has happened....be warned!

We bought a lovely Marina Table off a couple in Jumeirah last week from Dubizzle. We viewed the table, met them and arranged to have it collected a few days later. We left them 2500dhs deposit. We called them and they said they were out at the race track in Abu Dhabi but to call later in the week. They mentioned that they would be going on holiday to Europe so it would have to be before they left or next Saturday.

So this morning, my husband drove to the beach and passed the house...and they are GONE!! Everything gone. They are an older couple in Jumeriah and have been around for 8 years. They told us they planned to move back to the UK in July, that is why they were selling it.

I am so upset... We don't have alot of money and we were stretching to buy this table (which we need and have been looking for for over a year).

I am so angry! As desperate as they are, how can people do this??

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EW MASTER
Latest post on 03 April 2011 - 15:44
AED 2,500 is over £400, a lot of money to leave as a deposit. I would definitely try to see if the neighbours saw which company did their removals and chase them up to see if you can find the couple. I can't believe people would scam others like this. How can they enjoy spending your hard-earned cash? Ever heard of Bernie Madoff? He scammed his friends. It's not that uncommon.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2011 - 08:24
Op - where exactly is the villa in Jumeria? I might be able to help you
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 April 2011 - 06:38
AED 2,500 is over £400, a lot of money to leave as a deposit. I would definitely try to see if the neighbours saw which company did their removals and chase them up to see if you can find the couple. I can't believe people would scam others like this. How can they enjoy spending your hard-earned cash?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 22:11
No, it's Tikka Masala:)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 21:50
Although not sure eating your MIL's Roast Beef and Yorkshires every Sunday quite constitutes citizenship :) ....no...not unless you do fish and chips every Friday as well.... Isn't Chicken Korma Britain's most popular dish now anyway? (Yes, seriously!)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 21:38
Although not sure eating your MIL's Roast Beef and Yorkshires every Sunday quite constitutes citizenship :) ....no...not unless you do fish and chips every Friday as well....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 21:34
Coming from a Mediterranean country I am very cautious when dealing with other "Mediterranean people". One of the first things I learnt when I was a child is not to trust people. Then I went to the UK for a few years and my mind changed as British people (in Britain) are very decent. However, back in Dubai you find that a lot of people have a British passport (not being British in origin) and some of them definetely do not deserve it (we were scamed thorugh Dubizzle as well by a British person). It annoys me a lot. I was in the UK for 5 years, married a British person, went to have dinner every Sunday with my parents in law, contribute with my taxes to the NINO, I was a respecfull member f the society, my children will be British.... and I could not get the British passport. What annoys me is that the UK is giving passports away to people that have nothing to do with the UK and for people like me who tick all the boxes and even will produce British citizens we cannot be British.... People want British passports for a reason, if you are from a safe, Mediterranean country - why would you want/need a British passport? You'll get residency when you need it surely, by way of marriage? Although not sure eating your MIL's Roast Beef and Yorkshires every Sunday quite constitutes citizenship :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 12:39
Can I add my bit lol I left Dubai and the person having my villa agreed prices on some of the things I left He has kept saying oh yes money going into your account today / tomorrow / etc etc and it has now been almost 3 weeks and he knows I m not there to collect it But if he doesn t put it in my bank in the next couple of days I shall be sending friends around to take the furniture out of the villa as it still belongs to me !!!!! I would rather someone say look cant afford to pay you until ....... and then at least you know instead of lying !!!! Just a thought: You might want to provide some kind of proof - email exchange between you and said person (one notifying him that you will request some friends to stop by and collect the furniture (stating exactly what they will be collecting) forward said email to friend to have in hand and possibly receipts? Going to someone's home and demanding furniture with no proof could result in a phone call to the police - and without proof your friends could be in a situation they didn't anticipate (or you). I have emails from him promising that it was being deposited / transferred etc etc so I have as much as I need not only that I am coming back to Dubai in the next couple of weeks so he can look out !!!!!! lol
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 12:29
Coming from a Mediterranean country I am very cautious when dealing with other "Mediterranean people". One of the first things I learnt when I was a child is not to trust people. Then I went to the UK for a few years and my mind changed as British people (in Britain) are very decent. However, back in Dubai you find that a lot of people have a British passport (not being British in origin) and some of them definetely do not deserve it (we were scamed thorugh Dubizzle as well by a British person). It annoys me a lot. I was in the UK for 5 years, married a British person, went to have dinner every Sunday with my parents in law, contribute with my taxes to the NINO, I was a respecfull member f the society, my children will be British.... and I could not get the British passport. What annoys me is that the UK is giving passports away to people that have nothing to do with the UK and for people like me who tick all the boxes and even will produce British citizens we cannot be British....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 21:50
wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them. I know. It amazed me but wasn't too surprised by this couple in the first place. They were quite rude and agressive during the purchase of other plants. And on top of the plants they wanted everything under the sun from inside our house that we weren't getting rid of. But the two plants they stole were in massive clay pots that were quite expensive. Needless to say we got them back and they got a fine for theft. Only a fine??? that surprises me.... Yes because we got them back. We had the option to press further charges or let them pay a few thousand dirham fine for the theft.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 19:52
Caveat emptor.just the words she wanted to hear. wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them. I know. It amazed me but wasn't too surprised by this couple in the first place. They were quite rude and agressive during the purchase of other plants. And on top of the plants they wanted everything under the sun from inside our house that we weren't getting rid of. But the two plants they stole were in massive clay pots that were quite expensive. Needless to say we got them back and they got a fine for theft. Only a fine??? that surprises me....
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:56
wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them. I know. It amazed me but wasn't too surprised by this couple in the first place. They were quite rude and agressive during the purchase of other plants. And on top of the plants they wanted everything under the sun from inside our house that we weren't getting rid of. But the two plants they stole were in massive clay pots that were quite expensive. Needless to say we got them back and they got a fine for theft. Lol the scummy gits! Glad they got a fine, bet it brought them down a peg or two
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:47
Caveat emptor.just the words she wanted to hear. Well it is isn't it? It's a lesson learnt, a hard one and sympathy and all that but who leaves a deposit of that size to complete strangers? Quite obviously there are people who do. Is it a case of trusting your 'own' people? You should never pass money over to anyone unless you can afford to lose it regardless of colour, religion or nationality. Dubai is full of dodgy brits! It is not just the Brits that are dodgy, every nationality have them
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:43
Good for you, if someone wants something , just ask, they might just be given it. Some people think once outside the front of the villa even if in your walls ,you can take it. wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them. I know. It amazed me but wasn't too surprised by this couple in the first place. They were quite rude and agressive during the purchase of other plants. And on top of the plants they wanted everything under the sun from inside our house that we weren't getting rid of. But the two plants they stole were in massive clay pots that were quite expensive. Needless to say we got them back and they got a fine for theft.
542
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:32
wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them. I know. It amazed me but wasn't too surprised by this couple in the first place. They were quite rude and agressive during the purchase of other plants. And on top of the plants they wanted everything under the sun from inside our house that we weren't getting rid of. But the two plants they stole were in massive clay pots that were quite expensive. Needless to say we got them back and they got a fine for theft.
379
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:29
Can I add my bit lol I left Dubai and the person having my villa agreed prices on some of the things I left He has kept saying oh yes money going into your account today / tomorrow / etc etc and it has now been almost 3 weeks and he knows I m not there to collect it But if he doesn t put it in my bank in the next couple of days I shall be sending friends around to take the furniture out of the villa as it still belongs to me !!!!! I would rather someone say look cant afford to pay you until ....... and then at least you know instead of lying !!!! Just a thought: You might want to provide some kind of proof - email exchange between you and said person (one notifying him that you will request some friends to stop by and collect the furniture (stating exactly what they will be collecting) forward said email to friend to have in hand and possibly receipts? Going to someone's home and demanding furniture with no proof could result in a phone call to the police - and without proof your friends could be in a situation they didn't anticipate (or you).
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:29
Did you get a receipt for the money you gave them? If so, the police will follow it up (you may need to be persistant!). You have their phone number, and the police can use this to trace them. What a horrible couple - I know we've desperately needed furniture in the past and saved up for it, if someone had stolen our money I would have been terribly upset :(
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 18:22
I sold a piano once, the buyer came and looked at it, liked it, but said they couldn't come and get it until the weekend as they needed help plus a bigger car. I didn't ask them to give me the money, but they insisted a they didn't want me to sell it to someone else even though I promised I wouldn't, so to be fair to the OP, I can't imagine you'd go to someone's house and see an item then think they'd run off with it and your cash.... just a bit unlucky I'd say...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 17:52
wow bornconfused, people never cease to amaze me. I'm glad your houseboy saw them.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 17:33
Thought I had read they had spoken on the phone and the couple were at the Abu Dhabi race track so there must have been a phone number exchange. Unable to find it on the thread so maybe orginal poster deleted it. Look forward to hearing if there is any developments in the coming week. The saying she called them is in the original post. Good luck EUsweetheart. We had a couple steal some plants from our front yard as we were moving out of our villa this week. They didn't like what my husband was charging for them so they came after the cargo container left and took them. They just didn't realize our houseboy saw them so we turned them in.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 17:02
Is there a race track in Abu Dhabi? I have never heard of one. yes there is either the camel race track, or the yas f1 race track or even the horse race track at equestrian centre.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:48
Is there a race track in Abu Dhabi? I have never heard of one.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:43
Thought I had read they had spoken on the phone and the couple were at the Abu Dhabi race track so there must have been a phone number exchange. Unable to find it on the thread so maybe orginal poster deleted it. Look forward to hearing if there is any developments in the coming week. I donno, sounds pretty cut and dried to me. Money taken for table. Table and family disappear. Unless of course the op waited way too long to get the table and did not leave a phone # with the people who sold the table and the seller did not give a receipt. Either way, the money was given and table not given. So then, lets see what transpires lol
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:27
Where exactly in jumeria? I live here and may be able to snoop. Also 2,500 is wayyyy to much. I just sold what I think is the same one for 500aed. Second hand should be 60% minimum. I know it is too late but if you are still looking at Dubizzle just letting you know. does not hurt to contact Dubizzle either. Like i said if you tell me the area in jumeria i might be able to help
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:27
Can I add my bit lol I left Dubai and the person having my villa agreed prices on some of the things I left He has kept saying oh yes money going into your account today / tomorrow / etc etc and it has now been almost 3 weeks and he knows I m not there to collect it But if he doesn t put it in my bank in the next couple of days I shall be sending friends around to take the furniture out of the villa as it still belongs to me !!!!! I would rather someone say look cant afford to pay you until ....... and then at least you know instead of lying !!!!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:18
I've been on both sides of this situation. I had something that someone had brought to my house and left it there, it wouldnt fit in my car. I phoned her a dozen times before we moved house and we had to bring it with us. I sold a dining room set two months ago to someone who paid for it back in Feb, and picked it up yesterday. Im so glad to get the darn thing out of my maids room.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:13
I donno, sounds pretty cut and dried to me. Money taken for table. Table and family disappear. Unless of course the op waited way too long to get the table and did not leave a phone # with the people who sold the table and the seller did not give a receipt. Either way, the money was given and table not given. So then, lets see what transpires lol
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 April 2011 - 16:04
Judge and jury before full facts are revealed ! oh h e ll. Just list their full names. Addresses, description ...they stole your money and table. If you can prove you gave the money to them and their cargo is still on the dock, maybe something could be done. who knows unless you try
 
 

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