Wondered if ayone has had any dealings with www.dogtravelproducts.co.uk?  I ordered a tailgate guard from them after they sent me an e-mail. They said they had seen my wanted ad. on this forum and wanted to let me know about their site.  All seemed ok so i ordered one in November.  The chap I was dealing with always answered my e-mail quickley but as yet I havnt received the goods.  He said that it went to the courier about 10 days ago - I've tried to contact him several times since then but no luck. I'd be grateful for any info you might have.

Have you tried contacting the courier?

I've sent an e-mai asking who the courier is but so far hve no reply from Dog products

I would phone the mobile number on the website and see what he says?? Or, phone the office number tomorrow...bit cheeky searching for business though!

Already done that and theres no answer to either of them :o(

I presume you have already paid him?  If so, what method of payment did you use?

Ohh dear....I can think of nowt else except getting in touch with Trading Standards?

Hmm, I have a cunning plan...I will send an enquiry to 'purchase' a tailgate thing and see if he replies ok?

The website *looks* legit but there are a couple of things that ring alarm bells for me.

Firstly, he came to you touting his business.
They only accept cheque/bank transfer.  Most businesses accept credit cards/paypal etc as well but, of course, there are ways and means of recovering your money with these.  Much more difficult (nigh on impossible) by bank transfer or once a cheque has been cleared.
The website was only recently registered according to this information but they claim to have been trading for longer

Domain name:
        dogtravelproducts.co.uk

    Registrant:
        Mark Cartwright

    Registrant type:
        UK Individual

    Registrant's address:
        PO Box 19184
        Thamesmead
        London
        SE28 0WQ
        GB

    Registrar:
        Mr Site Ltd [Tag = MRSITE]
        URL: http://www.mrsite.co.uk

    Relevant dates:
        Registered on: 31-Oct-2008
        Renewal date:  31-Oct-2010

Also, the address on the website looks like it is a housing estate rather than an industrial unit.  Might not mean anything of course, as it could be a cottage industry operating from a garage or something but doesn't really tie up with their description of their set-up (no. of employees, 24/7 customer service etc).

yeh looks like its a home made website but that doesnt mean anything. i would pop his number on speed dial and ring incessantly if i was you

I have had a reply from Mark already!!! Use the contact form on the website and tell him what has happened re: MY E-MAIL!!!! HTH All the best, Dawn (he also has a Blackberry apparently!)

Very interesting...well done Miss Marple!!!

Your method was simpler, quicker and more productive though

Mmmmm don't necessarily think so...I am wondering if he's committing fraud though? Usually, when you find someone willing to 'stretch' the truth about the basics, there is always more to it than that! Can't smell nesacassary though!

I say, this is better than telly! Good sleuthing both of you. I do hope there will be a good outcome but it does sound suspicious when a potential new customer gets a reply straight away and the one waiting for their goods do not.

Even more interesting is that there is a 1A Aspen Park Road Hm

Both this & 1 Aspen Park Road Both described as terraced !!

Good Grief...I think we can start our own 'ANGELS' DeFective Agency! (well I, for one, is velly defective!)

No trace of a Unit 1 ???

I've contacted the Trading Standards about the firm as they seem to canvass posters of dog forums who post requests for tailgates

The puzzle goes on !

Unit 1 must be his garage!!!

ROFLMAO this would be funny if money hadn't been paid over !

Checked with Royal mail post codes they have no such address either !

That's very true...so hopefully all the info will garner a result for poster...

OK I have had the first reply from Trading Standards & they are going to refer it to the Trading Standards that deal with the area.

SO I am awaiting further contact

Thanks everyone - I paid by Pay Pal so presumably I can get my money back?  The annoying part about it as well is that I still need to get a darn tailgate and will now have to wait another 6 weeks to get one ordered.
Do you think I should contact trading standards also?

Phew at least your money is safe-get onto Paypal asap & you will hopefully get your money back eventually-or the goods !!

If you go to this site & put in all the firms information & what has happened to you & the non receipt of the goods

Contact Paypal ASAP as there is a time limit on lodging disputes.

Twice now I've bought things with paypal that have not arrived and unfortunately I haven't had my money back in either case. Paypal investigated my claims, agreed I was entitled to money back in both cases and tried to recover it but failed. Their guarantee is worthless as all they do is try to take money out the sellers bank account, if they can't recover the money you don't get a penny

Fingers crossed this guy is legitimate and simply not getting your emails, maybe the spam filter is intercepting them. I would do as Newfie did and use the contact us form and see what happens. If no reply to that then contact trading standards

I got my payments back, but it did take a while !

If you've made the Paypal payment with a credit card rather than from your bank account, and the purchase was for morethan £100, you can reclaim through your credit card company.  I did this when I ordered something online that never arrived and the company wouldn't answer the phone or return emails.

Contacted paypal and they wont do anything. unfortunately I didnt pay through the credit card so looks like I've lost the money.  When I tried to contact Mark on the call form of his website it keeps saying that the e-mail address is not valid!!  Will contact Trading Standards tomorrow and also Police. 

Hi Kennelmaid56

I live about 15 miles from WSM and as I was going there this evening I did a drive-by for you:

Locking Castle is a huge housing estate and Aspen Park Road is a road of domestic properties.  Numbers 1 and 1a look like maisonettes.  There is no industrial area or business units within that postcode.  I see from his website that there are 6 people employed at his business - if that's true then it's not at an address on this road, there's 'no room to swing a cat' in these houses.

From my knowledge there's no business park or industrial units with a similar address either.  The post code he gives takes you straight to Aspen Park Road.  Sorry

My OH says if you can get hold of this bloke, and there has been a genuine error somewhere along the line,  then we will collect the tailguard for you and post it ourselves!

xxx

Edited to add: there is no Cartwright listed with a tel no in WSM either

That was very good of you, dogs a babe

>Adited to add: there is no Cartwright listed with a tel no in WSM either

However, if you put the postcode into 192.com it does show a Mark Cartwright listed on the electoral register.

I've just sent a message so will see what reply I get. Think I will mention picking up as I live near-by

> However, if you put the postcode into 192.com it does show a Mark Cartwright listed on the electoral register.

I've never used that site before - I notice he's married to a Lynne Cartwright, and there IS someone by that name doing agility (I did a search!).  Perhaps there's hope that this is legitimate after all.

If he found kennelmaid by trawling the wanted ads, he might be a member of CD.  Let's hope he comes back and has a read of these posts...

Hi there

Thank you sooo much for your offer, I would be really grateful if you could do that.  He sounds like he's dodgy all round doesnt he?  As if these safety gates for your dogs arnt expensive enough - think these sort of people are real lowlifes for praying on people that obviously cant afford to pay much out otherwise they wouldn't be advertising for second hand goods ggrrrr.

Many thanks to you to Moonmaiden - it will be interesting to see if you get a reply.

Very interesting reply, yes I can collect or they will deliver for free !!!! (ha I live the other side of the country & in the north LOL)

Had 2nd reply from Trading Standards however they obviously didn't read my enquiry as they thought the order had been delivered !!!! Have replied & also told them that you will be contacting them directly

I spoke to trading standards today and basically all they can do is put the company on a register for future reference.  Spoke to someone at Pay Pal too and they wont do anything because you only have 40 days to dispute from the date of payment. Apparently if they have a number of complaints about the same company then they would possibly do something about it. This guy obviously knew that rule thats why hes been putting me off but still keeping me in contact until this time was up. The police say its a civil matter and cant really do much but if I had an address for him then they would probably pay him a visit.

All everyone keeps saying is that I should get in touch with the sellar and try to work it out but how can I do that when he wont reply to anything I send??  Any  ideas on how to get an address for this con man? I'm so mad about this now - not just because of the money but because hes going to keep on doing this to people - nice little earner eh!!

TBH I would send him a recorded delivery letter, asking "politely"for either the goods to be delivered or the money returned within 10 working days, otherwise you will start legal proceedings against him. I would also inform him that can arrange for a representative to collect the goods on your behalf.

If you get no reply send another letter advising that legal action has started & you then go to the small claims court.

If you look on the site on the link I gave you you can make an official complaint against him which will be kept by North Somerset TS. There are also letters on the site & advice about how to proceed when a firm has failed to uphold their side of the contract

Maybe contact him via the web form and tell him about this discussion on CD! Ask him if his girlfriend is happy to have her name bandied about with being involved with a basically dishonest business!

Hope you manage to work it all out, sorry we can't be of further help....

>TBH I would send him a recorded delivery letter, asking "politely"for either the goods to be delivered or the money returned within 10 working days, otherwise you will start legal proceedings against him. I would also inform him that can arrange for a representative to collect the goods on your behalf.
>If you get no reply send another letter advising that legal action has started & you then go to the small claims court.

This is the route I would take.

dont know if anyone else has realised but the web site is registered at a po box address in london (Thamesmead, a well known housing estate) but the address on the web site is in WSM, now if am right you have to live in the same area as the po box to have the mail taken from the box and delivered to your address, or you have to go to the local sorting office to pick up your mail? Thamesmead is a long way away from WSM and looking at the post code of the po box i cant see a post office marked on the map.
Very stange indead, i hope you hear something soon and get your money back

> TBH I would send him a recorded delivery letter, asking "politely"for either the goods to be delivered or the money returned within 10 working days, otherwise you will start legal proceedings against him. I would also inform him that can arrange for a representative to collect the goods on your behalf.
>
> If you get no reply send another letter advising that legal action has started & you then go to the small claims court.
>
> If you look on the site on the link I gave you you can make an official complaint against him which will be kept by North Somerset TS. There are also letters on the site & advice about how to proceed when a firm has failed to uphold their side of the contract

Great advice from Moonmaiden.  Before you send a letter see if you can speak with someone at the Post Office Customer Services (yes, easier said than done perhaps ) to see what they say about the address.  Has anyone managed to verify that ME Cartwright lives at Number 1?  The business address listed doesn't seem to exist but I wonder if the PO are used to it and just deliver to house number 1 rather than unit 1.  Seems sensible to check before sending as I think all Recorded Delivery addresses must be verified via postcode before being accepted for delivery.

If you get no joy that way, have a look at this site where I think you can search the electoral roll for £2.95.

Finally if all else fails but you do decide he is at number 1 Aspen Park Road, send me a PM.  I'm in Weston on Friday for dog training and I can drop a letter off for you

You can have a PO Box anywhere because you pay for it, all you need is proof of the address for the area in which the PO Box is in, you only have to have someone collect the post from it you have to pay more if you want the post delivered.

The fact that they have said I could collect is interesting !

Just had another thought Watchdog TV program might be interested ?

I sent Mark a strongly worded e-mail today and he phoned me as soon as he got it.  Said that his courier has done a runner with the stock he had to deliver and would be replacing it by next week.  He said he would phone me Tuesday morning with an update. His wife is the lady involved with agility and they are suppose to be having a stand at a big agility show quite soon so I pointed out that  things could become rather embarassing for her if he doesnt honor he promise of the goods or does not refund the money.   Anyway he assured me that Iwould get the tailgate delivered by Parcelforce in about a week to 10 days.  Watch this space!!

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions you have all given me. I promised Mark that as soon as i receive the tailgate guard I would let everyone know and I will.

> his courier has done a runner with the stock he had to deliver

!!!

It would be great to have a happy ending.  Did you manage to establish his correct address?

> I sent Mark a strongly worded e-mail today and he phoned me as soon as he got it.

Result !!!!

Great.  Let's hope he's as good as his word.  Although, if his courier has legged it with his stock (which seems odd in iteslf), you'd think he could have at least contacted you to let you know that there would be a delay.  His customer service needs some work.

I didnt really believe the runaway courier story but fingers crossed he'll come up with the goods.  He did seem to be worried about he's and his wifes reputation so you never know!  Apparently he lives at number 1 and there is no unit 1.

It could well be that it is a very small set up & they have too many orders-he did reply that I could collect. Mind you I wouldn't have paid up front

>He did seem to be worried about he's and his wifes reputation so you never know!

Which is why an email to apologise for the delay would have been prudent as there would have been no need then for this thread and the negative attention his business has received as a result.  I hope he's learnt a vauable lesson