Andrew O
WARNING TO FUTURE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS!!!
WARNING TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF FREEWHEELER, NON REPAYMENT OF £1000 DEPOSIT, NOW HAVING TO GO TO COURT!!!- I contacted Paul Watkins through Ebay expressing an interest in a Porsche 996 Turbo he had advertised, we struck a deal with me paying a £1000 deposit and arranging to collect the vehicle in a weeks time. When that time arrived I arranged for a friend to kindly give up his Saturday morning to drive me over to Nelson to collect the car, only to be messaged by Paul the night before (10:45pm) explaining he would not be available the following morning due to 'double booking' (even though I told him on 3 occasions I'd be there Saturday morning). After several attempts to sort another date we eventually arranged another day, a Thursday, where I had to take a day off work. Again I managed to persuade a poor friend to drive me over but this time, the afternoon before, I was told by Paul that "the turbo is dumping a large amount of oil that is hitting the cat so the car is smoking heavily on idle"... Being mechanically minded and understanding that not only are replacement Porsche Turbo units very expensive, but also the car is totally undriveable and a fire hazard. So I quite reasonably asked for my deposit to be returned, as anyone else would in that situation. The car was obviously not fit for purpose or as had been described to me, in fact it was potentially dangerous. A month and a half later and several promises of deposit being repayed "from an overseas bank account, you should see it Monday..." etc. etc.. Still no deposit and Paul is refusing to answer his phone or reply to messages so now I am left no recourse but to take him to court. I have always in the past had good experiences with used car dealers, happily paying deposits to honest people for well described cars, unfortunately Paul has spoilt that and never again will I trust a dealer. Paul Watkins is the stereotype we all worry about in the world of used car dealers, spoiling it for the good guys out there. Very sad, avoid.