Accused of steeling when I didnt

castrolracing

I got a Piece of furniture made last week by a guy who came highly recomended from a few websites I found. He had told me that there was a few different latchs availabe for the door. I couldnt decide which one I wanted so he said that he would wait until I was collecting it to put on the latch. I went to him Saturday to collect the piece. When I got there he brought me into his workshop and showed me the 2 different latchs which he had. I picked the one I wanted and he said he would fit it just to give him about 30 mins. I said fine, and I went away and called back again. I collected the piece, paid him and went on my way. I was driving home when my phone rang, It was the guy who made the furniture for me. He asked me if I had brought the other latch, (the one I decided not to get fitted on the piece of furniture), with me. I said I hadnt, he more or less accused me of steeling it, I assured him as best I could that I hadnt stolen it. I was very annoyed to think that he would just jump to a conclusion like that. I got home and didnt think much more about it until later that night I checked my emails. I had an email from him. It read:

"I know every item in my workshop, and I can tell you now that after what has happened you will not have any luck, mark my words."

I was gobsmacked! I dont know what to do, I can say with certainty that I didnt take them. I remember having the 2 different latchs in my hand and choosing the one I wanted. I dont remember where I left the other one down in his workshop but im certain it has to be there somewhere. I feel bad about the whole thing, Ive never stolen from anyone and to be accused like this is an awfull feeling. At the end of the day its his word against mine, he works from a small workshop at the back of his house, there arent as far as I know any cameras in it. I havent contacted him since, I said Id give it a day or so to see if he finds them, which Im certain he will at some stage.

Any advice on how I should handle this?

Daisy M

I would mail him back and again state your innocence assure him that it will have to turn up somewhere on his premises as you didnt take it. If the latch didnt cost too much would you consider reimbursing him for it? Are you sure you had a good look around your car and in pockets for the latch?

If he finds the latch and lets you know dont be tempted to use him again he sounds like a loose cannon.

castrolracing

I will never use him again, thats for sure. I have checked my car and my pockets, Im sure I dont have it. I told a friend and he said that maybe I should tell him that I will pay for it as im not up to a few quid. Its only worth 12 euro, and theres 2 oif them so 24 euro wouldnt break the bank. I wonder is that kinda like admitting I took them though? I didnt want to contact him today, I want to give him time to hopefully find them and give me time to think and cool down... I dont know wheather I should email or call him..

Starokan

Why should you pay for it if you didn't take it.

Under no circumstances pay for it, i would email him, demand he retracts his accusation or you will be taking legal advice for slander.

I appreciate the item is small but why should your good name be tarnished

username123

castrolracing wrote: »

I will never use him again, thats for sure. I have checked my car and my pockets, Im sure I dont have it. I told a friend and he said that maybe I should tell him that I will pay for it as im not up to a few quid. Its only worth 12 euro, and theres 2 oif them so 24 euro wouldnt break the bank. I wonder is that kinda like admitting I took them though? I didnt want to contact him today, I want to give him time to hopefully find them and give me time to think and cool down... I dont know wheather I should email or call him..

I wouldnt give him a penny!

That is outrageous! Lets just think about this rationally for a minute. What possible purpose would you have for stealing a latch? Does he think you commissioned a piece of furniture, paid for that piece of furniture, and then stole a latch that would be completely useless to you and worthless as well - its not like there is a market in latches! Absolutely the most ridiculous thing to be accused of stealing that Ive ever heard of in my life.

Its possible that you pocketed it, put it down in your car, in your bag, whatever - even if you did he has absolutely no right to accuse you of theft!!

He has a responsibility to be keeping an eye on things in his own workshop. Its not your problem.

Id be emailing him back and telling him that you will be forwarding copies of his email to your solicitor for perusal as you do not appreciate being accused of theft, and not to contact you again.

LovelyLottie

I agree with what the posters above said.

This is ludicrous behaviour on his behalf. He sounds completely paranoid and delusional - you're a customer for the love of God, someone he's meant to be valuing, not accusing of stealing random miniscule items from his workshop.

It's only worth €12 so why on earth would he think you'd need to steal it, when you'd just bought a piece of furniture?!

It is an awful feeling, to be falsely accused of something. Reply and say as other posters advised, that you didn't take it, you absolutely won't be paying for it (because that would be an admission of guilt) and if he contacts you again you'll be advising your solicitor to handle the matter. How very dare he.

Oh and if there's a 'tripadvisor' for bespoke furniture makers, make sure you register your horror and disgust at his unprofessional behaviour.

washiskin

The feckin' cheek! Absolutely do not offer him a red cent! What a pillock - for the sake of €24 he has done himself out of further business from you and the word of mouth recommendations you would have given him. I'd reply to him re-stating that you have not got them and furthermore that you are offended by his attempts to blacken your name and wish ill on you. :mad:

cruais

Email him and tell him you want a written apology ASAP or you will seek legal advice for false accusation and slandering your name.

Honestly some people are not of this earth!:rolleyes:

qwertytlk

Oh my god. Well he sounds like a balanced, normal individual. Seriously though dont pay for it, if you didmt steal it or break it etc, then you dont owe him a penny. Furthermore, in my opinion it would be like an admission of guilt if you were to pay him. I know your thinking of giving him a day or two before contacting him again so that he will have time to find it and hopefully calm down, but have you considered the fact that after the big song and dance he has made of this that even if he does find it he may not admit it? He is likely to be embarassed and also will probably be too proud to admit he was wrong and appologise, liek any normal person would. But then again, most normal people wouldnt behave the way he has done in the first place.

jimmycrackcorm

cruais wrote: »

Email him and tell him you want a written apology ASAP or you will seek legal advice for false accusation and slandering your name.

Honestly some people are not of this earth!:rolleyes:

Except he didn't slander the op.

castrolracing

Thanks everyone for your comments. I emailed him today. I explained that I found it very unprofessional of him to "attempt to accuse me" of what he did.

I also told him I expect an apology and that I wont be having any further dealings or contact with him.

amdublin

What an awful situation op but fair play to you sounds like you've handled it very well.

For all those hot headed posters advising legal action calm down. And google the legal definition of slander.

Starokan

amdublin wrote: »

What an awful situation op but fair play to you sounds like you've handled it very well.

For all those hot headed posters advising legal action calm down. And google the legal definition of slander.

I was one of the posters who mentioned slander, I always believed it to be a term used when someone cast negative aspersions on another persons character.

I googled it and came up with

slander [ˈslɑːndə]
n
1. (Law) Law
a. defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc.
b. a slanderous statement, etc.
2. any false or defamatory words spoken about a person

The title of the thread was what lead me to use the term slander, would being accused of stealing when one didn't not be classed as slander.

This is a genuine question by way, i'm not trying to be picky, im no expert at all as regards law/legal terms and would genuinely like to know the correct term for something like this.

ABajaninCork

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Except he didn't slander the op.

Nope. OP was libelled! Slander is spoken. Libel is written...

Ken.

Starokan wrote: »

I was one of the posters who mentioned slander, I always believed it to be a term used when someone cast negative aspersions on another persons character.

I googled it and came up with

slander [ˈslɑːndə]
n
1. (Law) Law
a. defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc.
b. a slanderous statement, etc.
2. any false or defamatory words spoken about a person

The title of the thread was what lead me to use the term slander, would being accused of stealing when one didn't not be classed as slander.

This is a genuine question by way, i'm not trying to be picky, im no expert at all as regards law/legal terms and would genuinely like to know the correct term for something like this.

To the best of my knowledge its only slander if the guy called the o.p. a thief/robber in front of someone else or said it to someone afterwards that the o.p. was a thief.

cruais

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Except he didn't slander the op.

Accusing someone either through written or verbal language in my eyes is slander

jimmycrackcorm

cruais wrote: »

Accusing someone either through written or verbal language in my eyes is slander

Only to a third party.

JTER

Indeed, you need a "publication" to a third party. I can ring you up and accuse you of all sorts of heinous crimes yet that would never be defamation.
Straight from the Defamation Act 2009
6.— (1) The tort of libel and the tort of slander—

(a) shall cease to be so described, and

(b) shall, instead, be collectively described, and are referred to in this Act, as the “ tort of defamation ”.

(2) The tort of defamation consists of the publication, by any means, of a defamatory statement concerning a person to one or more than one person (other than the first-mentioned person), and “ defamation ” shall be construed accordingly.

As for the OP sorry to hear that you were accused, I hope he finds it and has the decency to ring you up and profusely apologise. Wouldn't give him a cent.

username123

castrolracing wrote: »

I got a Piece of furniture made last week by a guy who came highly recomended from a few websites I found.

I would be sure to write your own reviews and mention the accusation of stealing and generally unprofessional nature of the transaction so that other people are warned.

castrolracing

Well thanks again to you all for your comments and advice. I havent heard back from him after emailing him, so I think this says It all really.... It wasnt a very nice experience to be accused as I was. As I explained to him in the email, I am in business myself the last number of years and pride myself on the reputation I have built up. To have him make the accusation he did was annoying to say the least. It has taken the good out of getting what he made for me. I will always think of what he did when I look at it now. I would like to forget it now but at the same time Id love if there was some authority I could report him to. The thing is thought he only works from a workshop at the back of his house. I doubt hes registered with any authority.

1hnr79jr65

castrolracing wrote: »

Well thanks again to you all for your comments and advice. I havent heard back from him after emailing him, so I think this says It all really.... It wasnt a very nice experience to be accused as I was. As I explained to him in the email, I am in business myself the last number of years and pride myself on the reputation I have built up. To have him make the accusation he did was annoying to say the least. It has taken the good out of getting what he made for me. I will always think of what he did when I look at it now. I would like to forget it now but at the same time Id love if there was some authority I could report him to. The thing is thought he only works from a workshop at the back of his house. I doubt hes registered with any authority.

Report him to tax office if he not vat registered ?