Auctioneer - unprofessional conduct

Jackdlovable

Hello everybody and happy Christmas.

An unpleasant situation has developed and I would be most grateful for any information .

I fear that it’s a rather long story....

My mother has recently been involved in a very trivial dispute regarding payment from an auction room in the immediate locality : the cheque did not arrive in the post and the firm, dispute passage of time, seemed lax in issuing a new cheque.

She had not engaged the services of this local antique auctioneer before, being forced to avoid her usual firm due to COVID travel restrictions.

The owner of the firm seems, in all honesty, to have an attitude problem.

My mother found him dismissive and intimidating in personal encounters. As a result, I offered to compose some emails to the firm on her behalf, as she is not tech-savvy. I was obliged to send a few ( approx 5) emails.

Ultimately, the firm agreed to issue a new cheque. However, by then the final pre-Christmas postage date had passed.

The owner of the firm suggested via email that the new cheque could be collected 22/12/20 during office hours, which were explicitly mentioned as concluding at 1:00 PM

Remarkably, on the morning of 22/12/20, the auctioneer emailed in a curt, abrupt fashion to state that the cheque had, in fact, to be collected within 15 minutes ( approx 11:30 AM). No explanation or apology was given for this arbitrary change.

Naturally, my mother considered this a extraordinary U -turn but was anxious to finally bring the matter to resolution. As I was at home ( COVID!), she asked me to accompany her, given the prior attitude of the auctioneer and the strange nature of the timing change.

The cheque was successfully collected as I waited silently and unobtrusively by the threshold.

Then, something very strange happened: the auctioneer approached me- without a COVID mask, laid hands on me, and began making comments regarding the emails I had sent on my mother’s behalf, which were judged ‘ rude’. I can assure you all that they were, in fact objectively typical documents, perfectly acceptable for the purpose, and unfailingly polite. I do not play those games.

I brought the conversation to a halt, and alongside my mother, proceed to leave the offices before a volatile situation could develop. In the act of leaving, the front door was closed against by body before I had opportunity to clear the threshold. Naturally, I found this objectionable.
At this point, the auctioneer made derogatory comments concerning my employment status- I am, I fear, currently unemployed. My mother and I left the scene, without responding to these stupid provocations. Thankfully, my mother now has her cheque.

Let me be clear: I know that this is a stupid, trivial matter. Yet I am both offended and upset. My mother and I feel victimised.

I have no desire whatsoever to involve the police into this farce.

Is there any recourse available?

I would be most grateful for any information that could ease my anxiety.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this saga.

Happy Christmas.

Tell me how

Honestly?
First off I'd cash the cheque and make sure it doesn't bounce.

Sh*tty behaviour at any time but more so given Covid. I presume they are a sole operator rather than attached to an industry group and that they are the owner of the company they work for.
If they work for someone else or are members of a group, write to them and tell them your experience.

Outside of that, I'd chalk it down as a bad experience, I'd tell others in the locality, as the opportunity arises, to stay away from them and I wouldn't give them any more business.
Then I'd try to forget about it and enjoy Christmas if possible given the year that is in it.

AndrewJRenko

You could go through the complaints process for his professional association. Is he an IPAV member?

https://www.ipav.ie/profile/complaints-disciplinary-procedures

But really, is it worth the bother?

Outkast_IRE

Leave honest objective reviews on any applicable review sites. Cash the cheque and forgot about him.

Jackdlovable

Tell me how wrote: »

Honestly?
First off I'd cash the cheque and make sure it doesn't bounce.

Sh*tty behaviour at any time but more so given Covid. I presume they are a sole operator rather than attached to an industry group and that they are the owner of the company they work for.
If they work for someone else or are members of a group, write to them and tell them your experience.

Outside of that, I'd chalk it down as a bad experience, I'd tell others in the locality, as the opportunity arises, to stay away from them and I wouldn't give them any more business.
Then I'd try to forget about it and enjoy Christmas if possible given the year that is in it.

Thank you for some very sound, pragmatic advice.
Unsurprisingly, the individual concerned does seem to be the owner of sole operator- style business.
You make a good point in that there is, in a great many ways, little to gain from proceeding with a complaint. Sometimes people are nasty and you just need to move on.
Thanks again.
Happy Christmas!

Jackdlovable

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You could go through the complaints process for his professional association. Is he an IPAV member?



But really, is it worth the bother?

True!- thank you, it may well be wasted time. Happy Christmas!

Jackdlovable

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Leave honest objective reviews on any applicable review sites. Cash the cheque and forgot about him.

That a good idea- thank you.
Happy Christmas!

grogi

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

But really, is it worth the bother?

Yes, it always is worth it. If you don't report it, how do you expect things to improve in future?

hurikane

Is this a Kildare based auctioneer? I’ve had similar experience with one.

Jackdlovable

Jackdlovable wrote: »

............. I was obliged to send a few ( approx 5) emails.

Ultimately, the firm agreed to issue a new cheque...............the auctioneer approached me- without a COVID mask, laid hands on me, and began making comments regarding the emails I had sent on my mother’s behalf, which were judged ‘ rude’..................................

I brought the conversation to a halt, and alongside my mother, proceed to leave the offices before a volatile situation could develop. In the act of leaving, the front door was closed against by body before I had opportunity to clear the threshold. Naturally, I found this objectionable.
At this point, the auctioneer made derogatory comments concerning my employment status- I am, I fear, currently unemployed. My mother and I left the scene, without responding to these stupid provocations. Thankfully, my mother now has her cheque..............

Well done on getting the cheque for your Mum.

And well done on how you handled the situation, perfect conduct that I'd not be able for to my shame.

Might be worth going the review route..

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Leave honest objective reviews on any applicable review sites. Cash the cheque and forgot about him.

Happy Christmas.

You have no connection to this person, and do not need them, or rely on them, for anything. They can't make life difficult for you and you don't rely on them for an income, work, shelter, or anything like that.


As such if it were me, I'd be off to the Garda station to report the incident and make a statement.

My fear would be that he needs reprimanded as he may well be getting away with this for a long time, and if he's willing to put his hands on you, and be intimidating to your mother, he could well be abusive to any other older people who rely on his services. You'll generally find, these kind of situations are not in isolation - I guarantee there's a rake of other people with similar issues, many of whom likely went without getting their cheque at all.


I do realise, going to the Gardai is often a hassle and a pain in the hole, and they generally have complete indifference, but it's still a route I'd go for.

For what it's worth, I've been assaulted before, in my line of work, but couldn't really do anything as I was a contractor and didn't want to make life tricky for those employing me, lest i found myself without a job. Still eats me up to this day that I couldn't either physically retaliate, or afterwards, get the Gardai involved, for the sake of a 'peaceful life'.

nuac

Mod
This. while annoying. is not for this forum.
I agree with suggestion to report to his professional body. If his licence is one of those which has to be renewed each year, a complaint at such renewal hearing should be considered. Take your solicitor's advice on that
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