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Expat employee tells truth about fraudulent trading by boss
| Published: | 30 Mar at 6 PM |
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Expats in Marbella are taking legal action against a local glass and windows company after they’d lost thousands in uncompleted work.
The Marbella based Andalucia Glass and Steel is owned by Vincent Ware, and was at first popular with expats living on the Costa del Sol until contracted work was left unfinished or never started and moneys paid were not returned. The complaints of literally dozens of defrauded customers resulted in former employee Rudi Kaiser coming forward and telling what he know about Ware’s activities.
Kaiser, who’d lived and worked in the UK for 30 years, came to work for the company in 2013, taking on a job as a salesman and social media writer, but soon realised Ware wasn’t delivering on his promises to customers. He told reporters from the Olive Press he’d had more than enough of being dragged through the courts and being accused by furious clients, so had decided to tell all he knew about Ware’s behaviour.
‘We’re talking about large sums of money’ he said, all paid as deposits on work which was never finished or never started, with several involving payments of up to 20,000 euros. He added he’d been personally tarnished by his association with the fraudster and his company. One expat, Graham Jones, had transferred 2,000 euros to Ware’s bank account in payment for two patio doors, having been offered a discount for fast payment. Once the payment was made, Ware cut off all contact with Jones, who never heard from him again and was forced to use another supplier.
At the same time last October, Peter Jones paid half in advance for bi-fold kitchen doors quoted at 9,000 euros, but heard nothing from Ware for five weeks until a phone call assuring him work would start immediately. Nothing happened, and Jones has tried to contact Ware without success. A recent court judgement against Ware by another victim, Andy Chapell, resulted in an award of 800 euros plus court costs, but the money has not been sent.
At least four more victims have lost large sums in the scam, with court cases now instigated and, according to Kaiser, one victim is starting a class action again Ware, citing fraudulent trading whilst insolvent. Kaiser’s one wish is that the victims would realise he’s no longer involved, and that he’s washed his hands of the entire mess.
The Marbella based Andalucia Glass and Steel is owned by Vincent Ware, and was at first popular with expats living on the Costa del Sol until contracted work was left unfinished or never started and moneys paid were not returned. The complaints of literally dozens of defrauded customers resulted in former employee Rudi Kaiser coming forward and telling what he know about Ware’s activities.
Kaiser, who’d lived and worked in the UK for 30 years, came to work for the company in 2013, taking on a job as a salesman and social media writer, but soon realised Ware wasn’t delivering on his promises to customers. He told reporters from the Olive Press he’d had more than enough of being dragged through the courts and being accused by furious clients, so had decided to tell all he knew about Ware’s behaviour.
‘We’re talking about large sums of money’ he said, all paid as deposits on work which was never finished or never started, with several involving payments of up to 20,000 euros. He added he’d been personally tarnished by his association with the fraudster and his company. One expat, Graham Jones, had transferred 2,000 euros to Ware’s bank account in payment for two patio doors, having been offered a discount for fast payment. Once the payment was made, Ware cut off all contact with Jones, who never heard from him again and was forced to use another supplier.
At the same time last October, Peter Jones paid half in advance for bi-fold kitchen doors quoted at 9,000 euros, but heard nothing from Ware for five weeks until a phone call assuring him work would start immediately. Nothing happened, and Jones has tried to contact Ware without success. A recent court judgement against Ware by another victim, Andy Chapell, resulted in an award of 800 euros plus court costs, but the money has not been sent.
At least four more victims have lost large sums in the scam, with court cases now instigated and, according to Kaiser, one victim is starting a class action again Ware, citing fraudulent trading whilst insolvent. Kaiser’s one wish is that the victims would realise he’s no longer involved, and that he’s washed his hands of the entire mess.
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