I received a call from a builder regarding his trailer, tools and his stand up paddle board, which he needed to head north on the weekend with his tools.
The problem was this:
- The chap had been keeping the trailer, etc in his girlfriend’s garage, because it was safer than his carport;
- He broke up with his girlfriend;
- She was refusing to arrange a time for him to collect his trailer etc.; and
- The police would not get involved, because there was no evidence of her wanting to permanently deprive him of his goods, so it did not amount to theft or any other crime.
We wrote a suitably terse demand letter that day requiring immediate access, and pointing out the loss and damage for which she could be liable if she did not allow the trailer to be collected, after getting a small amount into our trust account to cover the cost.
The letter had the desired effect and our client was able to arrange a meeting to collect his trailer and travel north with it and his tools.
He should have planned the break-up a bit better, and not left himself open to any immediate retribution like that.
For some very fast resolution of disputes – see Michael Paterson & Associates