"March 2003- Owner takes car to garage on recommendation of a friend (who later had problems with the company), enquires about fitting a Veilside kit. Found the AB Flug kit and wanted that one, although there were a few bits to be changed/customised. Found the price for the AB Flug and it was too high for owners budget. They said they could do a replica kit or one based on it for X amount. This lower price was in return for sponsorship i.e. graphics on the car, shows, magazine coverage etc. No probs. Basic design was agreed on and work was meant to begin. Timescale was 12 weeks to completion.

Then 2 years of waiting, months of them not working on it, excuses such as they couldn't work on it because they didn't have the wheels and they needed them before they could go any further. By this point the car was un-driveable. Wheels were supplied to them in Oct 2003.

The alloys that were originally on the car (nice gold aftermarket 18's with good tyres) were to be sold. One Director said they wanted them for their own car so owner agreed to it, although it transpires that the wheels had already been put onto the Directors car. The tyres were used to the point of the rear being worn out completely and one punctured. Director then changes his mind about buying them and refuses to put a new tyre on even to replace the punctured one saying they were low on tread before he used them and that he had wanted them for free in return for using "his contacts" to get me a sponsorship deal for other wheels which never happened. That was never agreed up front, in fact never even mentioned. After much debate the sum of around £50 was paid to "replace" the 275/30/18 tyre.


More months go by, still no real progress. It was always "4 weeks away" from being done, every week in fact it was "4 weeks" away. Any challenges were met by agressive behaviour, and more lies. Was told about staff leaving, being off sick, having babies, all kinda of other stuff. Other cars were brought in and done and out the door during this time with the excuse "but we're doing a better job on yours, yours is really special" etc etc.

November 2004 informed owner they were considering moving premises but the car would be done and out of there beforehand. Mid-December suddenly no answer from the phone, no replies to emails, owner starts to worry. Investigation turns out they weren't exactly leaving the current premesis "by choice" and owner was advised to "get a solicitor and get their car back" and such like. Owner managed to track down a mobile number for one of them- no longer conected. More panic. Got another mobile number and got hold of one Director. Response of "I was just about to call you" etc etc. Promised again it would be done by end Jan. Didn't happen, Feb, didn't happen, next thing another injury meaning it couldn't be done further.

Beginning of March 2005, 2 years after the car was left with them the owner instructed another company to go and reclaim it.

Owner has subsequently looked into reclaiming enough cost to get the car finished by another garage, this has met with the response that they are actually considering going after the owner because they did not hold up their end of the sponsorship deal. As a result the owner is now over £3,000 out of pocket.

Samurai Performance Enginnering
SpringWood Ind Est
Braintree
Essex

Formerly at:

Great Baddow Park
Chelmsford
Essex"