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Beware: Ben Owen selling parts
eddie99 - 29/1/12 at 10:12 PM

Hi Guys,

Just thought i'd let you know to beware of this person called Ben Owen.

I paid him roughly £600 for a Hans Device and a helmet, to be told 3 weeks later they were no longer for sale. He then went quiet and gave numerous sob stories. I was lucky and got back everything bar £30 about 6 weeks later But others have been less lucky.

This is a plead for help from a number of people.

It has come to our attention that over the past month or so at least one FRBARC team, ourselves, a Sports 2000 team and two privateers have bought parts and equipment off of Ben Owen for amounts ranging from £200 to over £2000. Someone im in contact with has bought over £1200 of wishbones from him. All of the people we have been in contact with sent him the money via online banking/CHAPS/BACKS.

The common theme is that he takes peoples money, becomes hard to get hold of on phone/email, gives a story about being ill, then puts you off to hide. Two people we have managed to get their money back from him to the tone of £400 - the rest have been less lucky.

Please DO NOT EMPLOY or BUY ANYTHING off of him! He is selling non-existent parts and trying to pull some sort of fraud scam.

[Edited on 29/1/12 by eddie99]

T66 - 29/1/12 at 10:26 PM

Is he in Wales, with something to do with Caterhams ?

eddie99 - 29/1/12 at 10:28 PM

Skegness is where we believe he is from... And he told me he was going to race a caterham but sponsorship had fell through but others have been told other things.

Ninehigh - 29/1/12 at 10:33 PM

Another name I've heard before...

T66 - 29/1/12 at 10:37 PM

Doubting myself now, but that name rings a bell


Infact so does the Caterham sponsorship theme too..

[Edited on 29/1/12 by T66]

franky - 29/1/12 at 11:02 PM

He doesn't make gt40 replica's does he, or GTS parts










































Only kidding!

[Edited on 30/1/12 by franky]

locogeoff - 30/1/12 at 12:43 AM

are you sure his name is not Ben Dower!

I'll get my coat...

scootz - 30/1/12 at 06:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by T66
Is he in Wales, with something to do with Caterhams ?


I know who you're thinking of Ivo!

Mr C - 30/1/12 at 08:50 AM

quote:
Originally posted by franky
He doesn't make gt40 replica's does he, or GTS parts

+1 (not kidding), you now know how it feels to be ripped off and I hope appreciate now, how customers of GTS feel, perhaps you may consider this experience when you use your misplaced judgement to stick up for Darren George.












































Only kidding!

[Edited on 30/1/12 by franky]

designer - 30/1/12 at 08:59 AM

My question is - Who is Ben Owen?

How did you find this bloke, and why are people throwing money at him?

Personally, never heard of him.

eddie99 - 30/1/12 at 09:05 AM

He has had bits for sale on the web and I had a wanted add on pistonheads to which he contacted me about

bowood14 - 30/1/12 at 09:12 AM

Suprised you put this post up after your comments of support for GTS on a previous thread

[Edited on 30/1/12 by bowood14]

eddie99 - 30/1/12 at 09:28 AM

Why??

This guy is selling non existant parts and I'm just trying to stop any of you make the same mistake

I only backed gts up when they are not in the wrong, there are plenty of cases where I have helped people get parts because gts have messed up

In the future I'll know not to let others know and let them fall into the same trap!

mad-butcher - 30/1/12 at 09:38 AM

Well I'm very sad to have to say this, but I'm in total agreement with Boxwood14 and Mr C's comments

tony

russbost - 30/1/12 at 10:03 AM

Hey! Hang on guys. Eddie is simply passing on info to stop others from making the same mistake he did, to a community of people who would be likely to buy from this guy.

Re GTS, I'm pretty sure Eddie has been instrumental in either getting people parts they hadn't received from Darren or getting them money back, which he has done off his own back & in his own time for no payment - did any of the people he helped out bung him a drink .........................???

Eddie may have (misguidedly in my opinion!) stuck up for Darren/GTS, but he has also tried to help people out & is only trying to help others here. TTBOMK I don't believe Darren has deliberately committed fraud as this guy appears to be doing, he just doesn't seem to be able to run a business competently which is a very different issue.

A case of don't shoot the messenger!

Strontium Dog - 30/1/12 at 10:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
nt issue.

A case of don't shoot the messenger!


Agreed!

I have had loads of personal issues lately as some of you know leading me to drop the ball and mess a few people around. It happens. Luckily the people on here I have been involved with have shown much patience and understanding. Sounds to me from previous threads that Eddie has only tried to help people when things have gone TU and it's not like he's doing it for personal gain. Or have I missed something?!

RichardK - 30/1/12 at 12:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
Hey! Hang on guys. Eddie is simply passing on info to stop others from making the same mistake he did, to a community of people who would be likely to buy from this guy.

Re GTS, I'm pretty sure Eddie has been instrumental in either getting people parts they hadn't received from Darren or getting them money back, which he has done off his own back & in his own time for no payment - did any of the people he helped out bung him a drink .........................???

Eddie may have (misguidedly in my opinion!) stuck up for Darren/GTS, but he has also tried to help people out & is only trying to help others here. TTBOMK I don't believe Darren has deliberately committed fraud as this guy appears to be doing, he just doesn't seem to be able to run a business competently which is a very different issue.

A case of don't shoot the messenger!


+1

Play nice boys

Love

Rich

xx

designer - 30/1/12 at 12:51 PM

quote:

I don't believe Darren has deliberately committed fraud


If you keep money and not deliver goods you have done it, deliberate or not!

jeffw - 30/1/12 at 01:47 PM

I pretty sure that Darren has done exactly that on more than one occasion and that is to my personal knowledge. I'm sure Eddie (and Flak) have done the best by people on here getting stuff out of Mr George (and they should be thanked for that) but I don't see much difference between Ben Owen of this thread and Mr George.

Mr C - 30/1/12 at 06:24 PM

(Response to U2U from Eddie99)

Eddie, by the very fact that you are getting involved with someone who has no business scruples, you are condoning their approach to fleecing people with poor services and or parts. In other words you accepting of and allowing this behaviour, that is considered morally and legally wrong and offensive to continue.

By sticking up for GTS you are by default approving and sanctioning GTS along with the poor work ethic associated to Darren George and GTS.

I can't tell you what approach you should take with this, that's down to you and the choices you make at the end of the day. I personally would immediately disassociate myself from anything like this and let them be consumed in their own fire and smoke.

Mike

eddie99 - 30/1/12 at 06:34 PM

How am i condoning it?

If because i help people get their parts i am involved, then i will immediately stop helping those people because your unhappy with it?

[Edited on 30/1/12 by eddie99]

russbost - 30/1/12 at 06:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
quote:

I don't believe Darren has deliberately committed fraud


If you keep money and not deliver goods you have done it, deliberate or not!


I stand by my statement - I don't BELIEVE he has DELIBERATELY committed fraud - I didn't say he HASN'T committed fraud, he may well have done so for all I know, but since I've never had any personal dealings with him & have no direct knowledge of such, I'm certainly not about to suggest that he has done so on a public forum.

My point was that I believe Eddie has helped others on the forum get their parts, I don't believe Eddie has ever done anything to offer the services of GTS/Darren to anyone & that he is suggesting no one parts with money to this Ben bloke - personally I'd rather know this guy is out there doing his dodgy deals, so thanx to Eddie for letting us know.

gavin174 - 30/1/12 at 07:03 PM

bloody hell good timing ED.......

I was just about to order a new tea pot

thanks for the warning!!!!

http://benowenpottery.com/image-galleries/items-for-sale.html


[Edited on 30/1/12 by gavin174]

designer - 30/1/12 at 07:10 PM

I am not condeming or condoning, but fraud is fraud, even when it happens 'due to circumstaces' and must be put right at the earliest opportunity.

russbost - 30/1/12 at 08:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
I am not condeming or condoning, but fraud is fraud, even when it happens 'due to circumstaces' and must be put right at the earliest opportunity.


Ahh! Now that I most certainly wholeheartedly agree with - personally I see fraud simply as theft, it's just another word for the same thing & the perpetrators should be treated accordingly. For a first offence I think several hours in the stocks in the town square on a Saturday with all the locals chucking rotten fruit at them, I doubt they'd be in a hurry to offend, but just in case, after 3 strikes I would suggest progressive removal of body parts!

foskid - 30/1/12 at 08:14 PM

Eddie, thank you very much for the heads up on this "gentleman" I for one shall be very wary

Cheers mate,
John.

banzaii - 31/10/12 at 08:34 PM

Apologies for posting this as my first post, but seems like I too have been scammed by Ben Owen, the parts did not turn up as promised and now he is hiding and not answering my calls, if anyone has any further information please get in touch, I am not sure how I should go about getting my money back and if the police can be involved in such cases?

rodders128 - 17/12/12 at 07:35 PM

Eddie 99.

How did you get your money back,

I have just fallen for him and sent him £170

Jed - 17/12/12 at 08:07 PM

Just did a quick google and this may be of interest:

http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/46033/please_help_the_police_with_their_enquiries_into_ben_owen.html

austin man - 17/12/12 at 10:28 PM

I cannot undestand how an act of good will on the part of a fellow Locoster ie bringing to the attention of others that there is a scammer out there. It is also obvious that this individual has stepped in and supported others in receiving goods ordered from unfortunately another unscrupolous trader. I for one welcome what Eddie has done on all counts and should be applauded for his actions. He has no business interests so therefore is not seeking to profit from this.

The actions / responses from some on the forum will only seek to prevent others from raising concerns in the future.

rodders128 - 18/12/12 at 11:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jed
Just did a quick google and this may be of interest:

http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/46033/please_help_the_police_with_their_enquiries_into_ben_owen.html


Thanks, This linke was readlly useful. Got me in touch with the Police who are dealing with them.

MikeRJ - 18/12/12 at 12:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by austin man
I cannot undestand how an act of good will on the part of a fellow Locoster ie bringing to the attention of others that there is a scammer out there. It is also obvious that this individual has stepped in and supported others in receiving goods ordered from unfortunately another unscrupolous trader. I for one welcome what Eddie has done on all counts and should be applauded for his actions. He has no business interests so therefore is not seeking to profit from this.

The actions / responses from some on the forum will only seek to prevent others from raising concerns in the future.


Agreed. Why are people deliberately derailing a useful thread which has been posted to protect their interests?

Mr Whippy - 18/12/12 at 12:25 PM

Rather than just fighting

Why not all gather all the info you have on this guy here and see if you can track him down a lot seem to have communicated with him, perhaps combined you have enough info?

rodders128 - 18/12/12 at 12:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Rather than just fighting

Why not all gather all the info you have on this guy here and see if you can track him down a lot seem to have communicated with him, perhaps combined you have enough info?


Contact this guy

PC 1335 Alex Bedford
UWSU, HQ, Nettleham & Criminal Investigation Department
Grantham Police Station
Swingbridge Road
Grantham
NG31 7XT
Dial 101 ext 3287
Direct dial: 01476 403287
www.lincs.police.uk

steve m - 18/12/12 at 01:38 PM

"Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Rather than just fighting

Why not all gather all the info you have on this guy here and see if you can track him down a lot seem to have communicated with him, perhaps combined you have enough info? "

I do agree with Mr whippy,

but this is an open forum, for ANY one to view, and would imagine if there was any trouble, it would'nt be hard for the Police, to find a lot more info