Removalist - Contracted via Airtasker - Not Returning My Belongings . Advice Requested

Lgrv on 08/02/2016 - 13:52
Last edited 08/02/2016 - 16:21 by 2 other users

EDIT: Fixed dates. Added that Airtasker have responded.

I used AirTasker to assign a removalist job. The date/time agreed upon was 6th Feb 11 am for 2 men & a truck

TL;DR : Took one carton of stuff , would not return it. Air Tasker support is not responding ( pinged them on Facebook and email ). Removalist wont answer my calls.

What should I do about this ? The police said they are limited in calling him on my behalf. Will going to a solicitor help ?

Details:

Feb 6

  • 11AM

"Chad" shows up alone , says other guy ditched. Says he is confident he can do the job.
Moves one carton to his truck. Says if he can come back at 4 with his mate. I exchange phone numbers , note his truck rego and agree.

  • 3PM & 3.30PM

I call him , no response.

  • 4.00 pm

Picks up phone on 2nd/3rd try , says he will be there in 15 mins.

  • 4.30PM

Texts that he is cancelling
I responded on text with "WTF??" & gave him a call.
Lots of racial abuse from him (Standard stuff - ethnicity , food etc ). Threats of violence and damage to property. Says he is on his way to slash my face.

  • 5.00PM

I call the local police station who are helpful give him a call.
Says he will return the carton

Feb 7

Doesnt return carton , doesnt answer calls. Answers one call eventually , more racial abuse.

Feb 8

Hasnt returned my stuff yet. Wont answer calls.

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Comments

  • oscargamer on 08/02/2016 - 14:01
    +22

    wow

    now that he's had time to return the box and hasn't, IMO that's theft

    go back to police and file a theft report - but as you're standing in the foyer of the station, text him with a photo of the station, telling him where you are and what you are about to do…see what his response is then

    • Randxyz123 on 08/02/2016 - 14:15
      +4

      I responded on text with "WTF??" & gave him a call.

      Ok that was a mistake.

      You should have responded with "Please drop the carton off in the next 30 minutes or I will call the police"

      Out of interest was this guy new to air tasker? Did he have any ratings from previous tasks?

      I'd be slightly concerned that he might come back to abuse or threaten you since he knows where you live!!!

      I'd call him again. Set your phone to a private number. Tell him he has till the end of the day to leave the carton at your front door or you will be taking this matter to the police. He must know you have his rego.

      In the mean time I'd make sure your doors and windows are locked all day long!

      If he still doesn't return your stuff file a theft report include details like a description of him, his vehicle rego, phone number etc. This IS theft and the police really should help you with this.

      What was in the carton?

      Also by the way today is the 8th of February so maybe amend your post with the correct dates!!

      • grv on 08/02/2016 - 14:21
        +5

        I agree - I shouldnt have responded like that.

        He had one positive review at the time when I accepted the offer.

        I had everything from the kitchen ( pots , pans , small electrical things ) in the carton.

        My take away from this is to not lose my cool & use the services of established businesses as much as possible.

        • Randxyz123 on 08/02/2016 - 14:27
          +8

          My take away from this is to not lose my cool & use the services of established businesses as much as possible.

          I understand why you did. It would have been extremely frustrating for you. Moving is stressful enough as it is without having people screw you around and take a box of your stuff.

        • jellykingdom on 09/02/2016 - 09:27

          At least the one bright side is that they don't have anything particularly valuable or sentimental to you! It would be terrible if he had jewelry, photo albums, computer, etc

        • knk on 10/02/2016 - 20:11
          +1

          It sucks that guys like this make people weary of using the smaller guys out there who provide an honest service.

  • nocure on 08/02/2016 - 14:01
    +9

    Bikies?

    Airtasker is just as bad as gumtree.full of scams.

  • shapers on 08/02/2016 - 14:02
    +4

    Gee, tough situation.
    This site might be helpful.
    says to call
    Consumer affairs Victoria: 1300 558 181
    Department of Fair Trading, NSW: 13 32 20
    or the relevant department in your state.

  • cDNA on 08/02/2016 - 14:05
    +16

    Jesus christ. Tell the police to get off their lazy asses and get your STOLEN goods back.

    • dogboy on 08/02/2016 - 17:27
      +8

      Good luck with that. Police these days are only interested in jobs that bring in money or stop a major crime. Petty stuff like this is very low on their priority scale. They just don't have the manpower for things like this.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2016 - 21:33
        +12

        Maybe a box of missing household goods is a low priority - but, geez, this sounds pretty serious

        "Threats of violence … Says he is on his way to slash my face."

        • BestofOZB on 11/02/2016 - 12:31
          +1

          Usual response is until it happens (face slashed) they have no leg to stand on.

      • garetz on 09/02/2016 - 02:51
        +16

        Its not that they dont have the manpower, they just dont have the inclination.

      • Ace26 on 09/02/2016 - 13:07
        +5

        Probably because they know he will get a slap on wrist suspended sentence in the court

      • MrTweek on 09/02/2016 - 15:47
        +4

        I don't know man, they called me like 3 times after I reported my licence plates stolen to ask seemingly useless questions.

        If they have his rego and phone number, it will be easy for them to find him and file charges.

      • Janko on 09/02/2016 - 18:52
        +22

        I would have told police, "All me pots been stolen, a few kilos worth" to see if that changed their priority.

      • Cyphar on 10/02/2016 - 14:34

        Exactly. Their common response is to take it to court.

      • diddy50 on 09/02/2016 - 23:49
        +11

        He threatened to slash his face - it became a police matter.

        • BestofOZB on 11/02/2016 - 12:33

          Police would say do you have a recording? Then did not happen. Been there done that.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2016 - 01:21
        +6

        err. when does a breach in a contract become theft.

        If you sign a contract with a used car dealer, then pop by an hour later and drive the car off while nobody is looking. Theft or breach of contract?

        • cDNA on 15/02/2016 - 09:36

          Theft! He refused to return items that did not belong to him.

          Get it through your head.

    • 2Poor4Ozb on 13/02/2016 - 17:30

      police aint robots, they are human as well. Cant blame them to CBF. Here a way to get them to help you out. Call them up and say "I gonna Shoot/sta this F$KIn Removalist coz he stole my ShitZ" They be straight at your house

  • Cheeper on 08/02/2016 - 14:06
    +4

    Theft.. police matter. Go and file a theft report.

  • miarn on 08/02/2016 - 14:12
    +2

    Isn't it the 8th today?

    Anyway, you should make a formal report to the police, especially since you have the guy's name, number and truck rego number which will make it a lot easier to track him down.

    Also, it's a long shot but maybe call your home insurance company? They may pay out or be able to help somehow…

    I would probably not bother to see a lawyer unless the stuff in the box was worth $1000 at the very least. Lawyers are not cheap.

    • the-mal on 08/02/2016 - 15:43
      +3

      Also, it's a long shot but maybe call your home insurance company? They may pay out or be able to help somehow…

      I'd leave this as a very, very last resort. Firstly they'd require you to have already filed a police report, secondly any info they have (even if you don't go through with it and make a claim) they can and will use to hike your premiums.

      Insurance companies can and will use any and every piece of info you volunteer to them to alter your risk profile. They're great in the event of a major catastrophe, not great in the event of a smaller issue (like some missing pots and pans).

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2016 - 14:13

    The dates in the post are a bit strange. Today is February 8, yet you've got references to 9 Feb and 10 Feb.

    • grv on 08/02/2016 - 14:18

      Sorry , fixed the dates.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2016 - 16:13

        Thank you for clarifying matters. I hope you are able to resolve things soon.

  • grv on 08/02/2016 - 14:16
    +1

    Thank you for your responses - xywolap , cDNA , shapers, nocure and oscargamer.

    I spoke with the local police station , they called him again on my request. I was told that the removalist agreed to come by today.

    I will wait for today. Will call DFT & Police tomorrow if nothing happens.

  • grv on 08/02/2016 - 14:27
    +9

    Update: AirTasker support team has responded stating that the removalists account has been suspended , my refund is being processed and I will be able to leave feedback.

    I think this is quite an appropriate response from AirTasker.

    • mohan76 on 09/02/2016 - 00:00
      +2

      may be lodge airtasker insurance claim for theft/ MIA.

      • grv on 09/02/2016 - 00:18
        +31

        Thanks Mohan. I got my stuff back in the evening today.

        • spaz84 on 09/02/2016 - 15:24
          +3

          a good outcome.. good on you for no backing down and insisting on its return

    • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2016 - 12:33

      I think this is quite an appropriate response from AirTasker.

      Their customer was threatened with physical violence and being slashed!

      I wonder if AirTasker thinks this is an appropriate response.

      • Cyphar on 10/02/2016 - 14:36
        +2

        What else do you expect them to do?

        • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2016 - 11:25
          +4

          Given the nature of their business - I would have thought the safety of their customers and contractors would be a priority.

          Depending on whether or not they were informed of the threats of physical violence to their customer, maybe they could have:
          - chased this up with slasher rather than have their customer exposed to more threats of violence
          - organsied a courier to pick the gear up rather than have slasher revisit the customer's house
          - called in the bikies

          Could or should they have done more to protect the safety of their customer?

    • miarn on 08/02/2016 - 14:35
      +10

      Well done for providing constructive and useful advice, I'm sure your comment is very helpful for the OP.

    • grv on 08/02/2016 - 14:35
      +1

      @Swigitty You think its not apparent to me now :/

    • sparkles on 08/02/2016 - 15:46
      +3

      You'd like to think this wouldn't happen. I mean you are offering some loser a job, and he repays the favour by stealing your stuff and threatening to cut you up. You couldn't anticipate this, even with AirTasker. I wouldn't want my stuff back if it meant him on my doorstep again, I'd simply want the police to charge him.

  • grv on 08/02/2016 - 15:28
    +6

    Just received another round of abuse/threats which I reported to the local police station.

    The constable on the other side was helpful & he spoke with the driver.

    The agreement for now is that the driver will drop the box in front of the building & that'll be the end of the matter.

    Waiting for now.

    • miarn on 08/02/2016 - 15:45
      +1

      Consider recording your conversations with this bloke and handing that to the police as well. Just check whether it's legal first :P

      • the-mal on 08/02/2016 - 15:51
        +2

        The legality of recording phone calls in Aus is murky at best.. Depends on states and context, but it's usually illegal.

        But definitely keep any texts!

        • 2Poor4Ozb on 13/02/2016 - 17:36

          Are verbal threats considered an assault?

          Threats to seriously injure, or kill another person is considered as an assault, but the threat has to create a fear that it would be carried out. Threats that are unlikely or impossible would not normally be considered as an assault. Threatening to kill or injure someone is a crime that is not taken lightly by the states. In Victoria for example, threats to kill as spelled out in s 20 of the Crimes Act carries with it a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if it is real, rather than fanciful.

          They only help you once your slashed

    • the-mal on 08/02/2016 - 15:46
      +2

      Did the constable ask as to the content of the threats? If this guy is threatening you he can be charged even after he returns your goods.

      What a whacko! Be careful, the guy sounds unhinged.

      • sparkles on 08/02/2016 - 15:49
        +8

        Yeah, tread carefully. I'd request that the police tell him the handover of stuff happen at the police station.

        • dogboy on 08/02/2016 - 17:30
          -2

          Good advice. Only problem now is that he knows where OP lives and might be keen for some retribution…

        • the-mal on 08/02/2016 - 20:02
          -1

          @dogboy: Then he'll end up in jail.

        • subywagon on 08/02/2016 - 23:42
          +3

          @the-mal: lol no he wont.

        • macrocephalic on 10/02/2016 - 10:36

          He already knows where the OP lives and is moving to.

    • Banana on 08/02/2016 - 17:09
      +2

      If OP followed the driver, one carton would not be the only thing he is missing now..

      • ChillBro on 08/02/2016 - 21:42
        +1

        Yeah, he might be missing two cartons.

    • miarn on 08/02/2016 - 17:34
      +13

      Because let's blame the victim, it's totally not the fault of the eejit who stole his stuff.

      • p1 ama on 09/02/2016 - 11:32
        -8

        Because let's blame the victim, it's totally not the fault of the eejit who stole his stuff.

        Yes, the guy who stole his stuff is at fault, but you have to take some responsibility in all of this. If you leave your front door unlocked and someone steals all your stuff, well I honestly think you thoroughly deserved that. Common sense takes you a long way, to be honest.

        • miarn on 09/02/2016 - 11:35
          +7

          And if you walk alone at night you deserve to be raped? If you leave your car on the street you deserve to have it stolen?

          I (and the OP) agree that the OP didn't take the best course of action, but that doesn't mean s/he deserves to have their stuff stolen, and to suffer racial abuse and threats of pretty extreme physical violence.

        • p1 ama on 09/02/2016 - 11:59
          -7

          @magicmoose: Fundamentally, being physically harmed and falling for a scam are very different things. One is the loss of financial assets, the other one is a violation of fundamental human rights. Also, one is voluntary and one is not, which is why I often have little sympathy for those who have fallen to scams, whether they are Nigerian style scams, dating website scams, Gumtree scams, or the type of scam seen here.

          When you are walking home and you get attacked, let's say you get robbed, you didn't actively agree to let someone rob you. You never asked to get robbed and it's something conducted against your free will. With OP, he allowed this lunatic to drive away with his stuff. If you fall for a Gumtree scam, you actively sent money to someone. You're taking active action to involve yourself in a scam, and this could be avoided by not being an idiot and taking part in them.

          Having the guy come to OP's house out of the blue and forcefully taking OP's stuff is completely different to the guy coming and having OP allow him to take the stuff away with a smiling face. Yes, granted OP trusted him or whatever, but that's OP's own fault that he trusted someone he shouldn't have. We can't protect people from themselves.

          If you genuinely believe that some prince in some corner of the globe is letting you have his inheritance or that the 'love of your life' who you've never met suddenly needs tens of thousands of dollars, or if the guy on Gumtree will really send you the stuff after taking your money…etc. then I just think you're really naïve about the world and have a lot to learn.

        • miarn on 09/02/2016 - 14:53
          +1

          One is the loss of financial assets, the other one is a violation of fundamental human rights.

          Not having one's stuff stolen is a pretty important right…

          you didn't actively agree to let someone rob you

          Nor did the OP

          Having the guy come to OP's house out of the blue and forcefully taking OP's stuff is completely different to the guy coming and having OP allow him to take the stuff away with a smiling face.

          How so? It doesn't matter whether the OP trusted the person, it's still theft. If someone is raped by their partner who they trusted, it's still rape.

          but that's OP's own fault that he trusted someone he shouldn't have

          Again, why is it the OP's fault? Surely he/she is entitled to trust someone. You could say that the OP should not have trusted the person (that's obvious in hindsight), but that hardly means they deserve to be stolen from, abused and threatened.

          If you genuinely believe <snip> then I just think you're really naïve about the world and have a lot to learn.

          That doesn't mean they deserve to get their stuff nicked!

        • p1 ama on 09/02/2016 - 15:10
          -2

          @magicmoose:

          Not having one's stuff stolen is a pretty important right…

          Then why does every house have a lock? Why does every office have a card key entry? Why do people own a safe? Why do people lock their cars? Why do supermarkets employ the RFID scanners as you walk out the store?

          Fundamentally everyone acts to protect themselves against natural and inherent risks. Regardless of your opinion, I think you would agree (as most people would) that if you left a car unlocked or if you left your house unlocked, then you must be pretty naïve, correct?

          Again, why is it the OP's fault? Surely he/she is entitled to trust someone. You could say that the OP should not have trusted the person (that's obvious in hindsight), but that hardly means they deserve to be stolen from, abused and threatened.

          Well that's the risk OP took when he decided to trust that person. I don't understand why people take risks and then fail to take responsibilities for their risks. The difference between getting robbed at knifepoint and agreeing to have your stuff taken away is the question of inherent risk.

          Getting robbed is, in effect, unavoidable. It occurs any time, any place, any situation. It can happen in broad daylight, it can happen in the dark, essentially, there's not much you can do to prevent it other than not walking around with your pockets stuffed full of cash (in which case, I would say you're asking for it).

          What happened with the OP was a conscious decision to engage in business with someone who might (or might not be) a scrupulous individual. It's like purchasing from a dodgy store. If a trusted and well vetted store charges you $600 for something and some other store charges you $300, then you must be pretty dumb to not know something is going on. There's an old adage - if it's too good to be true, it probably is. If you choose to buy it from the store that's offering it for $300, then I think you're making an informed risk and it's up to you to research that store and understand why it's so cheap.

          Nobody forces you to purchase from the dodgy store, you see a good deal (as OP did) and you decide, out of your own free will, to go and purchase it.

          Scams aren't really a problem if people didn't fall for them. That's the difference between getting robbed and being scammed. Being scammed requires you to fall for something, being robbed does not. If nobody fell for scammers, they would no longer be doing what they are doing, the reason why they're still around is because people tend to be pretty naïve.

          I've been scammed before. Bought something off a guy on Gumtree, he said send the money through and he'd send it, so I did. He never sent it, it was $200, but I copped it on the chin, I took it as a lesson and I make sure I do my best to warn people of the potential risk. I took responsibilities for my own choice to take that risk to get something cheaper and I understand fully that sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.

          I'm not going to go and complain and file reports and be a wuss about it because I tried to be cheap. That was my fault, I lost that time. On the other hand, there have been plenty other times where I've won and gotten excellent deals. That's all part of the game.

        • miarn on 09/02/2016 - 15:15
          +2

          I agree that OP was naive, even foolish to trust the guy. I just don't think being naive/foolish/stupid/whatever you call it means that the person deserves to have their stuff stolen. Sure, they made a mistake - but culpability rests with the person who did the illegal thing.

          It basically seems like you think fraud shouldn't be illegal because the person had it coming.

        • p1 ama on 09/02/2016 - 15:28

          @magicmoose: Well the question lies with where you draw the line. What is an acceptable amount of risk which we are willing to bear. The problem is, Australia (and many Western countries) tend to be very nanny state, to the point where many people are just stupid. Have a look at dating scams, do you have any idea of how many millions are being siphoned out of the country because of people's incompetence at identifying and quantifying risk?

          I should mention that I am a statistician by trade and that I have worked as a risk analyst. One of the main facets of my job was to identify where risks were and to make sure that the company hedged or minimized exposure to risk where possible. Risk is a part of life and people need to employ methods to be able to deal with it.

          I'm not a lawyer, though I have some understanding of law as it pertains to businesses. The problem is, the way small scale scammers operate is very different to what most people understand as 'fraud'. A lot of these guys are simply opportunistic low-lives taking advantage of people's idiocy. Most of these con-artists never make all that much and the cost of recuperating losses are so much that it almost makes no sense to go after them.

          For a second just consider that our tax dollars are being used to fund investigations into this entire saga and that police time is being wasted on it, along with resources and opportunity costs all because of OP made a bad decision.

        • miarn on 09/02/2016 - 15:37
          +1

          @paulsterio: It's got nothing to do with risk and everything to do with the fact the person was robbed.

          Australia (and many Western countries) tend to be very nanny state
          Are you seriously arguing that protecting people against fraud makes for a nanny state? That's ridiculous.

          Risk is a part of life and people need to employ methods to be able to deal with it.

          True, and even OP has agreed that he/she should have taken more precautions. We disagree on whether failure to take precautions means the OP deserved to be stolen from; that is, whether the OP is in some way culpable.

          I'm not a lawyer, though I have some understanding of law as it pertains to businesses.

          Had the stuff not been returned, it would be Theft, Deception and probably other offences (that's in SA - not sure about OP's state, though it's probably similar).

          For a second just consider that our tax dollars are being used to fund investigations into this entire saga

          I actually think that investigating criminal offences is a pretty good use of tax dollars.

          You seem to be moving away from the original point. Do you actually think that OP deserved to have their stuff stolen?

        • p1 ama on 09/02/2016 - 15:47
          -1

          @magicmoose:

          Do you actually think that OP deserved to have their stuff stolen?

          Well it is a value judgement - whether someone deserves something or not, but in this case, I genuinely do believe that it was well deserved. OP failed to take due care and consideration and this is the result.

          What happens now is that OP will be more vigilant, will know more about the real world and won't be privy to scams so easily in the future. OP should count himself lucky that it was a small price to pay for a warning. It would have been much worse for him if he was robbed of even a greater sum.

          I completely agree the person who robbed him was wrong, it is illegal and unethical, but I believe that there must be personal responsibility in everything we do.

        • miarn on 09/02/2016 - 15:49
          +2

          @paulsterio:

          Well, we will have to agree to disagree. To my eyes, the victim of a crime shouldn't be blamed, even if there's something they could hypothetically have done to reduce the risk.

        • bargdebarg on 10/02/2016 - 08:40
          +1

          @magicmoose: tldr anyone?

        • Tafe on 11/02/2016 - 11:50

          omg so long…

  • shadowarrior on 08/02/2016 - 20:00
    +3

    Get the handover to happen at the police station.
    Do not try calling this guy on your own….get the police to call him, fix a time and date for the drop off. Go to the police station, wait for the drop off…if doesn't happen, file a charge of theft against him straight away.
    Record every phone conversation. If it goes to court, 'action for self protection' should have enough weight over privacy laws. The privacy laws about recording telephonic conversations would harm you only if you are trying to record sensitive information which can harm the other person. Am not a lawyer, and there will be 101 lawyers countering my statement, and I would still record the conversation, and will ask same lawyers to then prove his actions without my recordings.

    • infinite on 09/02/2016 - 18:47
      +1

      Your 100% OK to record the phone conversations, it's just that a criminal court and a civil court will have different standards to which they decide if the calls will/wont be accepted into evidence. There's NO issue at all though in recording the conversations and playing them to the police (as well as providing a copy of the recorded calls to them) when you lodge the criminal complaint.

  • b-hunterr on 08/02/2016 - 22:24

    Super weird people out there. That's a lot of effort and risk on his behalf to steal a single box (with kitchen stuff?). Don't understand why he only loaded one box into his truck, that alone is strange. He could've easily loaded up more in a truck by himself. Is he connected to some people that don't like you; some twisted revenge plot? I don't know but the threatening bit is quite extreme for the context of this all. Sorry to hear about it; hope it gets resolved soon. Seems doubtful this will be left on a "simple" note where he just drops back your box at your door. Hope it does for you.

    • grv on 09/02/2016 - 00:14
      +2

      When he showed up alone , he sounded confide t in his ability to complete the job. I let him start. He loaded the carton & asked me if I was ok for him to come back l8r with +1. I said yes - after I exchanged phone # and got his truck rego.

      Once he cancelled , I suppose there was no motivation for him to give my stuff back. He did receive 3 reviews on Sunday so loooks likr he was quite busy. The fact that we had a fight and I involved police must have played a role in his delaying of things as well.

      • Flying Ace on 09/02/2016 - 17:12
        +8

        I don't understand why he would load just one box and then say he's coming back later? That in itself is so bizarre.

        • grv on 10/02/2016 - 04:31
          +1

          He said he needed another man.

        • MetalPhreak on 10/02/2016 - 15:40
          +4

          @grv: yeah so put the one box back in the house instead of lugging it around to all your other jobs. Why take just one box?!

        • Flying Ace on 11/02/2016 - 12:12
          +1

          @grv:

          Also, that's what she said.

        • grv on 12/02/2016 - 08:11
          +1

          @Flying Ace:

          That's what he said ;)

  • Nutrino on 08/02/2016 - 22:31

    give his number and licence plate. WE'll do a human flesh search.

  • blitz on 08/02/2016 - 22:51
    +2

    Waiting for now.

    What's happening OP?

  • grv on 09/02/2016 - 00:07
    +30

    TL;DR : received carton on day 3. Much drama but still safe.

    • 2 police officers came by my place @ 4 , discussed the incident for 20 mins or so , left their card , advised that I should refrain from calling/smsing driver further.

    • they advised that driver would drop off my stuff today @ some point.

    • The driver dropped off the carton on the curb , no damage @ 6 pm. He left an sms informing me of this. He left without incident.

    I can't thank all of you enough for lending an ear to my woes and providing helpful advise.

    Police were helpful too & I believe their intervention ensured my safety and that my stuff was returned.

    What did I learn :

    • avoid shortcuts. Deal with businesses that have solid ratings. I eventually paid $650 to a reputable removalist , got a fantastic , on time service. The airTasker job was set for $300 but eventually caused so much anguish.

    • Its best to inform police if a threat is made. The system works.

    • losing cool doesnt help.

    • Spending2Much on 09/02/2016 - 00:18
      +1

      Lucky your box was still there, if left on the curb…..
      Many would think it's been left for a free pick up.

      I hope you didn't pay the $300?? Seriously not.

      • grv on 09/02/2016 - 00:26
        +3

        I think it was a better option than letting him in.Not so good as having it dropped at the Police station - however , the police advised againt that option citing the size and weight of the carton ,that they had driver's phone # and had spoken to him as well.

        My refund is being processed after I mailed my version of events to Airtasker ( copy paste of my opening comment ). They said they've suspended the removalist's account as well.

        • Spending2Much on 09/02/2016 - 00:28

          Sounds like a bad situation all around.
          And no, no way I'd be letting that scum anywhere near you.
          “slash face” remark WTF

        • grv on 09/02/2016 - 00:52
          +1

          Yeah - that was a first. Also , this was quite specific & my first thoughts were hmm with what? Must be carrying a pocket knife somewhere. I was unnerved when he repeated that several times & followed it up with Im on the way. Plus the racial abuse - maybe one day I will be able to smartly retort but usually Im like "OK :/" when receiving the said abuse.

        • ronnknee on 10/02/2016 - 13:16
          +1

          @grv: Just wondering, what's your ethnicity and theirs?

    • 2Poor4Ozb on 13/02/2016 - 17:42

      revenge is a lifetime works, it may not happen today, tomorrow, weeks, or months time. It could happen years after. Revenge happens when you least expected!

    • moo on 09/02/2016 - 01:42

      Maybe the removalist is an OzBargainer, and therefore is qualified as a 'professional'. Even Gerry thinks so.

  • akastyl13 on 09/02/2016 - 09:29
    +2

    EDIT - Ha too late…
    Anyway, maybe if it happens again, my 2cts: Download an app to record your calls, call him back and try until he answers, try to get him saying "I will never return your belongings and I will keep them" or something like that, tell him you have recorded everything and you are now going to the police reporting theft ?

  • Eca1 on 09/02/2016 - 10:40
    +5

    I think all readers will be grateful that you posted the issue, and grateful to read the responses and updates.

    I was keen to try Airtasker. Posted a cleaning job first. They quote from $23 per hour, but real offers wre much higher than that, one was almost $60 per hour! Little experience.

    Then posted a patio instal job plus some handyman work. Said recent police check an advantage. One response ok but another went on about how I shouldn't request a police check. Felt to uneasy.

    My unease and your story and responses have deterred me from going down the airtasker track. Better to go with qualified, refereed, insured and established businesses I am thinking.

    Again many thanks for posting and for those responding and advising.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2016 - 13:41
      +6

      Had a cleaner come out for a quote with his wife, he said "It'll be $50 an hour and it'll take about 6 to 70 hours so $300 - 350", told him not a problem and booked him in to do the clean.

      After 3 hours of cleaning he spoke to me…
      "Well that's $300 mate, we're not done yet, but we can keep going if you are happy to pay the extra." I responded with "You said $50 an hour, it's only been 3 hours."

      Gave me his con line with the straightest face I've seen "Yea, $50 for me, and $50 for my wife, so in total we did 6 hours, but you need 6 hours of full work each to finish the place not 3 hours mate."

      Avoid the little guys…

      • FittyFitty on 09/02/2016 - 15:50
        +3

        Should have said "only if your Mrs throws in a happy ending, mate"…

        Helps to be a 6'3" bearded man-mountain with a natural frown; never get (profanity) around like that.

      • Domingo on 09/02/2016 - 16:29

        What did you do?

        • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2016 - 17:45
          +3

          Called them on it, and said they can get $350 if they finish it, or they get nothing. They quickly finished up in an hour… Wasn't very well done, and I had to keep pointing out obvious nonsense such as dust on top of a beer fridge.

      • bluedufflecoat on 10/02/2016 - 09:03

        $50/hr/person is very expensive!

        I've hired cleaners who charge $25/hr/person - and the job was done with 2 people in 2 hours.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2016 - 17:47
          +1

          Exactly, so it wasn't unreasonable for me to believe his original quote of $50 an hour. Especially seeing as they most likely won't be declaring it for tax either.

          The guy who used to live there was an absolute slob, he had been there for 10 - 15~ years and never used a vacuum. There was thick grime all over and the place stunk. So I could understand a 6 - 7 hour estimate.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/02/2016 - 10:56
    +1

    Do you think ice or alcohol was partook in the initial silent period?

  • zond on 09/02/2016 - 13:17

    I hope you are not dealing with the same 'Chad' i had some experience with, whose phone number ends with *****853…

    • grv on 10/02/2016 - 04:28
      +2

      This one's number ended with 44124. Rebekah was the first name of thr lady who did the booking.

      • zond on 10/02/2016 - 08:52

        Ok, not the same Chad I dealt with…thanks for letting me know.

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