Mark Raubenheimer

[Furbz]

time for a sting operation - and maybe a few heavies? - jokes

 

if it truly is him search for him on the internet and contact his employer/family.

nothing worse than having your family and friends know you are a scumbag.

 

i did the above to a guy who tried to scam me.

quickly got my money back

[GrahamS2]

time for a sting operation - and maybe a few heavies? - jokes

 

if it truly is him search for him on the internet and contact his employer/family.

nothing worse than having your family and friends know you are a scumbag.

 

i did the above to a guy who tried to scam me.

quickly got my money back

You do realise that is completely illegal, right?

[Furbz]

You do realise that is completely illegal, right?

yup.

 

i contacted only family and friends.

get this - the guy who scammed me, his ole man was the head priest at the local church. go figure.

[stefmeister]

You do realise that is completely illegal, right?

Why? Honest question.

[Jacoo]

Guys, just to sort the record out here I have had plenty of dealings with Mark he is an avid collector or Italian classics I have never had a problem with payment or anything of the sort. I am sure somebody has jumped to conclusions and panicked here, it’s just my opinion because I have dealt with the gent on numerous occasions in the past.

I know of the following instances people have had with him:

 

He got a bad review on bikehub, his only review. Also about a wheelset. Dont know the story but bad reviews are undoubtedly uncommon so i can only guess.

 

I spoke to a guy (he phoned me after seeing this thread) that has a bike shop down in durbs and hes dealt with mark before. He referred to mark as "properly dodgy" and said that he took a cannondale part from the shop and they never saw it again.

 

As mention earlier by user gurns, he was even at this 20 years ago. Mark is 65 apparently. He has a decking company too as far as i know, i assume thats where the timber was involved.

 

Just received another pm telling me about him trying to pull a similar thing with just a stem that he bought. He tried to flake but since the guy is also from kzn he found him and it didnt work.

 

I can guarantee there are more stories, these are just some that people told me about after they happened to see this topic on bikehub.

 

Clayton, you cant deny that this guy is a crook just because youve dealt with him. Hes weird, in the way that hes not your typical scammer. He doesn't use fake details and acts like he has nothing to hide. He doesnt try to scam every single person but he definitely gets a kick from wasting weeks or months of someones time, and using little things of which some are lies to try and extort you for it. Honestly one of the strangest situations ive been in with this sort of thing. He honestly things hes untouchable.

Im an engineering student guys, im clueless when it comes to civil claims and all that. What does it cost? This guy cant keep getting away with stuff like this.

[MTB-More]

Steps to follow

 

1. Go to the police and make a statement of theft. You were asked to send the goods for inspection. Now he doesnt want to give it back or pay for it.

2. Get a lawyer to supena his phone number (RICA knows his details)

3. Have the lawyer send him a letter of demand

4. If he ignores the letter of demand have the lawyer apply for a civil matter in the small claims court for the wheelset at 4k + all costs (This will include the letter of demand and application for court) Edit - This also counts in your favour as he would need to travel to the JHB court to defend himself if he choose to do so.

5. Go to court ... State your case

 

So all of this usually stops at step 3 but if he persists and hold on to your property then just continue with the steps. Letter of demand is usally in the region of R400-800 (very dependant on the lawyer itself)

 

He also spent money on his own volution and took it to his dealer of choice without a quotation for your approval (I am asuming this). A wheel true in JHB is R100 per wheel. If he hands in the wheels at cyclelab again you will be willing to pay him the R100 as per the normal price anywhere else.

 

Until then follow the steps. 

[HeyYou]

Steps to follow

 

1. Go to the police and make a statement of theft. You were asked to send the goods for inspection. Now he doesnt want to give it back or pay for it.

2. Get a lawyer to supena his phone number (RICA knows his details)

3. Have the lawyer send him a letter of demand

4. If he ignores the letter of demand have the lawyer apply for a civil matter in the small claims court for the wheelset at 4k + all costs (This will include the letter of demand and application for court) Edit - This also counts in your favour as he would need to travel to the JHB court to defend himself if he choose to do so.

5. Go to court ... State your case

 

So all of this usually stops at step 3 but if he persists and hold on to your property then just continue with the steps. Letter of demand is usally in the region of R400-800 (very dependant on the lawyer itself)

 

He also spent money on his own volution and took it to his dealer of choice without a quotation for your approval (I am asuming this). A wheel true in JHB is R100 per wheel. If he hands in the wheels at cyclelab again you will be willing to pay him the R100 as per the normal price anywhere else.

 

Until then follow the steps. 

 

If you're a student, go to the law dept. at the Varsity. They've probably got a legal aid office, ot ask one of the final years, or lecturers.

 

You can also institute a small claims court action yourself, in your place of living, which requires him to defend where you live, not where he lives!!! 

[Stretch]

Guys, just to sort the record out here I have had plenty of dealings with Mark he is an avid collector or Italian classics I have never had a problem with payment or anything of the sort. I am sure somebody has jumped to conclusions and panicked here, it’s just my opinion because I have dealt with the gent on numerous occasions in the past.

Mark... That you?

[Grey Hubs]

yup.

 

i contacted only family and friends.

get this - the guy who scammed me, his ole man was the head priest at the local church. go figure.

Priceless! Good on you!

[GrahamS2]

Why? Honest question.

One of the laws regulating debt collection. You may not prejudice a persons employment in the collection of a debt.

[Geronimo]

The correct charge to open at the cop shop is''Theft under false pretenses".

I was a detective for 22 years so just my 2cents worth 

Good luck bud. Hope you get sorted and don't just let it go

[Skylark]

One of the laws regulating debt collection. You may not prejudice a persons employment in the collection of a debt.

What exactly does that mean?

 

If I'm trying to contact someone that owes me a debt and the guy is otherwise unreachable and I find his work place I'll try contact him at work. And if the reason for me contacting him slips out, ie I have to explain the reason for the call to the Hr manager how can that be illegal?

[stefmeister]

What exactly does that mean?

 

If I'm trying to contact someone that owes me a debt and the guy is otherwise unreachable and I find his work place I'll try contact him at work. And if the reason for me contacting him slips out, ie I have to explain the reason for the call to the Hr manager how can that be illegal?

I'm also a bit stumped by this.

We had numerous companies contact us to collect debt from farm workers.

[GrahamS2]

What exactly does that mean?

 

If I'm trying to contact someone that owes me a debt and the guy is otherwise unreachable and I find his work place I'll try contact him at work. And if the reason for me contacting him slips out, ie I have to explain the reason for the call to the Hr manager how can that be illegal?

You are free to contact him at work, but his debt to you has nothing to do with his employers, unless it's related to child maintenance due.

[droo]

Just a question - what's the point of using an escrow service if you're going to release goods without payment? You may as well contact that Nigerian prince for his hidden millions that he needs R 50k to release...

 

I think what you just spent is called school fees. Move on. One day he'll scam the wrong oke and get his reward.

[Skylark]

Anyone have photos of Mark Raubenheimer?

 

I'm originally from Durban and that name rings a bell.

 

The buyer is clearly in the wrong, the seller sent the goods without payment purely to give the buyer the ability to inspect the goods before purchase.

 

Ffs the guy had the wheels at Cycle lab, inspect them make the decision there and then, yes pay up, no leave them at Cycle lab. If the buyer had any incidental costs subsequent to inspection that's his own choice. The buyer could have said not interested after seeing them and that would have been the end of that but now after dicking around for weeks he now wants the seller to pay his costs??

 

What more does this fool want, the wheels delivered on a silver platter and pink bow?