Cancer victim claims he was left with debt and no car by dealer
A MAN dying of cancer says he has been left with large debts and without his car thanks to a motor dealer who has apparently left Bristol.
John Thompson and his wife Tina say they took out a loan of £2,500 to buy a Chrysler Voyager people carrier from Paul Cugley, trading as Sanmax Performance Cars, of Bristol, last June.
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John Thompson
After a few days the gearbox failed, so they took it in for repairs under its warranty. But 11 months on, and despite scores of phone calls, visits and a letter threatening legal action, the couple are still waiting for their car or their money back.
The Thompsons, of Vandyck Avenue, Keynsham, still have their receipt and the logbook proving they own the 2.2-litre seven-seater they thought would have been ideal for getting Mr Thompson and his mobility aids around.
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But Mr Cugley is proving elusive. He has no advertised business phone number and his mobile number has changed. When the Post went to speak to him at the trading estate off Memorial Road, Hanham, yesterday, the unit he used to occupy was closed and padlocked. Last night a reporter visited Mr Cugley's last known Bristol address in Longwell Green, which was deserted.
At another address a relative of Mr Cugley said he had moved with his wife and two-year-old child to his in-laws in Devon after losing his home in January.
Mr Thompson said: "I'm so angry and upset about it all. I've cried at night about it – and I'm a man of 75.
"I feel we've been cheated. It's caused a lot of stress in the family – stress you don't want when you've got cancer."
Despite being sold with an MOT, it was only a few days after buying the car that the problems started.
"Within a day or two the gear stick kept getting stuck, you couldn't get it in gear," said retired salesman Mr Thompson. "We were having problems starting it as well. When we took the car back we were told it could be fixed, no problem."
The grandfather-of-nine said he and his wife visited the garage almost every week but kept being given excuses as to why their car was not ready.
"My wife used to ring up all the time but kept being put off, given excuses and eventually they stopped answering the phone," he said.
"When I went down there once the car was raised off the ground and the wheels were off and the back seats out. Why did they do that if they were only changing a gearbox?"
The Post understands the business moved out of the Hanham premises "by mutual agreement" on January 12 after it is alleged a number of disgruntled customers made regular visits. On the internet, half a dozen people have made complaints after buying cars from Mr Cugley, who used to trade as Sanmax Performance but has also operated under his own name.
Before the business moved to Memorial Road in April last year, it was based at The Old Coach Works on Kingsfield Lane, Hanham.
Mr Thompson was diagnosed with prostate cancer about seven years ago and the disease then spread to his bones. He needs an electric buggy, wheelchair or walking sticks to get around, so needs a spacious car.
After paying Mr Cugley £2,495 for the Chrysler, the Thompsons then had to extend their bank loan by a further £2,000 to pay for a replacement car.
They complained to South Gloucestershire Council's trading standards department and, following advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, sent a letter threatening legal action if Mr Cugley did not resolve the issue within 14 days. They received no response.
A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: "We are aware of Mr and Mrs Thompson's complaint against Mr Cugley and the council's trading standards team is investigating the matter."
â Anyone who sees the blue diesel Chrysler, which has the registration number S587 EGX, should contact trading standards on 08454 040506.
Comments
by Anti_Facebook
Thursday, March 14 2013, 4:23PM
“Hey LPGcrook, let it go for god's sake. We all lose money in business and on customers, from time to time.”
by allante666
Friday, February 01 2013, 11:41PM
“Simon, Ive just emailed you”
by LPGCcouk
Friday, February 01 2013, 10:52PM
“Yamr666 I have also emailed Allante.
I don't have your email address or would have emailed you too.
Please email me! You can find me via my website, it's the same as my username on here.”
by LPGCcouk
Friday, February 01 2013, 10:27PM
“I was scammed by Paul Cugley in June 2011 when he ran Sanmax Performance from the Hanham address. He played a confidence trick on me - I run an LPG conversion company, converting cars etc to run on LPG instead of petrol. I sell DIY kits to trade and public too. In June 2011 he bought a kit from me, paid up front on Paypal, no problem. He was needing technical support and, as I was holidaying in Cornwall and had to pass bristol, I offered to call in to give the tech support. I gave the tech support and went on holiday. Later, he 'bought' two more kits from me and said he would do a direct bank transfer. My bank takes a while to update online banking but as I had already met the man and it seemed a legit business I had few concerns. He promised me he had already transferred the money but had not. I sent the goods expecting to see the payment when online banking updated. When the payment didn't appear I phoned him most days over a few months, he always had some excuse. Eventually I found he'd scammed other people in different ways. I have the address of his mum and dads house where he (or his girlfriend) is registered as confirmed with Paypal but his parents won't hear a bad word about this sorry excuse for a man - They used to say ' there is no money he hasn't got any money he isn't here' I said 'he's made profit by installing my goods on a customers vehicle wheres that money'. His girlfriend (at least at the time) was called Naomi with a Polish surname. Would be interested in hearing from anyone with info on his where-abouts. He owes me £1410 + interest and I want something for the trouble. I am a sole trader running a small business and had to borrow money to take the kids on holiday as promised after this. What an utter scumbag! Again, Please get in touch if you have any info. I believe his brothers are in the same category - They were certainly at the same business working with him when I visited. Get in touch! Simon , LPGC co uk”
by Yamr666
Thursday, October 04 2012, 7:45PM
“Allante. I have emailed you regarding p cugley. Get in contact asap”
by allante666
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 7:50AM
“Scrooge1978, please re send, I havent received anything. Thanks.”
by scrooge1978
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 5:31AM
“allante666 - I emailed you lest week I agree safety in numbers.”
by allante666
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 12:03AM
“This man has also cost me over £5000. I bought a Jeep from him last november which went wrong as soon as it was delivered. He took it back and said he would exchange it for another. Many many excuses later I still have nothing. He last contacted me about three weeks ago, said he had a replacement, sent photos of a black Jeep reg number w504 eax. Said he converted it to lpg, then it developed a water leak, then some other problem. Like the above says he is full of excuses. He said he would send me the V5 so at least I knew he wouldnt sell it but he never has. The Jeep is still uninsured on the MID database so maybe he has it somewhere? Its a black one with chrome bullbars if anyone sees it. Its not in my name but I have plenty of correspondence saying I can have it. Something needs doing about this con man. The address you have 'jonnyred' is probably that of his parents who live justround the corner from his old address. I too have had the same response from th epolice saying it is a civil matter despite him obtaining goods by deception (the vehicle i traded in which I now havent been paid for). As there seems to be quite a few of us maybe we should get together? If any of you want to get in touch my email is allante666@yahoo.co.uk Im not sure what we could do but theres more safety in numbers as it were!”
by scrooge1978
Tuesday, May 08 2012, 7:35AM
“I am in a simular situation to this. I have had many problems with the car I purchased from Paul Cugley - trading as "southwest Voyagers" on ebay. Despite Paul having my car for many months to fix many problames found with the car. I finally got it back but the next day once again it failed to start. I am now left with an undrivable and unsaleable car. Hopefully something can be done about stopping Paul trading as it seems there is many more of us out there in the same situation.”
by arealbristol
Thursday, May 03 2012, 6:57PM
“To John & Tina
Mr Cugley is registered on the electoral roll 2012 at his last known address in Longwell Green.
Please approach the insolvency service to see of he meets the criteria to be disqualified as a Director. This way he will be committing a criminal offence if he sets up again even if he acts as director without being one.
See if one of the no win no fee recovery companies (google landlords debt recovery) can help you trace him. They will only charge you if they find him and recover any monies.
The car is also listed as purple at the DVLA. If your invoice shows that the car is blue he may have sold you a ringer (one car made from 2 wrecks with dodgy VIN number).
If you suspect that this is the case report this to the police and suggest obtaining money by deception which is a criminal offence.
Hope this helps.”