Need Legal Help & lots of it

[kris15]

Hie there, this is my first post so please go easy, anyhow my story goes like this, I got a rush of blood to my head and decided to start a business beack in my native Zimbabwe importing used tyres, I am based in Manchester, anyhow after a lot of shopping I identified a company in Germany, anyhow we agreed a price and everything and transfered the money into an account number I was given by the representative, later it transpired that this account number was not the company's account. Now the representative has vanished and the company are refusing to take liabilty claiming now that he did not work for them but was renting an office in their complex and they used to allow him to answer and use their phones as a favour, they also claim that he stole the letterhead used for correspondence. At one point they offered to fulfill the order but they claimed they were doing this as a favour and were not under no obligation to do so. This was back in February when I transfered the money and have had to shut down the premises in Zimbabwe because I was paying wages, rent and overheads out of my own pocket, on top of that I travelled to Zimbabwe to receive a consignment that was never sent. What is even more bizarre is the fact that I have an aunt in Germany who visited the company and was taken on a tour of the complex by the representative who has vanished and even met the shareholder in the process. I have tried going to the European Unon to find an ammicable solution but the company refused to play ball and the EU advised me to take them to court but it would have to be a German Court, so I guess the question is do I have a case and what can I sue them for seeing as I have suffered all these losses, I mean I am not legally trained but as a customer it is not my duty to confirm bank accounts, although I tried and everytime I tried speaking to somebody else they always put me through to him. PLease help

[Peter Bowen]

Get a lawyer - this is not DIY stuff

[SALGADO INVESTIGATIONS]

You need to consult a lawyer in the 1st instance. Any other advice will never measure up.

http://www.e-legal-gathering.co.uk/

[Nick Dyer]

I totall agree. You need professional advice.

For future reference, when dealing with overseas purchases with companies you do not know, you need to ask your bank first about safe money exchanges.
The Bank can arrange for the funds and goods to be transfered in a way that protects both the buyer and the seller.

It sounds like you have been the victim of a fraud. How much is your potential loss?

[kris15]

The potential loss is £10200, I will not give up though, I have managed to trace where the money went and the company exists in Germany, my only question is whether it is worth my while pursuing and who I pursue from the receiver or the company who were suppossed to supply the goods? Somebody must be accountable but my question is WHO?