Probably too late, but need advice... I've been ripped off!
- Thread starter Ghost Host
- Start date
CSMacLaren
Sr Member
Two possibilities come to mind:
1. Find a UK lawyer to represent you
2. Contact Interpol's Financial Crime division (I believe they handle mail fraud).
1. Find a UK lawyer to represent you
2. Contact Interpol's Financial Crime division (I believe they handle mail fraud).
CustomCreations
Sr Member
If you take the guy to the small claims court over here, you can use a debt collection agency. They will charge a percentage of the fee owed, or a minimum amount. Truthfully they don't do much more than you could do yourself, but being in the UK, it would make things a lot easier for you to speed it up, and they would know the processes.
Taking someone to court will probably cost you about £120 in getting the legal side and documents/ process started.
You will need to prepare your case along with documentation to support your case.
This is then reviewed and sorted out then, or if not, you will have a hearing where a judge will evaluate the case with both sides present, like on TV ;-)
I am pretty sure you can add your expenses to the claim, and in the UK, you can also charge interest to unpaid debts, although I am not sure if this can be applied to overseas cases too, and is normally applied only to commercial debts.
A similar thing happened to me ( non prop related) and this is how I know!
I won, BTW ;-)
Taking someone to court will probably cost you about £120 in getting the legal side and documents/ process started.
You will need to prepare your case along with documentation to support your case.
This is then reviewed and sorted out then, or if not, you will have a hearing where a judge will evaluate the case with both sides present, like on TV ;-)
I am pretty sure you can add your expenses to the claim, and in the UK, you can also charge interest to unpaid debts, although I am not sure if this can be applied to overseas cases too, and is normally applied only to commercial debts.
A similar thing happened to me ( non prop related) and this is how I know!
I won, BTW ;-)
Stormrider
Member
I would purchase PersonsNameScam.com and I would fully detail the entire transaction on the website.
I would also purchase google keywords and adwords that includ ehis name
Its only slander or illegal if you lie. And he would have to file a claim in court which would move forward procedings in order to protest it.
If you cost him enough money and reputation in the future, he will very much like you to go away.
I have done that with car purchases, non paying clients, medical bills that were sent to the wrong lab out of coverage area, etc, and have been successfull in every case.
I would also purchase google keywords and adwords that includ ehis name
Its only slander or illegal if you lie. And he would have to file a claim in court which would move forward procedings in order to protest it.
If you cost him enough money and reputation in the future, he will very much like you to go away.
I have done that with car purchases, non paying clients, medical bills that were sent to the wrong lab out of coverage area, etc, and have been successfull in every case.
TazMan2000
Master Member
He obviously thinks your patience is endless, and that is why he keeps delaying his work. If he hasn't started on it and there still is communication between you both...just cancel the deal and get your money back. He has lost nothing and gained interest on your 4 grand over 5 years. If there is a dispute, Hill will lose much more than just 4 grand...he will lose his reputation, and possibly much more thousands of dollars in lost revenue when his customers find out what kind of a person he really is. If he doesn't give you back your money, let people know about him. Get angry. Post informational messages on every website that he may get interest from. It costs nothing. If you feel you have been wronged...go for the throat!
TazMan2000
TazMan2000
Master Member
Don't contact INTERPOL. They do not deal with citizens, they deal with agencies. If its mail fraud, contact Royal Mail and or U.S. Postal Service. If they deem it necessary, they will contact INTERPOL.
TazMan2000
Trekkie313
Active Member
I can't find anything about him on the web...
Seriously? Look up 'Mike Hill sculptor'. He's sculpted for Alex Ross, did a life-size Boris Karloff in make-up chair, etc.
GH, it really sucks that something like this has happened to you.
Ryu
cboath
Master Member
Not as much as you think. The average savings accout rate in the states is 1-2%. At 2% that's about $80 a year, over 5 years would be about $400. But then, you gotta cough up 25% in taxes...so, $300.
outlander
Sr Member
I've been in exactly this position with a sculptor, not Mike Hill; although Mike Hill has something of a reputation for being difficult. One commision worked out... with some difficulties, the second sort of wandered onto numerous sidetracks until it eventually sputtered to a halt. More than anything, I believe he "just wasn't feeling it" anymore.
You're not going to solve anything with PayPal, but I suspect you already know that. PayPal is Hell on wheels if you activate their process within their timelines, but they will do nothing if you wander beyond them. On the first sculpt, I actually began a case against "my" sculptor. PayPal locked the $1,500.00 into escrow. You should have heard the squalling.
But that doesn't help you out now. You're going to have to take him to small claims court. It's actually very easy and simple to do. You will have to invest a few hours of your time, though. Take copies of every eMail you sent, whether he replied or not. The time you waited for his "creative muse" to kick in was... generous. More than generous.
Your willingness to accept a piece that was not the one you commisioned shows me the frustration and resignation you eventually arrived at. Slide on over to the statueforum and see if anybody else has a tale to tell.
Here's what it is: If you were Sideshow or one of the "Big Dawgs" Hill would not have dared to jerk you around like that. But he knows he can play you until you capitulate from exhaustion. I speculate he's done it before. He knows you are a "good" guy. He knows you are a "reasonable" guy. So am I. Assclown snake-oilers like Hill feed on people like us.
Another tool you have available is shame. Start up a Blog like "My 5 year Dream Date with Mike Hill" and detail what you've gone through. Stick to the facts. Try to state only things that can be documented because Hill will pound his chest and scream like a raped gorilla about "libel" and "slander".
But it's not. Not if it's the truth.
Believe it or not, Hill is a "name" sculptor. Embarrasement over having his BS dragged into the public eye may cause him to make it right.
Just in my humble opinion, Hill's price tag outstrips his talent. I haven't heard a complaint yet about Howard here on the RPF and his work is A+
You're not going to solve anything with PayPal, but I suspect you already know that. PayPal is Hell on wheels if you activate their process within their timelines, but they will do nothing if you wander beyond them. On the first sculpt, I actually began a case against "my" sculptor. PayPal locked the $1,500.00 into escrow. You should have heard the squalling.
But that doesn't help you out now. You're going to have to take him to small claims court. It's actually very easy and simple to do. You will have to invest a few hours of your time, though. Take copies of every eMail you sent, whether he replied or not. The time you waited for his "creative muse" to kick in was... generous. More than generous.
Your willingness to accept a piece that was not the one you commisioned shows me the frustration and resignation you eventually arrived at. Slide on over to the statueforum and see if anybody else has a tale to tell.
Here's what it is: If you were Sideshow or one of the "Big Dawgs" Hill would not have dared to jerk you around like that. But he knows he can play you until you capitulate from exhaustion. I speculate he's done it before. He knows you are a "good" guy. He knows you are a "reasonable" guy. So am I. Assclown snake-oilers like Hill feed on people like us.
Another tool you have available is shame. Start up a Blog like "My 5 year Dream Date with Mike Hill" and detail what you've gone through. Stick to the facts. Try to state only things that can be documented because Hill will pound his chest and scream like a raped gorilla about "libel" and "slander".
But it's not. Not if it's the truth.
Believe it or not, Hill is a "name" sculptor. Embarrasement over having his BS dragged into the public eye may cause him to make it right.
Just in my humble opinion, Hill's price tag outstrips his talent. I haven't heard a complaint yet about Howard here on the RPF and his work is A+
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TazMan2000
Master Member
I can't speak for you, but $300, (not to mention the original $4000) is still a nice chunk of money...to a lot of people.
TazMan2000
cboath
Master Member
Not saying it isn't, but it doesn't strike me as a lot of interest to earn over 5 years. I can remember my first passbook savings account in the early 80's which got me something like 5.5%. I also think I was being optimistic. I think the average savings account range is really closer to 1%...
$300 for doing something for a week or a day strikes me as a sizeable chunk of change. Over five years, though. That's all i'm saying.
TymerDC
Sr Member
For us clueless dummies...could you explain what the " HMA" is?
TymerDC
Sr Member
I also want to explain what I did when I was ripped off. I made a thread on the very website where he was well known and discovered that he screwed several other people the same way because they all contacted me! If anyone wants to read the thread please do..the more people who read it the better. Go to this site:
http://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/project.htm
Then follow these directions...on the left side under "Main Directory" slide the bar all the way down till find "Message Forum" then click on it. Then on this page go down and under "Models" click on "Pal Version". When that opens then click on the thread " Harvey Mayo Warning / Inquiry " ...enjoy all 8 pages, they make for good reading.....even Bob Burns was screwed by this guy. Last time I looked over 51000 people have read this so I hope he isn't screwing anyone as easy as he used to. My goal is to put him outa work permanently. As for me I never got any money back but I hope I kept someone else from becoming a victim. Frankly I've seen more talent here on the RPF then this guy can hopefully ever be. Don Coleman who owns this website whom I am proud to call a friend is enormously talented to boot. There are alot of good honest talented people here and these kinda dirbags makes it tougher for all of them.
As for Ghost Host.....good luck and if you can't get any satisfactory end to this then ruin him on the net. As long as your telling the truth and you have proof then you have nothing to fear.
http://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/project.htm
Then follow these directions...on the left side under "Main Directory" slide the bar all the way down till find "Message Forum" then click on it. Then on this page go down and under "Models" click on "Pal Version". When that opens then click on the thread " Harvey Mayo Warning / Inquiry " ...enjoy all 8 pages, they make for good reading.....even Bob Burns was screwed by this guy. Last time I looked over 51000 people have read this so I hope he isn't screwing anyone as easy as he used to. My goal is to put him outa work permanently. As for me I never got any money back but I hope I kept someone else from becoming a victim. Frankly I've seen more talent here on the RPF then this guy can hopefully ever be. Don Coleman who owns this website whom I am proud to call a friend is enormously talented to boot. There are alot of good honest talented people here and these kinda dirbags makes it tougher for all of them.
As for Ghost Host.....good luck and if you can't get any satisfactory end to this then ruin him on the net. As long as your telling the truth and you have proof then you have nothing to fear.
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TymerDC
Sr Member
Ghost Host,
BTW you might want to look here:
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?action=forum
Hill might be slimming around this website looking for other victims and you might even run a post about him. I missed this years April Monsterpalooza in LA but saw photos of the 2009 event and they had on display Hill's sculpt of Karloff in Frankenstein makeup sitting in a studio chair with a cup of coffee. He may even had been present this year maybe? Who knows. Maybe someone who attended may see this thread and can answer that. Heres a photo of Hill's Karloff :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40032522@N03/
Ghost...try posting on the Universal Army website too....people should be warned about this guy. Good luck
BTW you might want to look here:
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?action=forum
Hill might be slimming around this website looking for other victims and you might even run a post about him. I missed this years April Monsterpalooza in LA but saw photos of the 2009 event and they had on display Hill's sculpt of Karloff in Frankenstein makeup sitting in a studio chair with a cup of coffee. He may even had been present this year maybe? Who knows. Maybe someone who attended may see this thread and can answer that. Heres a photo of Hill's Karloff :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40032522@N03/
Ghost...try posting on the Universal Army website too....people should be warned about this guy. Good luck
Ghost Host
Sr Member
I haven't been around much, sorry for not posting... but the problem is ongoing... Mike and I spoke and agreed that a refund was best for me, and he did pay me $1000 maybe 8 months ago... but there's still a signifigant outstanding balance owed, and he's back to not responding to my emails and calls...
magpie9
Well-Known Member
The HMA is the Halloween Mask Association, www.hma.net
Mike Hill is a regular on this board.
Mike Hill is a regular on this board.
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