DubaiPete

Hello,

I need some help as I seem to have been stitched up regarding a new apartment, and have no idea what to do!!

Viewed an apartment in JBR, good price, but as we could not move in until 02/05/09, the chap asked for the deposit to hold it!! Sorted I thought!

Met him, got the owners passport copy and proof of ownership, and proof of paying the deposit.

The owner is here from the UK at the moment, and we were going to meet up.

This was on the 13/03/09.

Spoke to the guy Thursday who told me, change of plan, owner needs to rent it this week, so I could have my deposit back.

Agreed to meet today [Sunday] but his phone seems to have been cut off!

No doubt some of you are thinking "what a ****" maybe I am, but I’m here now so I need to try and deal with it!

Has this happened to anyone else?

ANY help would be appreciated!

Cheers

Pete

commander

how much was the deposit?

TGFKASE

Were you meeting up with the owner? Do you still have a copy of his id? Should be enough to track him down and find out where your money is....

commander

or keep an eye on the property you were going to move into...he'll be sure to turn up..

are you a hard ****er, if so batter him senseless.

DubaiPete

6,300!!

The owner is UK based!

I met his associate!! I know, the idiot in me took over!

TGFKASE

So his associate is the guy you were to meet? You got anything other than a phone number?

DubaiPete

Have already thought about that!!

I am popping home in a few weeks for a week, so i may try and track him down then!!

Can do without the hassel really!!

DubaiPete

His email address!!

TGFKASE

Assume its a freebie email address, not a business one...

NorthernLad

Try RERA? Not sure if they can help with this sort of thing, failing that I would email him telling him you are going to the police as this amounts to theft.

lionheart

Sorry but seeing that it was virtually your first BE post, I was expecting this to be an offer of help to make new friends rather than a begging bowl. You need to be around here a while longer to attract the sympathy vote.

TGFKASE

LH, take it from me. You are a Grade 1 arse. You dont need the practice but why not sign back in under Shadya's name just so she can get her pillock points up a bit...

NorthernLad

What's up, you not get any action last night?

DubaiPete

I have actually been a member since last Feb [2008] when we were looking to come out here. I made a few post's regarding renting my house out in the uk and got some great advice!! Since then, thiings have gone well here so no need for me to ask any further questions!!

I since changed my email, and forgot my login details!! Hence the new membership!!

Not a begging bowl either!! I regually look at the site and thought people may have been in the same boat!!

If however you fancied making a donation to the cause, feel free to send cash!! hahaha!!

Shehryar

If you have seen proof of ownership for the flat, and have a valid receipt, try RERA/DLD (Lands Dept). They are generally very helpful (in my limited experience) and do speak English (mostly). A valid receipt means you can also go to police (I think).

Also, try the neighbours - tell them them the chap owning Flat XX is a thief.

Or, as suggested above, just hang around the apartment and wait for someone to show up!

Also, I don't think you have been very daft - what you did is what most of us would have done at some stage - paid a deposit for a property after seeing ID and proof of ownership etc - you can't have a functioning society if you don't have some element of trust!