Legal action against an internet supplier?

Hi there,

this is a difficult question. A number of us in a worldwide collaboration (we know each other, loosely through another forum), ordered some photographic supplies from a small company in Belgium.

The company, run by a photographer, has always seemed pretty genuine until about last year, when he ran into financial difficulties and his shop temporarily closed. There was some fall out on the internet community about his failure to supply orders, or even refund. Nonetheless, because he supplies a very specialist market, some of us decided to support his shop with orders.

We placed these orders last year - summer 2009. He replied once only to me, back in summer, clarifying the order. Since then, his website has vanished; his emails are not returned to.

I kind of feel bad for him, because I know he must be having a difficult time with the recession affecting his business. Nevertheless, because he works as a photographer, I found his business address on the internet, and even his Facebook account, and can even pin point the co-ordinates of his house using internet googlemaps and sent him messages, asking to explain himself, and explain why he has not fulfilled the orders, or refunded the money. If he was honest enough to explain (in one of the many chances I gave), I would’ve let it slide and written off the costs (the others might have done the same). But the fact that he doesn’t have the courage to explain his failings, just makes me angry thinking about how he thinks he can get away by ignoring his customers after running with the money.

Is there any straightforward legal route between countries to recover the costs? Or does an international Fraud Declaration and legal action have to be served in his home address in Belgium?

I’ve never done anything like this before, and I’m hesitant about doing so and wondered if there’s any other line of action others might pursue.

“First of all, I wish you to radio your headquarters and say that you have been captured and condemned for espionage activities…”

I have no idea, but Belgium may take distance selling abuses very seriously and the authorities may do your work for you. If he is not meeting overseas orders, he is probably not meeting domestic ones also. However, Belgian authorities are notoriously bureaucratic so even if you do take some action, or they act on your behalf, I suspect old age will get everyone concerned before there is a satisfactory outcome.

Maybe a ride out to Belgium and recove the costs “manually”? Heheh, I’m joking :slight_smile:

I’m sure someone here will know what you should do, a lot of legal brains here. Good luck.

Have a search for something like the Belgian equivalent like moneyclaim.gov.uk I could advise you how to do it in the UK but for international I have no idea.

Did you pay by credit card? Was it over £100? If so then the credit card company is liable, claim against them and they do the hard work for you?

Thanks for the thoughts guys. It doesn’t look easy, other than relying on the professional links to the industry to exert some psychological pressure on him to be accountable or answer to his clients.

I guess I’ll still have to scratch at the drawing board to work out what’s next…