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.
