Urban Art Association

Charidee Complete & A Big THANK YOU!!!, by Harveyn on Feb 21, 2008 19:45:36 GMT 1, Please note that I have finally had enough with respect to last years charidee. I do apologize but I have informed Helen at Bluebell that it is now up to them how they want to proceed.

I have one piece of work that was donated by Frankie @ Campbarbossa which I will auction and send the money directly to Bluebell.

I have tried my best to get these auctions run smoothly and efficiently. I have found myself being the buffer between the outside world and Verbal and his communications with me have been as poor, abrupt and infrequent as they have with them.

I ensured with the help of Bluebell that the first lot of monies owed was paid and I can assure you that was not easy.

Apparently over £3000 worth of auctions have not been paid. I have been unable to substantiate these facts as Verbal refuses to let me know which auctions have been concluded successfully.

All I can add is that a number of people have contacted myself and Bluebell to complain about payments made, no communication as to how to make payments and every other type of imaginable failure. This has lead to paypal disputes, paypal account closures and complete and utter chaos.

I have attached the last communication I received from Verbal today and my response. I do this as a last resort and so the people who have donated art or won auctions can decide how to proceed for themselves.

I have highlighted the comments that have lead to my decision to remove myself from this process. I think you will understand. I am not prepared to be threatened.

Verbals email today

"I will not ship any items to you. You can pick them up. That way you will know what has been sent and what has not. I have never sent you an abusive email or spoke to you in an abusive way.

I emailed every single person at the end of the last set of auctions and explained that paypal was no longer an option. Is it my fault that payPal closed my account and robbed me of 27k?

This is the way it will be neil (I really do not know why you feel you can boss me around or why you feel this is your endevour and I am your subordinate, but I am the boss, I am in charge, not you. Make as many demands as you like neil, and threaten whatever you like, but the simple fact is that you are in no position to demand anything of me, we have no contract, no agreements. This endeavour was my idea, and therefore I am in charge, not you.

If you want to collect the rest of the lots and auction them then be my guest, but you will do it at your expense. As for the re listed item, I will tarethe cheque up unless he retracts the negative feedback he left. My london address is registered on that ebay account, so he could have sent a cheque weeks ago. If you want to sell the items I will officially wash my hands of the whole thing, pay any outstanding monies to helen (like I did last time and was called a liar and put through hell because of their incompetence) there is about 400 outstanding from me and about 3000 unpaid items. Alternatively, I have the week off and can list all the items and instruct people to pay the cash into your paypal account or send you a cheque. You will owe me a tenner or 20 for each item to post them.

To close neil, you are not in charge, you have no right to demand anything of me and I really am looking forward to you getting into the legalities of this situation, because I have and to cut a long story short, you are nothing in this situation. Your involvement is at my pleasure, not yours. Don't push me neil, you were rude to my family and if you really want to see what happens when my utter contempt for you explodes then I suggest you continue with this 'hostile takeover'.

All I have to do is sell the items and give the money to bluebell, I can do this at my leisure and in whatever way I choose. If the individual donors want their unlisted items back they can request them from me and I will gladly return them. I never appointed you MD of these auctions, you appointed yourself, as far as this auction goes, I am your boss and you bloody well know it, so you don't tell me anything neil, I tell you what to do. Understand?

Now I am happy to keep you involved as you selflessly gave your time and have amazing organisation skills, but I am telling you neil, do not think you have any authority over me, either morally or legally and if you wish to communicate with me you will do so with respect.

Absolutely seriously"

My response today

"Dear Chris

I have copied Helen from Bluebell on this mail so she and Bluebell can witness your response.

I am officially bowing out of this process. I have no wish to be involved any further. I will post your response on the forum along with my retort. This is necessary so people can understand what has happened.

From day one you informed the forum that you were auctioning a diamond for charity so people could bid for a very good cause. Several members offered to donate a few things and I suggested we run an auction of pieces donated from galleries, artists and members. I then apologized to you for lumbering you with this work load and offered to run the auction. You said you would be more than happy to run it and I could help on the organizational side.

I had no wish to make a hostile takeover and it is your poor communication with countless people that has lead to this predicament.

For you information and as stated very clearly in my communications it is Bluebell that will take further action and not myself.

I have never once been rude to your family and it is your abrupt responses and use of profanities in the past that I alluded to. You may not find this abusive but I do and it is not how I conduct myself."

Regards