timmus
A2OC Donor
Dear all,
Over the last few months, some past and present members of this club have preferred to discuss the Audi A2 on a Facebook page rather than on this forum. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that. However, comments made on Facebook about some members of this club have become increasingly unpleasant. For instance, forum stalwart Steve Birchall has recently announced that he is backing away from the world of A2s, at least for a while, having been upset by some of the comments made about him. See http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?32372.
I have also been on the receiving end of some questionable claims about my character, conduct and ethics. Whilst I initially chose to ignore these comments, I notice they are becoming more abundant and so have now decided to publicly refute these claims. Below I have posted a conversation that appeared on Facebook recently that makes a series of accusations and assertions that relate to me. Whilst I am not mentioned by name, it is beyond all reasonable doubt that I am the individual being discussed. I would be grateful if all would be willing to read the Facebook conversation and then my refutation of the claims made against me.
1) The accusation that I stole from Paul Boulter.
Back in 2013, during the early days of me working for fellow A2 owners, Paul bought a high-spec A2 for £400 in order to break it for parts. However, he recognised that he didn’t have the skills, knowledge or tools to dismantle it himself, so he approached the forum for assistance. Paul wanted to have the car’s optional extras removed as complete retrofit kits that could then be added to his own car or sold to other club members. A calculation based on values at the time suggested that the kits were worth a total of roughly £2000, so I offered to assemble the appropriate parts into retrofit kits for a 10% share; £200. Paul told me that he did not want to have to pay in cash so wasn't able to accept my offer. I then made him an alternative offer: I’d do the necessary work in return for two of the retrofit kits and a selection of other parts from the car. Paul agreed to this with certain exclusions; the leather Sport seats, the Bose kit, the parking sensor kit and the front fog lights were to be his. The precise details of what I'd get were still undecided as I didn't know which kits were going to be complete or what the condition of the parts would be. However, even with Paul’s explicit exclusions, there was still plenty of choice for me, so the deal was done.
I proceeded to drive to Paul’s house. As I dismantled the car, Paul was forever asking me what the market value was for the parts/kits I was removing. As each retrofit kit was removed, Paul would take them indoors. Towards the end of the job, once the task was nearing completion, he seemingly started to mark every high-value kit as his, leaving me with fewer and fewer kits to choose from. I felt very much that I was being taken advantage of. He had, to all intents and purposes, reneged on the deal we'd agreed. His suggestion now seemed to be that, because I'd originally offered to do the job for £200 in cash, I could select parts of roughly that total value.
If I take car parts as payment for labour, I then need to find people who want those parts and perform the necessary work before I see any money. Thus, accepting car parts in lieu of money results in a significant delay and further effort before I see any capital with which to pay my bills. Given the 380-mile round trip I had driven (all at my expense), the huge effort I’d put in, the large value my skills had generated for Paul and the further effort I’d have to invest before I’d see any monetary reward, I believe the original deal was more than fairly tilted in Paul’s favour.
As kits, I had removed for Paul the leather Sport seats, Bose, rear electric windows, OEM parking sensors, boot-mounted CD changer, driver information system, cruise control, auto-dimming mirror, front fog lights and leather controls, all of which were now off-limits to me. After I pointed out to Paul that the rear electric windows were only suitable for pre-2002 A2s, he let me have them as they weren’t suitable for his car nor would he easily find a buyer. I now had one of the two retrofit kits I'd been promised. When Paul headed indoors to make dinner for his son, I asked whether I could help myself to whatever parts remained on the car, to which Paul agreed. Given that I only had one retrofit kit, my new intention was instead to try to collect components that are known to fail, such that I could use them to help other club members in the future. That way I’d drive home with less than I’d been promised, but at least something to show for my time and expense. In doing so, I spotted a small airbag logo at the top of the B-pillar trim; the only indication that the optional SideGuard curtain airbag system was fitted beneath.
This presented me with an uncomfortable dilemma. I considered telling Paul that I'd discovered another optional extra fitted to the car, but, based on precedent, strongly suspected that action would result in another kit being made unavailable to me. Instead, given that I had been given explicit permission to help myself to anything that remained on the car, I removed the airbags as the second of my two promised kits. I drove away that evening with nothing more than I'd been promised. When I left home that morning, I thought I'd have lots of choice, but left with the only two retrofit kits that hadn’t been made off-limits to me. However, Paul was unaware that his breaker had ever had one of those options.
If I had my time again, I know I should have been firmer with Paul. As he manoeuvred and stamped his name on an increasing number of the kits, I should have had the courage to say something. I ought to have let him know that I felt he was disregarding our original agreement. Had I done so, I may not have found myself in a position of having to conceal something from him in order to get what I was due. I'll be the first to admit that I made an error of judgement. Whilst this may be an explanation for my actions, it does not excuse them. I was cowardly and wished to avoid conflict with someone I felt had shown an exploitative attitude towards me.
Well over a year later, Paul found out that his breaker had had SideGuard. How he found out isn't of immediate relevance. Paul and I then had a lengthy exchange in which I put to him my reasons for doing what I did. He understood and accepted his part in creating the situation in which I had found myself. Our exchange was perfectly civil and he, having heard my side, didn't believe I owed him anything. He expressed his gratitude for what I did for him and stated that he simply wanted us to move on without hard feelings.
2) The accusation that I unapologetically broke a Votex spoiler.
In the time that followed, Paul and I enjoyed a perfectly good-natured relationship. We chatted at socials, I carried out diagnostic scans on his car and continued to answer his technical queries both on the forum and via private messages. The SideGuard saga seemed well behind us.
Unfortunately, when a roof tile from Paul's house fell onto the roof of his A2, the car was written off by his insurance company. Paul bought a replacement and wished to transfer the interior from his written-off A2 into his new A2. However, without the necessary tools, he was unable to transfer the steering wheel. Paul posted on the forum asking for help, and I agreed to stop at Paul's house on my way to Cambridge and do the transfer, free of charge. After I'd fitted his steering wheel, he asked whether I was also able to transfer the Votex spoiler from his written-off A2. I told Paul that the spoiler was bonded into place and that it would probably break if I tried to remove it. Paul said that he was going to lose the Votex spoiler one way or another because his written-off A2 was due to leave his ownership in the near future. In essence, he gave me to understand that if I tried to remove it and broke it in the process, it would be no real loss. So, despite not having any suitable tools with me, I carefully set about trying to separate the Votex spoiler. Unfortunately, it broke. I apologised profusely, but Paul insisted that he'd taken the risk and that I had nothing to be sorry about.
What I have written is a thorough and honest account of all my dealings with Paul Boulter.
3) The assertion that I’m untrustworthy and “prey” on the members of this club.
When I first bought my A2 and joined this club, I looked upon the A2s of some other members and wished I could also own such a high-spec' example. I made it my mission to research how to fit each and every optional extra. As well as enabling me to get closer to what I would have ordered had I been able to buy an A2 from new, it allowed me to give other members of this club that same possibility. My services have proven hugely popular and have allowed countless people to purchase their A2 based on condition and history rather than on the number of options fitted at factory. As such, I have met and continue to meet many members of this club.
I believe that it is unrealistic to suppose that an individual is carrying out a long campaign of deceit and exploitation when there is virtually no evidence of any suffering as a result. Were I to possess such a degree of psychopathology to conceive and carry out a long-term scheme of exploitation, one would surely expect it to be easy to find persuasive examples of people who had been hurt by my actions. I would submit that, on the contrary, the high regard in which I am held by virtually all members with whom I have had any dealings indicates that there has been no such campaign and no such actions. The feedback that I get privately and on the forum is universally complementary of my skills, the quality of my work, the excellent value of my services, and my kind, polite, honest and helpful conduct. If I were indeed preying on the members of this club, where are the individuals who have been victimised? If I am in fact systematically taking advantage of all who come upon me, where are the complaints that ought to be expected?
4) The implication that A2OC is somehow supporting/protecting me.
A2OC is no single entity that's able to offer support. That said, I am fortunate to receive the support of many members of A2OC who recommend my work or defer to my knowledge. I am also grateful to the administrators and moderators of A2OC who allow me to offer my services through this platform. I doubt this would be the case if I did not continuously contribute, though. A forum is a place for people to pool their collective experience, understanding and skills. I have gained from the contributions of others, so it's only right that I should share what I have to offer. At the time of writing, I have composed just over 4600 posts on this forum, a vast majority of which are intended to offer help and advice. I spend so much of my time answering questions and contributing to publicly available knowledge of the cars we love. If A2OC are indeed supporting me, it's most likely because I support A2OC.
It has also been alleged that A2OC is somehow protecting me. This assertion is frankly ridiculous because it presupposes that I have something to be protected against. If A2OC are indeed assisting in my protection, it is only in allowing me to refute the malicious and defamatory allegations made about me by a select few individuals both on this forum and on other sites.
5) The accusation that I don’t pay income tax.
This is utter nonsense and is just another untruth contrived to discredit me. I have been self-employed for years and have an account with HMRC. I work primarily as an audio engineer but also offer specialist A2 services. All my earnings from both lines of work are paid into the same business account. My accountant then calculates how much tax I owe.
When one is self-employed, mortgage lenders calculate your annual income based on how much tax you have paid. As such, if you don't declare your earnings, you cannot get a mortgage. The very fact that I'm a homeowner with a mortgage confirms that I pay into the public purse.
6) The claim that my standard of work is poor.
There are countless photographs of my work to be found throughout this forum. I am always happy for photos to be posted and I always allow customers to watch me work because I take pride in the standard of my work. People so often comment that, once I'm done, they cannot tell the difference between what I have done and what Audi did at factory. In all the hundreds of optional extras I have added to A2s over the years, I don't know of a single failure that was due to my work.
Outside upgrading A2s, I design and build complex audio systems for professional recording studios and live concert use. I have made wiring looms with in excess of 1000 solder connections. My looms have been buried under the Glastonbury mud and continued to perform faultlessly. I made the stage cabling for the Scissor Sisters and Kaiser Chiefs world tours, which were moved from one venue to another having beer tipped over them by drunken fans night after night. People are happy to pay a lot for my systems knowing that what I create will withstand rough treatment in some of the harshest environments. By comparison, the wiring in A2s is very simple and has an easy life. Given that the individual claiming to have repaired my work has previously demonstrated a desire to discredit me, I'd take no notice.
Further to my accounts above, I would like to personally address the individuals involved in the discussion on facebook...
Paul Boulter (A2OC member redbull_a2)
Paul, I had thought that all our misapprehensions were behind us. It's been years since we both acknowledged our mistakes, offered mutual apologies and proceeded to get on well. Neither of us thought it was in anyone's interests to publicly discuss the matter, but my hand has been forced by repeated barbed remarks and distorted accounts. I don't fully understand why you've decided to make an issue of this after so many years. You have never paid me a penny for anything I have ever done for you and my efforts earned you a considerable sum of money, but yet you've stated that you "got done twice" by me.
James Abbott Blackmore
James, you and I have met many times and had many good conversations. I like you and enjoy your company. We were planning on rewiring my house together. Do you really believe that I prey on owners and abuse trust? Can you reconcile your first-hand experience of my personality with what you've since been told about me? You've met my exceptionally gentle girlfriend and have chatted for hours to my kind and inquisitive sister. These people choose to spend their time with me and are thus witnesses to my good character. I remember an occasion not so long ago when you wanted me to swap your steering wheel. It was a job of minutes, so I did it free. The occasion before that, I fixed your central locking, charging you only for the parts needed. Why do I deserve to be so publicly maligned and vilified on an internationally accessible page?
Tony Foscolos of A2 Cars Ltd (‘A-Two Cars’ in all screenshots)
Tony, I know you have sworn that you will never speak to me, but I nevertheless must ask the question to which I'd so dearly like an answer: what have I done to you? You used to be so complimentary of my work, commenting on how thorough I was and what an eye for detail I possessed. But now you seek only to discredit me. You seem so ripe and ready to diminish and deride anything associated with me. You've referred to me as "sh*t on your shoe". What was it that I did to you that created such feelings of hostility and vindictiveness?
Has the time not come to keep your ill-conceived invectives to yourself and instead focus your efforts on the continued success of your business?
Tom
Over the last few months, some past and present members of this club have preferred to discuss the Audi A2 on a Facebook page rather than on this forum. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that. However, comments made on Facebook about some members of this club have become increasingly unpleasant. For instance, forum stalwart Steve Birchall has recently announced that he is backing away from the world of A2s, at least for a while, having been upset by some of the comments made about him. See http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?32372.
I have also been on the receiving end of some questionable claims about my character, conduct and ethics. Whilst I initially chose to ignore these comments, I notice they are becoming more abundant and so have now decided to publicly refute these claims. Below I have posted a conversation that appeared on Facebook recently that makes a series of accusations and assertions that relate to me. Whilst I am not mentioned by name, it is beyond all reasonable doubt that I am the individual being discussed. I would be grateful if all would be willing to read the Facebook conversation and then my refutation of the claims made against me.
1) The accusation that I stole from Paul Boulter.
Back in 2013, during the early days of me working for fellow A2 owners, Paul bought a high-spec A2 for £400 in order to break it for parts. However, he recognised that he didn’t have the skills, knowledge or tools to dismantle it himself, so he approached the forum for assistance. Paul wanted to have the car’s optional extras removed as complete retrofit kits that could then be added to his own car or sold to other club members. A calculation based on values at the time suggested that the kits were worth a total of roughly £2000, so I offered to assemble the appropriate parts into retrofit kits for a 10% share; £200. Paul told me that he did not want to have to pay in cash so wasn't able to accept my offer. I then made him an alternative offer: I’d do the necessary work in return for two of the retrofit kits and a selection of other parts from the car. Paul agreed to this with certain exclusions; the leather Sport seats, the Bose kit, the parking sensor kit and the front fog lights were to be his. The precise details of what I'd get were still undecided as I didn't know which kits were going to be complete or what the condition of the parts would be. However, even with Paul’s explicit exclusions, there was still plenty of choice for me, so the deal was done.
I proceeded to drive to Paul’s house. As I dismantled the car, Paul was forever asking me what the market value was for the parts/kits I was removing. As each retrofit kit was removed, Paul would take them indoors. Towards the end of the job, once the task was nearing completion, he seemingly started to mark every high-value kit as his, leaving me with fewer and fewer kits to choose from. I felt very much that I was being taken advantage of. He had, to all intents and purposes, reneged on the deal we'd agreed. His suggestion now seemed to be that, because I'd originally offered to do the job for £200 in cash, I could select parts of roughly that total value.
If I take car parts as payment for labour, I then need to find people who want those parts and perform the necessary work before I see any money. Thus, accepting car parts in lieu of money results in a significant delay and further effort before I see any capital with which to pay my bills. Given the 380-mile round trip I had driven (all at my expense), the huge effort I’d put in, the large value my skills had generated for Paul and the further effort I’d have to invest before I’d see any monetary reward, I believe the original deal was more than fairly tilted in Paul’s favour.
As kits, I had removed for Paul the leather Sport seats, Bose, rear electric windows, OEM parking sensors, boot-mounted CD changer, driver information system, cruise control, auto-dimming mirror, front fog lights and leather controls, all of which were now off-limits to me. After I pointed out to Paul that the rear electric windows were only suitable for pre-2002 A2s, he let me have them as they weren’t suitable for his car nor would he easily find a buyer. I now had one of the two retrofit kits I'd been promised. When Paul headed indoors to make dinner for his son, I asked whether I could help myself to whatever parts remained on the car, to which Paul agreed. Given that I only had one retrofit kit, my new intention was instead to try to collect components that are known to fail, such that I could use them to help other club members in the future. That way I’d drive home with less than I’d been promised, but at least something to show for my time and expense. In doing so, I spotted a small airbag logo at the top of the B-pillar trim; the only indication that the optional SideGuard curtain airbag system was fitted beneath.
This presented me with an uncomfortable dilemma. I considered telling Paul that I'd discovered another optional extra fitted to the car, but, based on precedent, strongly suspected that action would result in another kit being made unavailable to me. Instead, given that I had been given explicit permission to help myself to anything that remained on the car, I removed the airbags as the second of my two promised kits. I drove away that evening with nothing more than I'd been promised. When I left home that morning, I thought I'd have lots of choice, but left with the only two retrofit kits that hadn’t been made off-limits to me. However, Paul was unaware that his breaker had ever had one of those options.
If I had my time again, I know I should have been firmer with Paul. As he manoeuvred and stamped his name on an increasing number of the kits, I should have had the courage to say something. I ought to have let him know that I felt he was disregarding our original agreement. Had I done so, I may not have found myself in a position of having to conceal something from him in order to get what I was due. I'll be the first to admit that I made an error of judgement. Whilst this may be an explanation for my actions, it does not excuse them. I was cowardly and wished to avoid conflict with someone I felt had shown an exploitative attitude towards me.
Well over a year later, Paul found out that his breaker had had SideGuard. How he found out isn't of immediate relevance. Paul and I then had a lengthy exchange in which I put to him my reasons for doing what I did. He understood and accepted his part in creating the situation in which I had found myself. Our exchange was perfectly civil and he, having heard my side, didn't believe I owed him anything. He expressed his gratitude for what I did for him and stated that he simply wanted us to move on without hard feelings.
2) The accusation that I unapologetically broke a Votex spoiler.
In the time that followed, Paul and I enjoyed a perfectly good-natured relationship. We chatted at socials, I carried out diagnostic scans on his car and continued to answer his technical queries both on the forum and via private messages. The SideGuard saga seemed well behind us.
Unfortunately, when a roof tile from Paul's house fell onto the roof of his A2, the car was written off by his insurance company. Paul bought a replacement and wished to transfer the interior from his written-off A2 into his new A2. However, without the necessary tools, he was unable to transfer the steering wheel. Paul posted on the forum asking for help, and I agreed to stop at Paul's house on my way to Cambridge and do the transfer, free of charge. After I'd fitted his steering wheel, he asked whether I was also able to transfer the Votex spoiler from his written-off A2. I told Paul that the spoiler was bonded into place and that it would probably break if I tried to remove it. Paul said that he was going to lose the Votex spoiler one way or another because his written-off A2 was due to leave his ownership in the near future. In essence, he gave me to understand that if I tried to remove it and broke it in the process, it would be no real loss. So, despite not having any suitable tools with me, I carefully set about trying to separate the Votex spoiler. Unfortunately, it broke. I apologised profusely, but Paul insisted that he'd taken the risk and that I had nothing to be sorry about.
What I have written is a thorough and honest account of all my dealings with Paul Boulter.
3) The assertion that I’m untrustworthy and “prey” on the members of this club.
When I first bought my A2 and joined this club, I looked upon the A2s of some other members and wished I could also own such a high-spec' example. I made it my mission to research how to fit each and every optional extra. As well as enabling me to get closer to what I would have ordered had I been able to buy an A2 from new, it allowed me to give other members of this club that same possibility. My services have proven hugely popular and have allowed countless people to purchase their A2 based on condition and history rather than on the number of options fitted at factory. As such, I have met and continue to meet many members of this club.
I believe that it is unrealistic to suppose that an individual is carrying out a long campaign of deceit and exploitation when there is virtually no evidence of any suffering as a result. Were I to possess such a degree of psychopathology to conceive and carry out a long-term scheme of exploitation, one would surely expect it to be easy to find persuasive examples of people who had been hurt by my actions. I would submit that, on the contrary, the high regard in which I am held by virtually all members with whom I have had any dealings indicates that there has been no such campaign and no such actions. The feedback that I get privately and on the forum is universally complementary of my skills, the quality of my work, the excellent value of my services, and my kind, polite, honest and helpful conduct. If I were indeed preying on the members of this club, where are the individuals who have been victimised? If I am in fact systematically taking advantage of all who come upon me, where are the complaints that ought to be expected?
4) The implication that A2OC is somehow supporting/protecting me.
A2OC is no single entity that's able to offer support. That said, I am fortunate to receive the support of many members of A2OC who recommend my work or defer to my knowledge. I am also grateful to the administrators and moderators of A2OC who allow me to offer my services through this platform. I doubt this would be the case if I did not continuously contribute, though. A forum is a place for people to pool their collective experience, understanding and skills. I have gained from the contributions of others, so it's only right that I should share what I have to offer. At the time of writing, I have composed just over 4600 posts on this forum, a vast majority of which are intended to offer help and advice. I spend so much of my time answering questions and contributing to publicly available knowledge of the cars we love. If A2OC are indeed supporting me, it's most likely because I support A2OC.
It has also been alleged that A2OC is somehow protecting me. This assertion is frankly ridiculous because it presupposes that I have something to be protected against. If A2OC are indeed assisting in my protection, it is only in allowing me to refute the malicious and defamatory allegations made about me by a select few individuals both on this forum and on other sites.
5) The accusation that I don’t pay income tax.
This is utter nonsense and is just another untruth contrived to discredit me. I have been self-employed for years and have an account with HMRC. I work primarily as an audio engineer but also offer specialist A2 services. All my earnings from both lines of work are paid into the same business account. My accountant then calculates how much tax I owe.
When one is self-employed, mortgage lenders calculate your annual income based on how much tax you have paid. As such, if you don't declare your earnings, you cannot get a mortgage. The very fact that I'm a homeowner with a mortgage confirms that I pay into the public purse.
6) The claim that my standard of work is poor.
There are countless photographs of my work to be found throughout this forum. I am always happy for photos to be posted and I always allow customers to watch me work because I take pride in the standard of my work. People so often comment that, once I'm done, they cannot tell the difference between what I have done and what Audi did at factory. In all the hundreds of optional extras I have added to A2s over the years, I don't know of a single failure that was due to my work.
Outside upgrading A2s, I design and build complex audio systems for professional recording studios and live concert use. I have made wiring looms with in excess of 1000 solder connections. My looms have been buried under the Glastonbury mud and continued to perform faultlessly. I made the stage cabling for the Scissor Sisters and Kaiser Chiefs world tours, which were moved from one venue to another having beer tipped over them by drunken fans night after night. People are happy to pay a lot for my systems knowing that what I create will withstand rough treatment in some of the harshest environments. By comparison, the wiring in A2s is very simple and has an easy life. Given that the individual claiming to have repaired my work has previously demonstrated a desire to discredit me, I'd take no notice.
Further to my accounts above, I would like to personally address the individuals involved in the discussion on facebook...
Paul Boulter (A2OC member redbull_a2)
Paul, I had thought that all our misapprehensions were behind us. It's been years since we both acknowledged our mistakes, offered mutual apologies and proceeded to get on well. Neither of us thought it was in anyone's interests to publicly discuss the matter, but my hand has been forced by repeated barbed remarks and distorted accounts. I don't fully understand why you've decided to make an issue of this after so many years. You have never paid me a penny for anything I have ever done for you and my efforts earned you a considerable sum of money, but yet you've stated that you "got done twice" by me.
James Abbott Blackmore
James, you and I have met many times and had many good conversations. I like you and enjoy your company. We were planning on rewiring my house together. Do you really believe that I prey on owners and abuse trust? Can you reconcile your first-hand experience of my personality with what you've since been told about me? You've met my exceptionally gentle girlfriend and have chatted for hours to my kind and inquisitive sister. These people choose to spend their time with me and are thus witnesses to my good character. I remember an occasion not so long ago when you wanted me to swap your steering wheel. It was a job of minutes, so I did it free. The occasion before that, I fixed your central locking, charging you only for the parts needed. Why do I deserve to be so publicly maligned and vilified on an internationally accessible page?
Tony Foscolos of A2 Cars Ltd (‘A-Two Cars’ in all screenshots)
Tony, I know you have sworn that you will never speak to me, but I nevertheless must ask the question to which I'd so dearly like an answer: what have I done to you? You used to be so complimentary of my work, commenting on how thorough I was and what an eye for detail I possessed. But now you seek only to discredit me. You seem so ripe and ready to diminish and deride anything associated with me. You've referred to me as "sh*t on your shoe". What was it that I did to you that created such feelings of hostility and vindictiveness?
Has the time not come to keep your ill-conceived invectives to yourself and instead focus your efforts on the continued success of your business?
Tom
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