To all the good folk at the Pinmar yachtsman’s Golf Tournament.
When I was told through John Rule of your kind and generous donation towards helping me in my present situation I really didn’t know what to say.
I’ve had a bit of time to think about it now and would like to write a few words of thanks.
During the past months I have had to deal with a variety of situations and emotions. Fear, shock, disbelief and finally the numbness that comes as a shield to protect oneself from the reality of what is happening.
Just when I thought my shell could not be pierced this act of kindness actually reduced me to tears.
Having been surrounded by malice, greed and other vices, too many to list here, your action has restored my faith in human kindness.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and hope to be able to do so in person one day.
I would normally try to write something witty here but to do so would be insincere.
I’m doing a lot better thanks to you all and I hope that this coming month will see justice done.
Thank you
Mike Wood Halkis Prison 14.11.2002
Dear Editor,
With reference to my letter in the November issue I understand that Peter Wilkinson (a.k.a. British Peter) has been showing round a document with my authorization for the use of my Barclaycard.
A. It is funny that this letter has appeared AFTER I had left Mallorca. I asked for proof and received none.
B. I DID allow the use of my card two times as payment for work.....NOT eight times (so far) why would I let some one run 3 web sites on my English credit card?
C. I have written (copies available) to both the Credit Card Company and the Internet Company saying that there was someone (naming the person) using my card fraudulently and I would assist them and the Police in any prosecution.
D. I have never signed anything for the use of my credit card (by anyone). Anything that he has is a fraud.
I believe there has been a past experience in the South of France similar to this.
I repeat- Be careful with your card and this man; I know.
Yours Sincerely, Chris Moorhouse.
Dear John,
I contacted "British" Peter Wilkinson regarding a computer problem. He called and spent barely an hour with it and charged me 60 euros, promising a receipt would follow. The problem remained unchanged, and I foolishly allowed this man to take my computer to his house to have another go.
Over the next ten days he proved next to impossible to get hold of and I was fobbed off with a string of excuses.
I finally managed to meet him and retrieve my equipment, and was asked for a "Minimal charge" of a further 120 euros.
I did not pay this, and on arriving home I found that my computer would not even complete the start up sequence.
I took it to a local computer shop with a resident technician and it was a new machine within 2 hours, the manager apologised for their charge of 30 euros, justifying it by their shopping centre location overheads.
Some weeks later the former had the audacity to phone and demand his minimal charge, promising a further invoice, -even threatening to sue me for it! This nonsense was countered with my threat to denounce him for fraud, (estafa).
I have never received anything on paper from this man, and I too question his legitimacy.
Steve, Palma Nova.
Dear Editor,
Merca Nautic is a second hand marine store that advertises in English publications. As such I recently left a couple of high-ticket items with them to ascertain an offer to resell. They knew I was to be leaving the country and had to leave by a certain date. After 2 weeks of no response on their behalf, and the day prior to my flight, they made an insulting ´offer´ - leaving me with little or no recourse for resale through another medium.
Another demonstrative attempt at the ´manyana´ attitude of our fellow business people or a destructive ploy to deceive????
E Francis, Portixol, Palma de Mallorca