The Consumers Association reported on the Dockerill’s business practices to the European Commission back in 2002.

With so many names in the past 30 years for their business empire, who is keeping track? Or, at least,  that’s what they are counting on.

We came across at least 20 different trading names and limited companies formed under the same circle, Paul Dockerill and co, all servicing and offering the same product : ‘reconditioned engines’ in the last 20 years.

We found this interesting article published in 1997 when Mr Paul Dockerill has just dissolved one company, Bounceturn Ltd and formed another Earlyward Ltd. Trading standards back then issued a warning in the form of a printed media advertisment, a public notice to warn consumers of their poor business practices.

Read the full article here: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/80310_shock_move_by_trading_watchdog_over_garage

In 2002 a response by Consumers’ Association to the European Commission’s Follow-up Communication to the Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection [COM (2002) 289 final, 11.6.2002] related the following about the Dockerill’s car repair business :

“Liquidation

In 1998-99, over 17,000 UK limited companies went into liquidation – that’s over 46 a day, not including thousands of sole traders and firms that ceased trading, or disappeared. It’s not just small traders that go under – the furniture chain World of Leather Ltd went bust earlier this year, leaving thousands of customers uncertain whether they’ll get their goods or money back. Many company failures, such as this, are genuine and can be for any number of reasons. However, some failures are devious, and it’s easy to walk away from debts, and set up another ‘phoenix’ company from the ashes
of the first.

Enter Paul Dockerill – selling ‘reconditioned’ engines and gearboxes. He may be familiar to readers. We published a story about his recent conviction earlier this year (see Car scam crashes, Which?, June 2000, p4), and the complaints still haven’t stopped. His company, Earlyward Ltd, registered in Godalming, Surrey, still trades as Fast Fit, from a section of the Twickenham Trading Estate, Hounslow, Middlesex.

Trading standards officers (TSOs) have received many hundreds of complaints about his companies since 1996. They include charging vastly inflated prices – sometimes double or more the original quote; engine parts that were never changed – even though customers paid for a replacement; cars that broke down just days after being ‘repaired’, and misleading adverts for part prices cheaper than people were charged. In 1996 his previous company, Bounceturn Ltd, trading as Martini Motors, was prosecuted for making false statements. But it went into liquidation, and neither the fine nor costs were ever paid. This March, after a two-year investigation by Hounslow TSOs into Earlyward, Dockerill was fined £4,500 for making false statements, with £20,000 costs.

The court heard some damning evidence against Earlyward including:

– it has 12 outstanding county court judgments against it, totalling £74,000.

– it has failed to file accounts to Companies House for the last three years.

– every one of 206 customer invoices recovered by TSOs, had been given a ‘surcharge’ – totalling more than £87,000.

It also heard there was an ‘uncertain relationship’ between Earlyward and yet another company, Rimacroft Ltd, trading as Engines Direct. Dockerill’s story illustrates the difficulties that the authorities face bringing rogue businesses to justice. Hannah Barnett and her father James had to battle to recover money from Earlyward. After work was carried out by Earlyward (costing more than double the original quote), Hannah’s car broke down twice. On the advice of TSOs, Hannah sued. As the company didn’t show up for the hearing, she was awarded judgement of over £2,000. But  Earlyward didn’t pay up, so James asked the High Court Sheriff to recover the debt. The Sheriff paid Earlyward a visit with a warrant and impounded some of its assets. Eventually, Dockerill handed over the money.
Trading standards officers are in the front line of consumer protection, and amass dossiers of information about dodgy local traders. They are generally careful about what information they pass on to consumers. However, to alert consumers to the activities of Dockerill, Surrey Trading Standards took out the advert in 1997. It was a bold move, as it could have been sued for defamation had it got any details wrong.”

Read full report here, page 13 and 14: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/green_pap_comm/responses_followup/consumer_org/cons_assoc_uk.pdf

Ealing Gazette urges customers to get in touch with criminal investigations team

Article in Ealing Gazette published on June 1st 2011

‘A DEDICATED email address has been set up for people who believe they were victims of a Southall garage accused of intimidating and defrauding customers.

Independent Newspaper article May 2011 – 11 arrested in police garage raid

Article published 19 May 2011 in Independent Newspaper, 11 people were arrested at Bray Engineering Ltd garage in Southall. ‘Paul Dockerill, 45, and his son Martin, 23, both from Guildford, who were at the garage, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and assault.’

Read whole article here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/11-arrested-in-police-garage-raid-2286347.html

Sky News Bray Engineering Ltd Garage Accused Of Fraud And Threats

Investigation report published in April 2011

Read full article here: http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/15976480

SKY News report 19 May 2011

I wish as previous customer that I had searched for reviews of the correct name of this company Bray Engineering Ltd. The day I found this Sky news report was unfortunately a month later after I paid and taken my car to them.

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/15995235