Advice please ..... following on from moving to new yard

[lochpearl]

As some of you already know I moved my boys to a new yard on Sunday - the people are great, the facilities are great and the horses seem very happy already! Now my dilema is with the previous place so please give me some ideas how to handle the situation.
Left last yard as YO was a bully, he was aggressive, rude, nasty and a stirrer. He would take it in turns to hate people of the yard and then he would moan about them to all of the other liveries and then be extremely nasty to the one that wasn't in favour. I had 2 run ins with him which were nothing to do with me - he was just being nasty and throwing his weight around. I wanted to stand up to him but he is very well known for kicking people out without notice and with 2 horses....

So I took steps to try and find another yard but no-where had space - a week before I left I was told that an extra stable had come up at a yard I wanted to move to so I agreed to move on Sunday. I was advised by other liveries not to say anything to him as I would be told to leave straight away and the stables weren't ready till Sunday so I had no-where to go. I was ready to tell him if I saw him on Sat/Sun but he wasn't around. I signed a contract for one of my horses and not for the other and agreed in the contract I would give one month's notice in writing but this was not possible at the time. He called me 36 hours after I had left and told me he had called the police as my horses had been stolen (they even took the lorry and all of my belongings and mucked out too

) so I explained calmly why I had left - that I couldn't cope with his treatment anymore, he then called me all the names under the sun, told me I was a liar and said I owed him money. I told him I wasn't happy that he had been making slanderous comments to people in the village about me and if it continued I would go to the police and get legal advice - in the end I had to put the phone down as he was so rude and threatening. Now my dilema is: OK I know that I need to pay him - although he doesn't deserve it, I am not dishonest and will send him a cheque as I have no proof that I sent him notice and he has no proof I didn't - just that he has received nothing. He has already been bad mouthing me around the other liveries and trying to find out where I have moved to, I assume to go and cause trouble at my new place. So what is the best way to word a letter to say here is the money but if I find out he has continued to bad mouth me to people that I will take matters further? I don't want to make empty promises so I will have to stick to this but I thought that if I paid him the money he would have no comeback on me? and is there anything I can out into place before this i.e. speak to the police or someone?

so sorry for it being so long!! thanks in advance and millies cookies and tea for all those who got this far!!

 

[AmyMay]

I would simply send him a letter saying

Dear

I am writing to give you formal 1 months notice of leaving your livery yard. Please find enclosed a cheque for the amount of ....... in full and final payment for my two horses.

blah, blah.

Trouble is - you've done yourself out of even more money as you're only writing the letter now.

I wouldn't bother about what he's saying about you - sounds as if he's bound to have a reputation, so people will take all with a pinch of salt.

Make sure you put full and final payment in the letter - because once he's cashed the cheque, he's accepted the funds as correct.

 

[bennsboy]

Sorry to hear about your situation.
Who needs people like these?
If you do send anything by post send it recored delivery, only costs a £1 and can be worth it in the long term.
Dont worry what he is saying about you, it sounds like many people know what this man is like anyway.
If you do feel threatened dont be afraid to speak to the police, you may find that he is known to them anyway!
Does your horse insurance give free legal advice, or I believe the BHS do if you are a menmber.
Keep a record of any conversations that you have, and any actions that you take.
On the positive side, enjoy your horses and the people on your new yard.
I have been in your position a few years ago, it nearly made me give up, I am so glad I didnt, its hard but you will get through it.

 

[KautoStar1]

This sounds horrible (& familiar) but well done for moving your boys and being so calm and sensible about it.
As you say, he doesn't deserve to be paid, but you are right to do so if you genuinely owe money. It would probably cost him more to take legal action that you actually owe him.
You say he has a habit of this type of behaviour so I am guessing that there are others who have left his yard and been bad mouthed. Have they ever suffered from his hate campaign ? It might be worth seeing how the dealt with him.
Also I am presuming he is well known for being a gob sh*te and a generally unpleasent person in your area, so you are just one of a long line of people who've been slagged off, most people will probably ignore him and take his rants for what they are - pointless rubbish.
Pay him, stay calm and keep out of his way and enjoy your new yard and your boys. He's clearly a c*ck and not worth wasting your time with.
However, if he does continue to make your life a misery, speak to a solicitor or the CAB.
Good luck.

 

[jumpthemoon]

I would get legal advice before writing to him - even if you just have a chat on the phone with someone. I think it would definitely be worth your while.

 

[mickey]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry to hear about your situation.
Who needs people like these?
If you do send anything by post send it recored delivery, only costs a £1 and can be worth it in the long term.
Dont worry what he is saying about you, it sounds like many people know what this man is like anyway.
If you do feel threatened dont be afraid to speak to the police, you may find that he is known to them anyway!
Does your horse insurance give free legal advice, or I believe the BHS do if you are a member.
Keep a record of any conversations that you have, and any actions that you take.
On the positive side, enjoy your horses and the people on your new yard.
I have been in your position a few years ago, it nearly made me give up, I am so glad I didnt, its hard but you will get through it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thoroughly agree with this advice. Definitely send the notice recorded delivery.

I would get legal advice as to the wording (if you decide to include it) stating that he has bullied you and hence you felt you had to leave. I think it is worth including something about this in case of future events. (But ask ask for legal advice). You have to word things in a certain way.

Perhaps ask for confirmation that he has recieved your money - although I guess if it is a cheque you will have some sort of evidence.

Definitely report to the police, you have nothing to lose there.

Again, I wouldn't worry about what he says about you. If he has a reputation for bad-mouthing people it is likely people will not believe what he spouts out anyway.

I totally agree with recording all events/any bullying, including past events. The trouble is that unless people are willing to act as witnesses it is verbal stuff so hard to prove.

I hope things are great at your new yard and try if you can to forget about this silly man.

 

[lochpearl]

thanks for all of your help. cheque and brief note has gone in the post recorded tonight. I have outlined that it is in final settlement and have also mentioned that I will take legal action against him if I hear of anything else he has said. The only problem that I was worried about was that he would find my new yard and stir things up there as I don't want them to think I am bad news. I will keep you all posted as to what happens next....

 

[mickey]

I would not cross that bridge until you come to it - Sounds like your brain is racing with possibilities (as mine would be), but most times these are unlikely to happen. And what is the worst thing that can happen if they did?
He probably has a reputation beyond your old yard anyway.
I hope your new yard is good, sounds like you have had a bad time of it.