Plummer from hell
Hi,
I am writing here in English as my Dutch is not at a very good level. I live here as what is called an expat. I was referred to this website after reporting what happened to me to find support. I feel really upset, lost sleep and honestly lost my sense of security after what happened. I think like most people I re-play what happened and feel really down for falling to this. I can not help but to think that we live in a society surrounded with people that watch out a weak, tired and in a hurry moment to steal your money. Having said that this event has not taken my 850 eur (while it may sound small maybe to many people) has also taken the joy out of me in the last one week since it happened.
I won’t keep the story too long as now I understand this is pretty common here. I have reached out to a few toilet renovation companies and they said this is way too small job for them and it is better I contact a plummer. Being used to get things done by myself, I started looking online for one and called what presented themselves as a plummer. They immediately agreed with me to send someone to look with a call out fee which sounded reasonable so I agreed. He said I have to pay the materials in advance that they need to order for me. For a second, I got suspicius and asked how I would know that they will bring the ones I wanted but not something else. He then started to mumble saying he can not explain it well because his English is not very good and started explaining a lot of things how they will do which when I think back is total nonsense which I won’t waste anyone’s time here by writing the whole thing.
I feel terrible for falling for this scam. Looking back on how I could actually obvious it was. Then I also realized the company name on the invoice is different than the initial place I called. Well then I tried to reach them but the phone want to Voice mail and emails had no reply. I immediately understood what happened. I then called the first place I contatced and they said they only handle the appointments to these sub contracter companies.
I called the police, the officer opened said this is not something they can handle and it is a civil case. Then I filed an online report for an online scam on police which was rejected. Then I contacted police again to explain it again and that is when they called me to the police station to give a report. The police officer was really kind and sweet. Everything was documented but I was told to manage my expectations. I cried there in front of the officer because of how sad I was. An investigation has been started and I advised that I can be contacted slachofferhulp for mental support. However I was also told to manage my expectations.
The company in the invoice is a registered company at KVK. These scammers know that people can not go after a 850 eur claim through a civil case because the expenses take in total almost this amount. I am not considered low income so I can not get legal help for free. It just feels so unfair. To me it is just as easy to stop them. A company registered at KVK scams people, it must be so easy to find them. Their location is know as in the Netherlands, people behind the company must also be known. İt feels like anyone can start a company, scamming people around and nothing will be done because it is a civil case. These criminals operate without fear, going in people’s houses pretending as legitimate, tricking and sterling your money.
I am so worried now that I closed my Apple Pay ( i made the mistake of paying there and the bank says they can not see where it want and can only go deeper if the police asks for it) paying everything by credit card which also has a very small limit. Researching how to protect myself in the future. I am not giving the names here because there is an investigation but I also reported them on freudhelp and ACM. On trustpilot there are several complaints about 35 but unless people insist like I do and have report opened with details these people will go on doing it. Anyone regardless of the amount should report to police even in the first attempts they are not accepted. If my case is closed, then I will contact google to tell them that this is what happened when they listed scammer websites at the top.
I feel like I float in a coctatil of emotions of regret, sadness and anger. Think you for reading and I wish all a speedy recovery both financially and mentally.
2 Reacties
It is truly distressing to read about what you are going through, and it is completely understandable that this has affected you so deeply. While 850 euros is a significant sum of money, it is the complex mix of emotions you describe that takes such a heavy toll. Sleepless nights, the sudden sense that your personal security has been shaken, and the constant, repetitive reliving of the events—all of this drains an immense amount of energy. Please, do not be too hard on yourself for having fallen for this; these individuals are trained to catch people off guard, specifically during moments of vulnerability or haste. By using a vague excuse—such as a language barrier or a requirement to pay for materials in advance—they skillfully exploit your trust and your genuine desire to resolve the situation quickly.
Reading your message, beyond the sadness and the tears at the police station, I also see a great deal of resilience and determination. You have already taken so many proactive steps: persisting with the police until an official report was filed, notifying the *Fraudehelpdesk* (Fraud Helpdesk) and the ACM (Authority for Consumers and Markets), and even adjusting your payment methods to protect yourself. That is truly impressive—especially as an expat trying to navigate a system that can sometimes feel profoundly unfair. It is incredibly frustrating that a fraudulent operator can hide behind a Chamber of Commerce (*KvK*) registration or an intermediary, leaving you to deal with the fallout while being told to "lower your expectations."
Do you happen to know if this company or the intermediary is affiliated with any overarching body or industry association—such as *Techniek Nederland*—or perhaps a dispute resolution committee? Sometimes, there is an alternative to involving the police—namely, seeking a binding opinion—though, unfortunately, such intermediaries often operate right on the edge of what is permitted by the rules.
Please take the time you need to catch your breath. You are always welcome here in the community to share updates, vent your frustrations, or ask questions of others who, unfortunately, know exactly how this feels.
Henk, SHN Community Ambassador
Dank voor het delen van deze afschuwelijke ervaring. Ik hoop uiteraard dat het je zal lukken om jouw geld terug te krijgen. Het delen van jouw verhaal helpt in ieder geval om anderen te waarschuwen en dit probleem onder de aandacht te (blijven) brengen.
Helaas komt oplichting bij het inschakelen van een loodgieter (of iemand die zich hiervoor uitgeeft) veel voor. Je hoeft jezelf echt niets te verwijten.
En de frustraties die je ervaart over hoe gemakkelijk dergelijke oplichters hier veelal mee wegkomen (doordat de politie onvoldoende prioriteit geeft aan het opsporen en laten vervolgen van dit soort oplichters; de politie tracht slachtoffers zelfs ten onrechte af te schepen onder het mom dat het een 'civiele zaak' zou zijn en geen strafrechtelijke kwestie) en gefaciliteerd worden (door een officiële vermelding bij de KvK en een betaalde hoge positie op Google, die daar flink aan verdient) zijn volstrekt logisch.
Ik wens je heel veel sterkte en kracht toe. Je bent niet alleen.