Jewellers have given my ring away?

[mrs_overall]

I took a Victorian 22ct diamond ring to the jewellers for repair after I trapped my hand & the ring was bent. They gave me a detailed receipt & said to collect it in a weeks time. That was 2 weeks ago. I went in this morning and they said I collected the ring last week! I obviously still have the receipt. What is my next course of action?
Thanks in advance.

[mrs_overall]

Barmaid, it's an independant jewellers. I haven't the foggiest idea what the ring is worth as it's never been valued. I know it counts for nothing but the sentimental value is priceless.

[LoftyLottie2]

The last three replies before mine are all very good! You simply have to pursue this.

[Barmaid]

I'd be inclined to write to them, then. Say you will go for them in contract AND in negligence (negligent damages will pay you for the sentimental value, whereas contract may not).

[Nosha123]

If someone got their ring repaired then Mrs O.. and genuinely lost their 'docket' for the repair... say it got put in the washing machine - would they refuse to give the person their ring???? No docket no ring?
I doubt it.
So If you had the receipt/docket - and someone else has ben given your ring - then clearly they are at fault. 100% no quibble.

[mrs_overall]

Thanks for all your suggestions and kind comments.

I am not going to let this rest. I'll get in touch with my solicitor.

[redcrx]

ok your borther says the police wouldnt be interested but do the jewellers know that?

go back, say you want to see the cctv footage of the person they gave it to and the proof that the person gave them a receipt for the ring or youll be calling the police as they have taken your ring from you.

[angel21]

I agree with what everyone else has said for you to do. I can't believe they could give the ring to the wrong person!

[paraffin]

Firstly, commiserations for the obvious hassle you've had to endure over what should have been a straightforward transaction.
It's very unfortunate to say the least that your Police Officer brother has seemingly put you off by telling you that there's nothing the Police can do!
I disagree for the following reason(s):
1. Someone else is allegedly in possession of your property, they must be aware of that fact that the ring isn't theirs, therefore there's a fair chance that a criminal offence, i.e. theft, may have been committed. Just ask your brother the Law's definition of theft and it should become clearer.
2. The jeweller's should have CCTV, as others have mentioned, therefore if they claim to have released it to someone within the past week or so, you would expect them to have some kind of record of who was given the ring, plus at least the date.
3. If you haven't already done so, consider telling the jeweller that you're reporting the matter as theft to the Police and see if this elicits a positive response.
4. The jeweller had a duty of care whilst the ring was in their possession, unless they have any waivers drawing your attention to same, which means that they have failed in that duty.
Don't let them off lightly - demand satisfaction for the loss of a treasured item which was none of your doing.
Best of luck.

[themas]

Ask them why you still have the receipt if they saw it when they gave the ring to someone. If they are so incompetent that they hand over the ring & let the customer keep the receipt then this alone is evidence of negligence.

If they are a chain, get the name & address of the Chief Executive & write a very strong letter to him/her personally. Send a photocopy of the receipt but make damn sure you hold on to the original.

If they are an independent shop get the name of the owner & do the same.

[NoMercy]

Mrs O - please don't take this the wrong way, but could someone you know have taken your recent to the shop and collected your ring, and then slipped the receipt back without your knowing?

[Rollo]

I doubt that happened.

If it had the shop would have either kept the receipt, or marked it as the item having been collected.

[NoMercy]

A few years ago, I ordered some false eyelashes from House of Fraser in Birmingham (don't laugh!). They sent it in what looked like a small jewellery box. When the package hadn't arrived nearly 2 weeks later, I contacted HOF, and then Parcel Force, who told me that they had my signature on the delivery note. The interviewed the Driver, who said that one of my neighbours had signed for it. This turned out to be a lie. When the reinterviewed the driver, he was suddenly struck with amnesia!!

To cut a long story short, I threatened parcel force with the police, and within 48 hours, I had a brand new delivery and Parcel Force took the driver off that particular route.

I say report the matter to the police, Mrs. O. Good luck, I hope you find your ring.

[mrs_overall]

Update.

I went back to the jewellers yesterday (Saturday) to pursue this matter. There was a woman working there who was also working last Saturday....and she said she handed the ring over...and confirmed she hadn't handed it to me. She said that the day before it was collected, she had phoned "me" to say the ring was ready for collection. I never received this phone call. I have now demanded they obtain a list of their phone calls to identify who it was they actually rang. She also said that whoever collected the ring said they had lost the receipt.
Once they have supplied me with the telephone number they rang, I am going to report the matter to the police.

[sara3]

mrs_o, this is truly shocking, I'm so sorry. they'll be hard pushed to compensate you because of its sentimental value, but I hope they pull their finger out and make you a big offer x

[redcrx]

i hope the pohone number helps you.

it looks as if someone has gained your ring under false pretences.

had you any photos of it for insurance purposes? it is n awfu thing to think about but perhaps call the local pawn brokers and check ebay

[mrs_overall]

Ta for your comments ladies.

The way I feel at the moment I want to get the phone number, find out who it is and go round there and sort them out myself.
What makes it worse is that because I live in such a small place I will probably know the person who has the ring.

I will keep updating when I hear anything.

[wolf63]

If it is a distinctive ring it may be worth contacting the local paper - if you have any photographs of it they may print them.

The person either stole it to wear or sell on. Are there other places where you live where it can be sold? Have you checked EBay?

Good luck.

[wolf63]

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/_W0QQ_nkwZVictori anQ2022ctQ20diamondQ20ringQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR4 0QQ_mdoZ

[Chickadee]

I used to work in a jewellers and we never gave the receipt back after a repair collection. It wsa the only proof that the item was collected after all.

If the person had lost the receipt they had to confirm telephone number and give a good description of the item before we would release it. They they had to sign something to confirm all the details.

Seems over the top but we never had this problem.

Pursue it Mrs O, the shop has definitely been negligent.

I have a watch on a chain that my nan left me and although it has no monetary value and I don't wear it, it means everything to me.

I really hope this can be resolved for you, preferably by getting the ring back.

[mrs_overall]

Further update.

The jewellers have identified the telephone number they rang - it is one digit off my number. I've been to the police and reported the matter, so I guess it's now a matter of wait and see.
I've told the jewellers in no uncertain terms that they have been negligent and that I haven't finished with them.

Where I live there is only one shop that buys second hand jewellery and they are on the lookout. I am also checking
Ebay on a daily basis.