As you get older, you would think that you won't get caught out, but lo and behold, I fell for it.
As most on here are aware, I'm restoring a 1991 SRX, one of the biggest jobs that was required was the rechroming of the fork stanchions. They weren't excessively bad but did require a new hard coat. I found a couple of companies that do the deed. One was Philpotts in Bedfordshire (quote £270) and Hard Chrome Plating in Mansfield (quote £180). The last company I can recall there being an article in Classic Mechanics mag a few years ago. I took the offending stanchions to him, (a 4hour round trip from Telford) and was told 10 week delivery (Philpotts were 12 week minimum delivery!). However on trying to get in touch with Steve Freak at HCP, nothing, no answering of phone calls,voice mail or reply to texts. Then out of the blue a I had a message saying he was driving around Greece and my job would be done over the Xmas break. I let the holiday pass to give him the full time to complete the job, I tried to contact him again, this time neither his mobile or works phone were recognised. I contacted a company next to his unit in Mansfield and he told me that HCP were still locked up and no sight of anyone. Yesterday I tried all phone numbers again and got an answerphone message from GiffGaff, a totally different provider from before. I have duly left messages on this but gave received nothing, again. On looking at the website it appears that I'm not the first that this has happened to and Steve has left angry customers from all over the country, including our very own Steve Lake
As the title states....a timely warning!
