I think I just got scammed

crosstownk

randy hickey wrote: »

Anyway, back to the scam itself.

I really want to get to the bottom of how he immobilised the Golf.
Did he reach under and disconnect the starter?
OP, is the splashguard still fitted to your car?- if it is, then we can rule out this method.

Or, as one of my mates who is a mechanic has suggested, he might have had a small device that blocks the transponder in the key.

Chances are this scammer is creaming it as there are thousands of cars within walking distance of where you came across him, from the Square up to the carparks up at B&Q.
Even if he was just hitting one a day......

I'd be interested to know what he did too.

From my VW days I know that IF he somehow blocked the transponder, the starter would have turned, the engine would have fired and then immediately stop. The transponder in a MkIV does not inhibit the starter - it blocks the ECU immediately after start-up.

The only thing that I can think of is that the starter must have been disconnected. IIRC, this means unbolting the connection - I don't think it's a plug connector due to the high current required by the starter.

EDIT : This would be easy to once you know where everything is located. However, a 2001 Golf MkIV TDI should have a lower engine tray that would make access more difficult although it is possible that the engine tray was damaged/lost during the last 12 years.

dj1980

Johnny Utah wrote: »

6 inch or footlong?

(This is very important!)

6 inch, italian bmt on wheat with lettuce, peppers, jalapenos, pickles and southwest with a can of coke - 4 euro.

With that out of the way, it wasn't a substantial beard but more than 2 weeks of not shaving but not ZZ-top standard.

I'm also curious as to how he did it but like people have said it's not a quiet area and there should be enough cameras about to have picked up something.

Kenny Logins

crosstownk wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what he did too.

From my VW days I know that IF he somehow blocked the transponder, the starter would have turned, the engine would have fired and then immediately stop. The transponder in a MkIV does not inhibit the starter - it blocks the ECU immediately after start-up.

The only thing that I can think of is that the starter must have been disconnected. IIRC, this means unbolting the connection - I don't think it's a plug connector due to the high current required by the starter.

EDIT : This would be easy to once you know where everything is located. However, a 2001 Golf MkIV TDI should have a lower engine tray that would make access more difficult although it is possible that the engine tray was damaged/lost during the last 12 years.

Yep. I once used the wrong key in mine and it would turn over but not fire. ..and that tray does inhibit easy access.

pippip

Would there be any way to pop the hud from the outside?

Kenny Logins

pippip wrote: »

Would there be any way to pop the hud from the outside?

What the what?

pippip

pippip wrote: »

Would there be any way to pop the hud from the outside?

lols

crosstownk

pippip wrote: »

Would there be any way to pop the hud from the outside?

It's quite difficult but not impossible.

cjt156

Kenny Logins wrote: »

What the what?

Pop da hud, yo, gangsta style. Word.

dj1980

Question for anyone who has had the need to ask premises to view their CCTV (car damaged by someone and they drive off situations), did you need to report it to the Gardai first or were people fairly understanding of your issue and look through it for you?

randy hickey

dj1980 wrote: »

Question for anyone who has had the need to ask premises to view their CCTV (car damaged by someone and they drive off situations), did you need to report it to the Gardai first or were people fairly understanding of your issue and look through it for you?

Under the Data Protection Act, a business can't show you the footage,but they could furnish a copy of it to the Gardai, if requested by AGS, as part of an investigation.

dj1980

randy hickey wrote: »

Under the Data Protection Act, a business can't show you the footage,but they could furnish a copy of it to the Gardai, if requested by AGS, as part of an investigation.

I know they can't show it to me but could they confirm something like seeing someone allegedly tamper with my car? Or would it depend on the person/company and whether or not they feel like doing a good deed?

Lelantos

randy hickey wrote: »

Under the Data Protection Act, a business can't show you the footage,but they could furnish a copy of it to the Gardai, if requested by AGS, as part of an investigation.

A business can show anyone the footage from a private camera on their own property.

Yawns

Pop into the pub and explain that you think someone was messing with your car. It depends on which manager is on. Shane or Alan are usually sound and will do it for you if they are not busy. They don't have to, but tell them you think someone was messing at your car, someone happened to be by to fix it and later you found out that the person may have been trying to scam you as a follow up suggests he doesn't work in TAP. As I said after 3 is when a manager starts and before 5pm is best. Usually the quietest period and they do the non essential stuff. They definitely had a camera facing from the door towards that bank machine area a few years back.

Best again if you walk into Tallaght Auto Parts and see if you can spot the guy working there.

pippip

crosstownk wrote: »

It's quite difficult but not impossible.

Looks the case, on vagdrivers.net there are a few pm's flying round on how to do this without damaging anything, seems to be through the grill, doesn't mention any further details publicly. Seems to work as people seem to be thanking the method after the cable has snapped or got stuck on them.

crosstownk

pippip wrote: »

Looks the case, on vagdrivers.net there are a few pm's flying round on how to do this without damaging anything, seems to be through the grill, doesn't mention any further details publicly. Seems to work as people seem to be thanking the method after the cable has snapped or got stuck on them.

Spot on. I've done it many times when release cables had snapped. You'd want to be well practiced at it to do it quickly.

randy hickey

Lelantos wrote: »

A business can show anyone the footage from a private camera on their own property.

Wrong information.

The Act applies to ALL commercial entities that operate a CCTV system.
You are entitled to apply to the business to see images of yourself,but not of a third party- even a third party interfering with your car- as this would be a breach of their data protection rights under the Act.

Tigger

crosstownk wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what he did too.

From my VW days I know that IF he somehow blocked the transponder, the starter would have turned, the engine would have fired and then immediately stop. The transponder in a MkIV does not inhibit the starter - it blocks the ECU immediately after start-up.

The only thing that I can think of is that the starter must have been disconnected. IIRC, this means unbolting the connection - I don't think it's a plug connector due to the high current required by the starter.

EDIT : This would be easy to once you know where everything is located. However, a 2001 Golf MkIV TDI should have a lower engine tray that would make access more difficult although it is possible that the engine tray was damaged/lost during the last 12 years.

could snip a wire

eireannBEAR

SORRY OP,I ADMIT I DIDNT READ THE THREAD.

Thatnastyboy

eireannBEAR wrote: »

the reason he had the part so handy was because he is mechanic he would need different bits and bobs for call outs,if anything you should be contacting him to say thanks.

the poor guys stops to help you out and you name him and shame him as a scam artist over 60e on a public forum,you even included his work place.

give yourself a round of applause OP you deserve it,lol

Ah well that clears the whole thing up so, why didn't you say so earlier.

randy hickey

eireannBEAR wrote: »

this is modern ireland for you,the reason he had the part so handy was because he is mechanic he would need different bits and bobs for call outs,if anything you should be contacting him to say thanks.

the poor guys stops to help you out and you name him and shame him as a scam artist over 60e on a public forum,you even included his work place.

give yourself a round of applause OP you deserve it,lol

Somebody hasn't read the thread.

Kenny Logins

eireannBEAR wrote: »

this is modern ireland for you,the reason he had the part so handy was because he is mechanic he would need different bits and bobs for call outs,if anything you should be contacting him to say thanks.

the poor guys stops to help you out and you name him and shame him as a scam artist over 60e on a public forum,you even included his work place.

give yourself a round of applause OP you deserve it,lol

TAP have denied any involvement.

wexfordman2

eireannBEAR wrote: »

this is modern ireland for you,the reason he had the part so handy was because he is mechanic he would need different bits and bobs for call outs,if anything you should be contacting him to say thanks.

the poor guys stops to help you out and you name him and shame him as a scam artist over 60e on a public forum,you even included his work place.

give yourself a round of applause OP you deserve it,lol

You did see the bit where the place he claimed to work, said that they had no one employed by that name didnt you?

pm1977x

What happened all the people on here who 'knew' that there was a Tony working at TAP?

fox_1973

pm1977x wrote: »

What happened all the people on here who 'knew' that there was a Tony working at TAP?

In my case, I was thinking of Turlough who is a genuine helpful nice guy, was just about to post

Tea 1000

pm1977x wrote: »

What happened all the people on here who 'knew' that there was a Tony working at TAP?

The plot thickens....

eireannBEAR

OP im sorry my bad! i was lazy,lol

Yawns

I thought there was a guy named Tony in there. Still pretty sure I heard a man behind the counter calling to a Tony in the back. Maybe it was the other name. The guy who served me a few weeks back was certainly in need of a shave. Wouldn't call it a beard tho. Some people probably would.

rgmmg

dj1980 wrote: »

I'll ring later on today and find out.

I think what convinced me it wasn't a scam might have been down to pure luck on his part as my immobiliser acts a bit funny sometimes and I actually have to take the key out and put it back in to get the car started so what he said the issue was didn't seem that far fetched.

Going over the conversation on my head last night and there were a few points that should have had alarm bells ringing.

He actually said he worked at Tallaght Auto Spares (parts?) and I simply thought it was a mistake.
When he mentioned the part he said it was the same one in the Skoda and I was thinking to myself "why skoda?, surely he means Seat?"

He went into Smith's toystore after so I was thinking I could get the time I used the ATM from the bank and work back from there. I might ask Smith's if they have cctv of the carpark and claim someone hit my car while it was parked.


I had hoped that posting this on the motors forum, that someone familiar with Golf's might have heard about this EPC unit before?

Try the golf forum :pac:

HandsomeDan

This thread should be made into a tv mini-series.

eireannBEAR

HandsomeDan wrote: »

This thread should be made into a tv mini-series.

it would fit well in to an low budget early 1980s british police/grifter drama.... i could be so good for you.. but only you want me too..

this thread should be on itv3...

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

eireannBEAR

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

haha...

heres my script,the OP sits in his roliant robben on a grey wet day eager to get home and eat his pie and mash supper,he tries to start his car but to no avail,when suddenly a stout man in white gravy stained vest appears out of nowhere,and offers a solution to the problem.

the OP is full of gratitude until the stout man who identifies himself as tony from the local dank garage demands 60 pound

60 pound cries the OP?? 60 Pound i only popped down for some pie and mash and you want 60 pound...why for 60 pound i could buy one of those fancy new A-track players..and still have enough money left to go watch trammere play nottingham forest in the FA cup final!!

MugMugs

This Thread fails to deliver.

OP, PM George Dalton and ask if he knows of any way to disable a MKIV Golf without lifting the bonnet.

Cuddlesworth

RustyNut wrote: »

Google tony tallaght auto parts


3rd headline: I think I just got scammed, that would be enough to make some people go somewhere else for their parts.

Doubtful, its too particular a search phrase. Something like "motor scam dublin" would be actually harmful. And all these posts saying Tallaght Auto Parts would actually be quite helpful to their SEO.

TALLAGHT AUTOPARTS wrote: »

Message from Tallaght Auto Parts
Thank you, Randy Hickey for bringing this to our attention.
We would like to confirm that there is no Tony working with us and there is definitely no one on our payroll sporting a beard!




Mod note: not verified account. User PMd about the rules

Verified or not, whats your problem with Beards?

smemon

I pity any good citizen called Tony who happens to know a thing or two about cars and helps some stranded person out :pac:

ZENER

Hmmmm . . . I wonder ?!

dutopia

Any update? It can't be that hard to find out if there's a Tony working there.

fox_1973

dutopia wrote: »

Any update? It can't be that hard to find out if there's a Tony working there.

face palm :mad:

DanWall

This is a lot of trouble for the price of a can of oil

wush06

Yawns wrote: »

I thought there was a guy named Tony in there. Still pretty sure I heard a man behind the counter calling to a Tony in the back. Maybe it was the other name. The guy who served me a few weeks back was certainly in need of a shave. Wouldn't call it a beard tho. Some people probably would.

Yawns

Yawns

wush06 wrote: »

Yawns

Fantastic contribution. I am eagerly awaiting your next entertaining post.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

antodeco

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Verified or not, whats your problem with Beards?

Beards.ie Now ye're shaving

wush06

Yawns wrote: »

Fantastic contribution. I am eagerly awaiting your next entertaining post.

Small bit of humour lighting up.

Marcin_diy

@ OP - when you mentioned something about similar part being in skoda , or seat - I started thinking about alternator - they are the same in golf IV, few skodas and seats.

I don't have any golf IV near me, so I can't verify, but I think it is possible to unplug wiring from alternator from under the car. As far as I remember golf IV doesn't have a cover on the front bottom of the car, so many parts are accessible. There is also some room for hands.

Kenny Logins

Marcin_diy wrote: »

@ OP - when you mentioned something about similar part being in skoda , or seat - I started thinking about alternator - they are the same in golf IV, few skodas and seats.

I don't have any golf IV near me, so I can't verify, but I think it is possible to unplug wiring from alternator from under the car. As far as I remember golf IV doesn't have a cover on the front bottom of the car, so many parts are accessible. There is also some room for hands.

Just guessing now....?

MkIV Golf does have a cover under most of the engine.

Wicklowandy

The belly pans aren't the best though, and I know I've taken them off two octavias I've had (fitted proper sump guard) and seen them missing off plenty more.

Unless he managed to open the bonnet quickly and with no damage, or the car was missing it's belly pan, I think the OP need to call to TAP and try to view some CCTV.

Anything else said is just speculation

Marcin_diy

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Just guessing now....?

MkIV Golf does have a cover under most of the engine.

yes, under most, but not under front section. My family had golf mkIV, but it was few years ago, so I can be wrong.

Basil Fawlty

If he has done something to the car it is an offence:

113.—(1) A person shall not, without lawful authority or reasonable cause, interfere or attempt to interfere with the mechanism of a mechanically propelled vehicle while it is stationary in a public place, or get on or into or attempt to get on or into the vehicle while it is so stationary.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/sec0113.html#zza24y1961s113

Cheensbo

Is this just a clever new clamp-less way of clamping people?

Immobilise the car, extort money - same process, different actions

Were you obnoxiously parked OP? :pac: