Claim Details
Company: | Smart ABC ltd |
Type: | Selling franchises |
Country: | United Kingdom |
City: | kidderminster |
Postcode: | DY11 7AR |
Address: | Unit 4 Easter Park, Worcester Road |
Claim title: | Meeting Agenda |
Claim value: | Over £50,000 |
Incident Date: | 2009-2010 |
Mature Content: | no |
Photos included:
There are no photos for this complaint
Files included:
There are no files for this complaint
As suggested, now we have Smart ABC's attention (not an easy thing to do when you are a struggling franchisee), we should have a meeting. After all, one of Smart's broken promises in our contracts was to have an anual network meeting with all franchisees invited. I really can't say I'm suprised they never had one, the last thing Smart wants is all those people they deceived coming together under one roof. Then they wouldn't be able to tell you that you are the only one failing, and everyone else is doing brilliantly. Smart should invite all current Franchisee's along as well as the ex-franchisee's. To kick-off, I'd like to see the following items on the Agenda:
1 - Smart MD's son-in-law and ex-Technical Director and now Franchisee (albeit with a much bigger area than other franchisee's are allocated)to demonstrate to us all a repair in under one hour, the repair being carried out under normal circumstances - i.e. drive to customer and perform repair out of a van on their driveway. The repair should be similar to either of the two pictured on the standard ABC leaflet which has the bold red stamp stating "Back to perfection in less than an hour" on top of them. We'll only start timing from when he arrives at the customer's premises.
2 - Smart to present to us just 10 franchisees (they have 90) who have been trading for over a year and have achieved the advertised typical earnings of £90,000.
3 - Smart to explain their continuing adverts such as "All our Franchisees earn between £1000 and £2000 during their first week and are reporting consistent continual growth - FACT!". How can this possibly be "Fact" when over 30 have had to cease trading and many more are struggling?
4 - Smart to explain why they indicated they were BFA members when they were not. Also please explain why you are still not full or even affiliate BFA members. Also please explain the VBRA debacle where you had franchisee's handing out unauthorised leaflets.
The list goes on, but that will do to start. feel free to add other agenda items you would like to be considered below.
Comments
[09/06/2010] NOTSOSMARTABC: What a good idea a meeting ............
The agenda is a good start,it would be good to invite Mudie Bond Mercedes [Kidderminster)to come along. They are very visable during the STING so it would be good to hear why they do business with Smart ABC having full Knowledge of how many vehicles are voluntarily surrendered or reposesed.They then sell them at auction and bill you the difference.... (Mine was a 59 plate, 650 miles on the clock, SOLD at auction and I was sent a bill for £10,000)someone got a bargain !
[09/06/2010] Martin: OK NOTSOSMART. this is all interesting but why had your 59 plate van only done 650 miles? how much canvassing did you carry out in the interests of your business? surely you cannot blame others if you were not active yourself?
[10/06/2010] NOTSOSMARTABC: Martin....Its not about blame the numbers speak for themselves.
To answer your question about canvassing I did the following for your information.
1.A business launch over 3 days ,10,000 leaflets , news paper advert.
2.300 hundred letters of introduction to local business.
3.2000 house to house leaflet drop.
4.A further newspaper advert.
5.A further 3 day promotion with adverts in two newspapers
6.Many trade visits to introduce the business.
7.The above also included free demonstration of work.
When depts mount there comes a time when you have to call it a day.
[10/06/2010] Brokebloke: I know I may have flippantly suggested a meeting but do you really think the writer of of a previous string will be willing to meet up with us? do you really think Nick Bicknell will meet up with us - Hell might freeze over first.
I know the name and contact number of a solicitor who has successfully taken on a franchise like SMART ABC and won. I can't afford to do it on my own but if we could all get together to share the cost we could hit Bicknell were he will take more notice - his Father in Laws pocket and bank balance
[10/06/2010] Jeff: Listen guys I am reading this with great interest. I have been in the industry for a long time formerly with ChipsAway. I know my local Smart ABC guy and he is busy & making money. His repairs are of excellent quality and fast, the local ChipsAway guys are struggling to compete now with their slow stuff and ???? quality. From what I can see you have some great products in a great industry, I'm making £600 a day regular and with slower equipment! Stick with it guys.
[10/06/2010] Martin: NOTSOSMART. Sorry but I dont think you realise what canvassing is. Your list does not indicate where you have worked hard to succeed. Do you really think that you did enough to start a great business? 650 miles really indicates what was done. how long did you try for because a 59 plate vehicle is an indication of not very long??
[10/06/2010] Brokebloke: Martin, how long do you have to try for? I invested a lot of time and money, I traded for 5&1/2 months. My money ran out because I was told by SMART that I would only need between 8-12 weeks working capital and the work coming in would see to the rest . I was also told that more and more people would want these repairs to keep their cars therefore the work was out there, where's it gone?. They also said that I could beat bodyshop prices and still make a handsome profit - not in this area of the country. What about technical support? I was told I could have all the support I needed free of charge - that didn't happen but if it did I would be charged £275 + expenses + VAT per day and all this on top of increasing management fees. The biggets whopper was ' A TYPICAL REPAIR WILL TAKE UNDER AN HOUR' do you know anyone who can do this? because I haven't met him yet. Not even Ian Burn of SMART can do that and he's quick
[10/06/2010] Bob: Something tells me Jeff and Martin may not be all they seem. £600 per day???? Even at an average of £100 this is 6 jobs per day, if doing retail this is impossible even is you could do the repair in 1 1/2 hours this is a total of 9 hours, plus travelling in between/setting up ect. It is posssible to do this at 1 trade site, however, trade prices you are looking at around £65-£70 this is close on 9 jobs per day!!!
In addition, if you can book in 6 jobs per day (30 per week) your phone must be ringing off the hook as not every enquirery will book in. As for smart ABC having great products, why do they rely on a piece of kit designed to match colours on leather rather than just going off the 100% accurite paint code
[10/06/2010] Grafter: I've gotta say guys, I've spent some time browsing this site, and a lot of the comments on here seem pretty unfair, and in some cases, outright libelous.
I am a Smart ABC franchisee, and have been for approaching 12 months now. I am taking, on average, in the region of £1400 per week. I've had my fair share of difficulties of technocal difficulties, but so far, the Ian has always been able to talk me through any troubles i have had.
As regard all this talk of spectrometres being equipment for use on leather???? then why exactly do DuPont produce software updates for using it on car paintwork. and at any rate - if it works, dont knock it - and thusfar, the spectrometre always has for me.
I don't know why the business hasn't worked for the other guys on here, but, if it's worked for me, and number of other guys i speak to in the network, im sure it can work for others too - afterall, we're all given the same tools to work with.
Oh, and on the topic of repairs in an hour, yes, i can complete some repairs in an hour. Obviously bigger repairs take longer, but come on, thats just common sense, and in any case, bigger jobs cost more.
I'm not aiming to have a go, just trying to make the point that, as a business model, the smart abc franchise, as far as i have experienced it, is perfectly profitable, provided your proactive, forward thinking, and hardworking.
[10/06/2010] Bob: Grafter, I stand corrected on the spectrometer point, however, I still dont see why Smart ABC need to sell a £4 500 piece of kit which is by its nature open to mismatches, why not just use the paint code on the vehicle, which is 99.9% accurite
[10/06/2010] Grafter: Because paint codes arent always accurate!
Often there are 4 or 5 different shades to anyone code, and pick the wrong one, and your in trouble!!!
I can only comment on my own experiece, but so far (touch wood), I've not had any problems with it.
And, if nothing else, it works as a great selling tool when talking to customers - I've one over a number of customers on the basis that i can demonstrate that I use, (what i honestly believe to be) the most advanced system on the market.
[11/06/2010] EX SMART ABC: I think grafter is writing his message from Easter Park myself. SMART ABC and Espically Nick Bicknell will get what they deserve. Believe in Karma guys because it will come around....
[11/06/2010] Grafter: No... just a successful franchisee. You can't simply disregard/make wild accusations against any posting on here which doesn't fit with your own claims!
[11/06/2010] Brokebloke: Grafter and the other so called positive people, a very big thankyou for putting your posts on here, The score is increasing in the league table and these pages are moving higher up in the google search - WELL DONE MATE we appreciate your efforts - Oh and I hope you remeberded to uncheck the box that sends your posts to BBC Watchdog
[11/06/2010] ME: Can somebody clearly state what a Smart Repair is and what your working practices should include? Do you guys know about isocyanates and their use in an uncontrolled environment? Do you know how many grams of product is acceptable within the HSE guidelines? the list is endless and I bet most of you have not got a clue.
Don't want to knock any successful guys because there is potential to earn out of this industry but the arguement is that most people are not vetted, interviewed or told the reality because it is just a product/package being sold to them.
Those that are successful will be doing more than what is considered a SMART repair and probably breaking every guideline within the HSE.
The equipment and product being used is no more than what is available anyway. The success of any franchise is down to the individual. You probably would have succeeded without them because you have the business acumen. Think about what they have actually done for you for your initial investment compared with what you have achieved by yourself, with your own money and advertising.
Most people buy into a franchise for security and that is where peoples perceptions get distorted. The more franchises can be sold the better, so whether the network expands or not they just need a steady flow of candidates.
[12/06/2010] Smart Researcher: IF Smart ABC has anything like a 70% failure rate, this is an astonishing figure and ought to be sht down immediatley!!! I received some brochures from SMART ABC today with a list of about 7 franchisees and their stories, they have them all doing 1400+ per week some who have only been trading for 2 weeks?? Is this realistic??
[12/06/2010] An Ex-Franchisee: To Smart Researcher, If you are serious about becoming a Smart Repairer, then you would be far better off, investing your money in something else. The Failure rate in this Business of Smartabc is far far to high, for what ever reason, so if you come from a paint background, and are considering going down this road, you would be better off getting and paying for your training else where, but Mate please do not throw your money away on Smartabc, you have a higher than most chance of losing everything, and there are plenty of very broke and unhappy lads and lassies that have gone down this route and lived to regret it, STAY AWAY PLEASE.
[12/06/2010] An Ex-Franchisee: To Smart Researcher, Do Your self a quick little test, having had some brochures sent to you ,your name will be on file, and just ring and suggest you are interested, and during the conversation ask the question, how many failures have they had in the two years they have been up and running ?? I would be very interested as to the answer, when I signed up there where said to be 2 Failures, when in reality it was 15, with many more struggling, that was getting on for 12 months ago, now it is far worse. Now you have sites like this one to help you make up your mind, then there where none, but the more people it effects, the more facts surface. There are lads still appearing on the sales literature who in fact have gone and are no longer Franchisee`s, FACT.
[12/06/2010] NOTSOSMARTABC: Hi all,
This sight is growing and people are hearing about it which is good.
Don,t let your comments start getting silly .... we are not hear to defend or fight those that have put positive entries about themselves.... it seems some are doing well they are stating their own position and not that of SMART ABC, I for one am glad they are doing well ...... not wanting to wish ill on anyone.
We can have our say in the courts if we get together and fight ...... so if you realy want to sort this ..put your cards on the table and say so .... together the cost of action will be spread..... talk is easy and waists time......and thats more time for Nick Bicknell...SO COME ON ......start working together...we all know who to contact.....
[25/06/2010] Des: This message is for "Smart Researcher" please can you make contact with one of us, because we would like to find out from you the 7 successful franchisees that smartabc use for marketing that earn 1400+ per week, very much appreciate this info, remember if it wasn't for this site you could of been the next one !!! please leave a messagge on 07733 646020 and i'll call you back thanks mate
[25/06/2010] Smart Researcher: Des,
I am happy to help you but I would prefer it if we conversed over email if that is ok, just never quite sure who I may be talking to on such a contentious issue. My email is welbeckguy@hotmail.com send me your address and I will tell you the names I can remember (I got rid of the letter from smart abc but can remember 3 of the names)
[01/07/2010] des: Bob, Grafter, Mr Nick Bicknell and Jamie May and all the others who have something positive to say about Smartabc..lets just be honest about this............I now challenge you to stop hiding behide stupid names and come clean, if you really beleave in the Smartabc product then put your name to any comments that you make!!! I now make this statment that over 33 franchisees have ceased trading, 28 are seriousley struggling, some have debt collecting agencies chasing them and others have had to declare themselves bankrupt, and most are left with additional debts of about £10000 for a van that John Seddon leased them at Mudie Bond, i have the evidence to back this up,...Mr Bicknell you have withheld certain facts about your business, facts that are very important when one is trying to make a dicision on the purchase of a franchise. if someone had said to me that there is a 70% chance that your business is going to fail then i would never of bought a franchise and that is fact !!.....your failure rate is 70%....so mr Bicknell no more hiding behind made up names, if you want people to beleave what you are saying then comment on the above and only the above and put your name to it!!
[01/07/2010] AVOIDSMARTABC: This blog is an absolute must read for anyone thinking about buying a franchise. Thanks guys you have saved me 1000s!!
[06/07/2010] joe bloggs: well ,
How is the meeting coming along,could be held in a local hotel and then onto Easter park for a demo.Contact the local papers and radio in advance to gain publicity.
This needs to brought to the next level now before others are drawn into the smart FAMILY
[06/07/2010] An Ex-Franchisee: to Joe- Bring it on , it`s not as if we do not know when the next open day is, at least that way everyone who`s involved, including Mudi-Bond will be there, add we can save a few souls in the process, Bring it on .
[09/07/2010] Hugo: I am shocked at the comments regarding Smart ABC. I was due to attend a day at Smart ABC office next week with the aim of starting a franchise.
I have decided not to proceed. Thanks for highlighting the problems and issues being faced.
[09/07/2010] Steve: I agree with the post above, I was going to go to an open day but now dont think il bother, a franchise with such a high failure rate is an absolute joke.,
[13/07/2010] joe bloggs: i have the letter that some ex franchisee was handing out at an open day if anyone wants to see it.It was mentioned in another post.....
[13/07/2010] Richard: Joe Bloggs I would live to see the letter, can you post it here?? Did this guy crash an open day???
[14/07/2010] NOTSOSMARTABC: Hi Joe Bloggs....The letter you have can you scan it and put it on here?....
Others would like to see...... Thanx
[22/07/2010] Joe : Can't seem to do it,I'll email it to you if you pass on an address
[29/07/2010] An Ex-Franchisee: Hi Guys, just thought you might like to know, because of Smartabc`s failure to help a Franchisee in trouble last Thursday, by not responding to his call for help, and for that matter ignoring a phone call from the customer , I and the franchisee went out yesterday to try and resolve the problem, now this is what the problem is with Smartabc, once your on-board and your not in the loop, your ignored and left to fend for your self. To even not respond to the customers call and call back as promised , stinks.
[20/08/2010] some true facts: Listed below are some of the areas where franchisees have ceased trading, i hope this info helps individuals to realise that some area have a even higher failure rate then others!!
Scotland..................................Glasgow
..........................................Alloa
North East................................Thornby
..........................................West Hull Villages........
North West................................Liverpool
...........................................Oldham
...........................................Wilmslow
...........................................Leigh
...........................................North Wirral
...........................................Widnes...........
West Midlands..............................Kingswinford
............................................Redditch
............................................Worcester
.............................................Lichfield
.............................................Halesowen
............................................Sutton Coldfield
.............................................Walsall
.............................................Solihull
.............................................Shrewsbury
.............................................West Cheltenham.....
East Midlands................................N/E Nottingham
.............................................IIkeston
.............................................Mansfield North
.............................................Marketharborough
.............................................South Leicester
............................................South Leicester 2nd time
South West...................................CribsCauseway...
South East...................................Oxford North
...............................................Oxford South..........
London........................................Greenford
..............................................Ealing
..............................................Staines
...............................................Epson......
[29/08/2010] gerry lawson: well, having had a smart abc franchise for 8 months and managed to sell it on and not loose any money i am the lucky one ammongst many. i would like to tell everyone out there how i see it.
i am 50 years old and very savvy to worldly stuff and i was taken in by nick and his team of smiling yes men, i have over 30 years of vehicle bodywork and paint work experience to call upon so doing the work was the easy bit for me, it now transpires that nick and his team (mainly family now) are out to rip people off left right and centre, they have people from all aspects of life who simply want to do something they enjoy and make money at the same time. i have to say that the concept and the system works well and if adhered to is very very repeatable. what s a shame is all the lies i and everyone else was told during our individual open days, you cannot do a paint repair in under an hour in the field, it is extremely hard to manage three repairs per day, it is even harder to earn over 1000 pounds a week which is the minimum you need to earn to pay your over heads, the van is too expensive, the insurance is a rip off etc etc. it is very clear to me that they never had any intention of giving their franchisees any help or backing after the totally inadaquate three weeks training, and now they have reduced the cost of the franchise by half! they are now taking the piss. if i were still trading as smart abc i would be having a very quiet chat with nick bicknell if you know what i mean.
DO NOT CONSIDER THIS FRANCHISE
ps : the guy i sold my business to has now ceased trading with massive depts and has signed back into the navy to earn some money so he doesnt loose his house and to pay his depts back. the guy in llenelli did it right he has no assets to loose they cant have what you havent got can they.
everyone needs to clan together to get them gone once and for all, i will help anyone out if i can whether its doing promotions or doing large repairs just get in touch.
[29/08/2010] Chris: Hi Gerry,
Very interesting to read your post. I could do with some advice from you if you would be kind enough to help me? can you email me on welbeckguy@hotmail.com??
Thanks mate
[30/08/2010] An Ex-Franchisee: Gerry, what a great post, and thanks for telling it how it really is, and what a top bloke for the offer of help, I am sure you will have many takers, good luck mate in what ever you do now.
This reply is what this site needed as regards to Smartabc, I to hope that these people are closed down very quickly, and the best of luck to every one that has been effected by Smartabc.
[31/08/2010] Dan: I bought a business package from another provider and have to say I have found exactly the same as you SMART abc guys. I was told I would easily be doing 3 jobs per day by month 3 and making great profit from month 1 onwards on an advertising budget of a few hundred per month.
This is complete nonsense, these companies do not tell the truth that it takes a few years to get to the stage of consistently doing 3 jobs per day because if they did who would invest with such a large working capital provider.???
I was also promised marketing support but have received absolutely NOTHING and not 1 lead from my network in 6 months.
I am considering consulting a lawyer on grounds of misrepresentation made to me by my provider, I was wondering how you ABC guys were getting on with your claims? Is it worth me persuing?
The SMART repair industry as a whole is rotten in my opinion.
[04/09/2010] Macbob: Hi All, hope this does'nt get removed but I need to get this story aired.
Stopped trading as a Smart franchisee in Jan this year as couldn't make the system work for several reasons anyway, returned my van and equipment to Smart in the hope they could pass the van lease on to a new franchise on, however Nick Bicknell gave the van to a new franchisee who could'nt get finance from Mercedes Charterway without my knowledge!!!!. I only found out when I contacted Nick to say that I'd had enough and I was coming to get the van and return it to Mercedes.
Anyway as this was a way to get my Contract Hire monthly payments covered I went along with this. But the new franchisee has just given me hassle after hassle and each month had to chase him for the monthly payment as he never set up the standing order for as set out in the agreement that I sent him and that he never signed.
Anyway decided enough is enough and told him I was coming to repossess the van.
On the morning of me repossessing van phone me to say he won't be in and leaves spare key under bin.
I get there to find that he has completely stripped out the van right back to the removal of the internal panelling that the van left the factory with; also removing the customised racking and all-weather awning which are part of the Contract Hire Agreement. He has done this to get back at Nick and James Bicknell as he hasn't been paying them also for the last couple of months.
This is now in the hands of the police as a case of criminal damage and theft.
Thanks for reading this and any info would be greatly received as I now can't return the van in its original condition and configuration and will be hit severely by financial penalties by Charterway even more so than if the van was in the proper condition.
Thanks ,
Robert.
[04/09/2010] On the Fence: Sounds like you've slipped up there a little, if he never signed any agreement between you both, then there's no legal contract, so the onus remains with you to maintain payments to Mercedes, and maintain condition of the vehicle, at the end of the day, mercedes will only pursiue whoever was on the original contract for payment, which leaves you in a bit of a fix. Hope it works out for you.
[04/09/2010] Macbob: To On the Fence, sorry mate but deffo don't need anyone stating the obvious to me here!! I'm not stupid, You don't know the full story do you!! just came on here to add my experience with Smart ABC.
When your faced with a £460 monthly lease payment, £560 mortgage payment and a family to take care of , you'll take whatever comes your way.
Also want to make anyone out there that there may be stolen Smart ABC equipment being offered for sale in the Oxfordshire area.
Anyway as I said I would grateful for any info that may help me recover the stolen awning and Mercedes Vito racking.
Many thanks,
Robert
[08/09/2010] ex franchisee: Hi Robert, i'm also a failed franchisee from SmartABC, is it possible you can contact me, if i'm correct you are from Scotland? Its very important that you try and find away to make contact with me, try calling some of the other guys that have failed and find out who started this thread on canyoutrustthem !!rading,
[08/09/2010] will: reading the comments over the last few days there have been a lot of new voices writing in and i have to say things are getting worse my heart goes out to every body but there is a lot of help out there. Get down to your local trading standard there very helpful. ive been looking through the smartabc wed page and many of the technicians are no longer paying fees and some are not even trading. so the number is alot lower than people think. can we all meet up and discuss whats happening? what do people think?
[08/09/2010] Another Struggling: I've stopped paying my fees and I know of 3 others still on the list that have also stopped paying and that's in the small circle of other techs I know, so I imagine many more have stopped paying. I'd like to know an exact figure of remaining techs it would be interesting.
Have you noticed the date for the next open day? They can't even get that right.
[09/09/2010] you all know who i am: i've been keeping account of all the failed franchisees that have failed, i am now aware that 49 have ceased trading and another 22 are struggling, thats 71 out of 99 !!!!! i'm pretty sure there is others out that have ceased trading, but i'm unable to make contact with them to confirm it!! so guys for those that are still paying, think very carefully before you give them any more money!! at the end of the day they lied and conned you into this.........ps i'm also aware that non of the contact numbers at smartabc work anymore !!!!
[09/09/2010] Chris: I can also confirm that the head office number for SMART ABC no longer works. Does anyone have anymore information, have they gone under???
[09/09/2010] ex-Franchisee: Smart are very good at hiding phone numbers. There is only 1 that I could find on their web-site - 08000 438888. It's the same number to book an open day or for a customer to get a quote. Being 0800 its supposed to be free. But when I called it today it forwards to 0904 234 7249. No one answers that number, it just asks you to call 0904 234 7249 again. Which you already have. You never get to speak to anyone. It doesn't say what the 0904 charge is, but according to BT it can be between 5p to £1.50 so I don't advise calling it too often.
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