It was entirely reasonable for a firm to expect payment before dispatching seatbelts to a customer, Dundalk District Court has ruled.
Ben Shittu alleged his seatbelts had been “held hostage” and that he had to source a new pair for his Mercedes car.
The plaintiff, of Shawbridge, Kilcock, Co. Kildare, took a small claim against Keith McGahon, t/a Airbags Ireland, Haggardstown, Dundalk.
Mr Shittu testified that he sent the seatbelts off by post to have the straps replaced and when he asked to inspect them was refused.
“He demanded money first and has held my seatbelts hostage since.”
The plaintiff continued that he had no original seatbelts and had to buy new ones on a car parts website from “somewhere in Europe”.
Keith McGahon told the court that he has been 35 years in business, dealing with people all over the world, and nobody had ever asked him to inspect seatbelts before they were sent back.
He said that Mr Shittu demanded a video, and claimed that this man ended up paying double his price of €220 including VAT after buying seatbelts from somewhere that he didn’t get to inspect them.
Judge Nicola Andrews struck out the claim.
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