I have been negligently sold a large printer. The printer that I thought I was buying has specific functionality, this is built into the firmware of the machine and retails at £3250, the printer I received looks identical (save for a removable model number label) but does not have the specific functionality and retails les than £1000. The Vendor has been 'modifying' the cheaper machine and branding them as their own, however these modified machines do not work and are therefore not fit for purpose.

I bought the machine because the vendor had posted a picture of the more expensive model on their website, I have a screen shot and the model number is clearly visible.

The Manufacturer 'OKI' has categorically stated that there is no modification that can be made to give the cheaper printer the capabilities that I require and furthermore, any modification to a brand-new machine nullifies its warranty and guarantee.

It had taken me two months to discover the deception as the vendor blamed first me and then the software supplied with the printer for it's poor and unacceptable quality, it took an engineer from another company to point out the machine was an lesser model and by that time I had spent all my start-up savings in advertising, consumables, unit rent and trying to complete orders that could never be of the quality expected.

Initially the vendor refused to refund my money but was forced to when I provided evidence (a picture from their website with the correct model number clearly showing). I have received a refund for the printer only, but am now seeking reimbersment of start-up funding, wastage of three months of my time, consumables and stress. Regretably I cannot claim for loss of reputation or orders

Furthermore, in the original package was an embroidery machine and software which is still subject to the lease, with a settlement figure in the region of £10,000; it is not possible to run a profitable business using just this machine without the printer, the vendor will not take the embroidery machine back but has offered to BUY it back from me for £600 leaving me with a sizable debt. This machine has hardly been used and is in showroom condition, they sold it to me for over £5000 so £600 is hardly acceptable.

The vendor denies all responsibility and will not enter into any form of mediation.

Therefore I am seeking £3000 in lost expenses, and for the vendor to take back the embroidery machine and clear the lease.

I do have a case, but my legal insurance has refused to cover the cost of litigation as I took out the policy after taking delivery of the printer.

I have a solicitor who has contacted the vendor and have spent all my savings on this initial contact, my Solicitor is ready to take the vendor to court but I have no more funds of my own whatsoever to continue, litigation is the only recourse that I have to attempt to rebuild my business and to clear the lease.

I would like potential funders to know that I am not seeking punitive damages, I just want to get back onto a level playing field, to where I was before I was missold this printer, the Vendor has never asked for a settlement figure and has just refused flatly to discuss anything further then the refund of the printer which they only offered once I showed them the screen shot of their website.

My Solicitors charge around £200 plus per hour. I suspect I will need IRO £5000 to prosecute this case fully although the Vendors/defendants could be sitting on the fence waiting to see if I will litigate, as such there is a possibility that they will settle quickly and there might be a surplus. If this is the case, I will take my damages and recycle the surplus back into crowdjustice to help fund another case.