Help me get my money back!!! (3A Racing Filter GB Scam)

[esh]

As many of you already know, last spring I started a group buy on GTRC for 3A racing filters that ended in disaster.

Here's the groupbuy:
http://forums.gtrcanada.com/group-bu...group-buy.html

What had started in a good deal for 3A Racing filters turned into me losing $700 +.

The company I tried to purchase these from was Icaraccessories.com.au. They are in Adelaide, Australia. Around the end of summer time I completely lost contact with them, after they had said that they would give me a refund. I obviously refunded fellow GTRC members from my own pocket.

What made matters worse is that since summer, I have been on a serious quest to graduate from university by 2011...this included summer school, and full course load of crazy courses this year...hence I have not had much time on the forums lately or to deal with the filter problem.

I have however tried to deal with this during my spare time (such as right now with the end of classes). I have sent countless emails - but all return with "Mail Undeliverable: Inbox full". I've also tried calling them, but can never get through.

A few weeks ago, I discovered this post on another car forum:
http://mustang.org.au/forum/viewthread.php?tid=11719

So I tried contacting Sasha Ivanovski through the e-mail/telephone on the motoquipe website but to no avail.

I even talked to paypal, but they said they could do nothing after 45 days after a purchase. The best they could do was send the company an e-mail lol. Completely useless.

So now I'm asking GTRC, what can I do to get my money back?? Is there any legal action that I can take? Are there any laws in Canada or Australia that protect me as a consumer?

Thanks!

[C-unit]

To be honest, for $700, it's not worth the time and hassle. It'll cost you more than $700 to get your money back. Just make it a lesson and move on.

I am sure you can file a small claim through the court in Australia, but you seriously going to buy a plane ticket and show up at court?

[Skym]

Having a Russian or Nigerian name tells you that it could be a scam and like they said in link, not a registered business (always check that they are a registered or well known business). Once they finish in one country, they move on. Once money leaves Australia, nothing much you can do.

But what you could do is ask someone from that state in Australia on SAU forum to visit shop and see if they can get money back.

[esh]

Ah good idea, I'll ask on SAU to see if they can help. Definitely learned a lesson here, just wish it hadn't cost me $700