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On 11-19-10 we wired (Per her wishes) Heather Gaffer McKereghan $3000.00 deposit on a pony she had for sale. It was understood, we needed to physically look and approve pony as a carriage driving partner for our pony. We discussed this with Heather and her husband Shawn. We were assured if the pony did not meet our need for whatever reason we would get a full refund. We were also told by Shawn, the wire transfer was in a holding account until the transaction was completed. This was a lie according to their bank. We live in WA state the pony was in Or. we had until 11-21-10 to look at pony. On 11-21-10 we started out for Or. and were caught in a snow storm, we had to turn back. McKereghan was in a hurry to sell the pony, she told us she had another buyer waiting to purchase the pony. We called her as soon as we got back home (9, 30 a.m.) to let her know we would need to back out of the transaction, since we could not get there and we knew she wanted to sell the pony right now. We requested she refund our money. She sent me an email on 11-21-10, "I will mail you the check". The pony was sold by 11-27-10 according to email we received. WE did not get the check until 12-3-10 and only after we started threatening legal action. When we got the check, she had arbitrarily deducted $100.00 for " cleaning the pony, gas and the charge for picking up wire transfer". We never agreed to those charges. Nowhere on her website, verbally or in any of her email does she discuss charging us for getting pony ready for us to see. WE have asked for a refund of that $100.00 they have not to responded. The bottom line, she had us at her mercy, saw the opportunity to get some bucks for herself and took it. We were foolish to wire the money, lesson learned, and lucky from what I have learned to get any of our money from Wyndsor Welsh, the McKereghans. Looking for a pony? Look somewhere else. Buyer BEWARE.
You got that right! These folks lack ethics and are dishonest. We can only hope this complaint keeps other from making the same mistake we made and do business with them. No doubt, they have done this to others. There are many other reputable pony breeders in Oregon and nation wide.
Heather Graffer Mckereghan response is nothing more than innuendo, gossip, and lies. Note, she does not address the fact, she kept a portion of a deposit which, Shawn Mckereghan and Heather Mckereghan told us would be refundable. This was discussed on the same afternoon the money was wired to her.They clearly understood we had to physically see her pony to be sure size and wise (and body type) it would be a match. I personally do not know anyone looking for a driving partner for their pony, who would give $8000.00 for a pony sight unseen. It is ridiculous to her to say we wanted to bring our pony to see"if they would get along", our reason for bringing him with us was to judge if they looked well together. I would not jeopardize (attempting to hitch them up) our pony in such a manner furthermore, her pony had no knowledge of driving and would need training alone before pairing with another pony. She arbitrarily without our foreknowledge stole money from us. I have documentation on 11-21-10 she stated in an email, "I will mail you the check." We were patient understanding it was Thanksgiving holiday however, the pony was sold om 11-27- 10. By the 30th of Nov. we started to inquire where is our money? I will also say this was, $3000.00 not $300.00. She continued to tell us, " it is in the mail." She did not mail it until 12-1-10, we did not receive it until 12-3-10. No where on her website or verbally does she reveal she charges to get pony ready for potential buyers. That constitutes deception. When you take money from folks without their knowledge it is stealing. What Ms. McKereghan chooses to do with her business in the future (contract, nonrefundable deposits etc.) does not have any bearing on what she did to us. If she considered us such undesirable buyers as she states above, why did she take our money? We did go to Oregon in the fall however it was NOT to go to pony farms, it was to buy property to relocate to central Oregon. We told several pony farms if time permitted, we might stop by and that we would contact them, if this was possible, as it turned out it was not possible. AS for us being upset because the pony sold, nothing could be further from the truth, there is always another pony down the road. This transaction was simply not meant to be. Many more folks will think twice before doing business with the Mckereghan's than will not sell us a pony because we stood up for ethics and honesty. We urge anyone who is looking for a pony, if a seller asks you to wire large sum of money do not do it, you will be left at their mercy. I urge any pony buyer to contact the welsh pony club to find the sellers reputation. I found out a lot about Heather Mckereghan after the fact, and it was not positive. BUYER BEWARE!
It is not the role of the WA state or Oregon state attorney general (not complaints board) to pursue complaints via litigation, thy are not attorneys. They do keep track of all complaints and if they get enough complaints, go after businesses in question and make them comply with fair business practices. The whole truth was indeed told on Wyndsor Welsh unsavory business practices . The facts speak for themselves. We spoke with many people including the Welsh Pony and Cob society who are very familiar with Ms. McKerrigan, the comments we heard were most unflattering, this included her own family. Her extended family apologized to us for her behavior. We rest our case. Buyer beware!
Just a quick update the Washington and Oregon Complaint Board did not pursue their complaint after I sent them all of the emails.
I knew they would when I emailed them all of the emails from Don and Marie.
They lied and did not tell the whole truth!
They are not very nice people.
So happy that in being in the Welsh Pony Business for 35 years this is the only crazy buyers we have had!
Cheers too the next 35 years.
Best,
Heather
Hi,
I am responding to Don and Mary Torgets complaint.
First off I would like to say I have been involved in the Welsh pony world, breeding, riding, raising, training, selling, and showing for 34 years. These people first contacted me in the early part of fall about another welsh mare and after several conversations they decided she would not be a good fit because she had a blue eye.
Then a month later they contacted me about a colt that I had for sale, they made arrangements to come and see him on a Sunday afternooon, they were going to several farms to look at ponies and would give me a call Sunday morning to come and see him. They were also going to a good friend of mine the day before to look at her ponies. I waited all day when I could have worked and they never called or showed up. They did have the address and were going to put it on their GPS.
They in November they called and HAD TO HAVE a mare that I had for sale, they sent me a deposit on the mare and were supposed to come down and pick her up if she passed inspection (the vet was coming out on Sunday to do her exam). In the mean time they called me numerouse times a day asking questions and to make sure that the pony was what she appeared to be on my web site etc.. Then they called and could not come down because of a snow storm. They also wanted to bring down their other pony to match up with the one I had, see if they would get along. That is absurd, I would never allow another animal out with mine when you havent even signed a contract to purchase the pony.
So they called and let us know that they wouldnt be coming, after not calling them within a few minutes they called right back and were so rude, SEND ME OUR DEPOSIT back. I said that would be fine, then they call back Monday and say they would like to come and see her Thanksgiving weekend.
I had had it, they did nothing but harrass us and waste our time. I told Don that I would send their check out after the Thanksgiving Holiday, I did that. I also charged them for my time, gas, making arrangements for the vet etc and that is fair in my eyes. Then they started to call and threaten us on the phone, saying they are going to call and email all sorts of welsh people and make a consumer complaint in Washington and Oregon. They have not made a very good name for themselves I have several people that they have emailed that are not happy about them bad mouthing me and that is Defamation of Character. They have contacted several people on the west coast and east coast about buying ponies and they have not made a good name for themselves and those welsh owners will not sell them a pony.
What really upset them was when I told them I sold the pony and that is when all of the bashing and threatening started. I am so glad that our beautiful pony did not go to that home.
I will never again take a deposit on a pony without a contract, and there is also a new section in my sales agreement that says all Deposits are non refundable unless the pony does not vet out.
I am really sorry that you have to waste your time with this kind of garbage.
I love my ponies and pride my self when I sell one of them to the perfect home.
This is a lesson learned for me...
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.
Heather L Gaffer McKereghan
Wyndsor Welsh Ponies and Cobs
Looks like they dont want to Pony up your refund?