Ex-partner refusing to return Renault Clio + phone contract mess

[itsovernow]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. My ex-partner (we were together around 9 years) walked out recently. Since then he’s refused to return some of my property.

The biggest issue is a Renault Clio that I bought outright with my own money. The V5 logbook is in his name, but as most of you know, that only makes him the registered keeper, not the legal owner. I still have proof of purchase and bank statements showing I paid for it. He’s continuing to drive it as if it’s his.

The other big problem is with my phone. The account is in my name, but without my permission he requested the number to be ported out. Vodafone failed to stop it in time, and this triggered the closure of the account. As a result, I was hit with the full outstanding balance for the phone plan and three years of contract all at once. On top of that, he’s still got the iPhone that belongs to me under that contract.

So far I have:

• Reported the phone incident to the police as fraud (they’re looking at it now).
• Sent him formal letters demanding return of both the car and the phone.
• Kept all documentation (letters, receipts, bank statements).

My concerns are:

1. He’s making vague comments to people online that I was controlling, which is untrue. Since the split I’ve only contacted him formally in writing.
2. I’m so fearful of being accused of things I haven’t done that I now carry a body camera when I leave the house, in case our paths cross.
3. I need to know the right next steps to force return of my property if he continues to ignore me. Would this be county court or small claims?
4. Does the phone situation (PAC code, account closure, leaving me with the debt, and him keeping the handset) amount to fraud in law?

I’ve tried to be civil and handle this properly, but I feel like I’m being left with all the damage while he just carries on. Any guidance on the correct legal path would be much appreciated.

I am happy to answer any questions relating to this.

Thanks in advance.

[PallasAthena]

Have you reported the car as stolen to the police?

Who is insuring the car, is the policy in your name or his?

[PallasAthena]

And why are the police only investigating the phone situation as fraud in relation to the contract and not a simple theft of your phone?

[itsovernow]

And why are the police only investigating the phone situation as fraud in relation to the contract and not a simple theft of your phone?

Because he had use of the phone and use of the car he hasn't legally stolen from me. He has failed to return both even after a documented formal written request. The insurance is in his name. He used the car as if it was his so for insurance purposes etc the v5 was in his name. I retained legal ownership of the car because it was mine and paid for with my money. For me the Clio was my second vehicle. He had me as an additional driver on the insurance policy so that I was fully comp when driving it instead of me driving 3rd party via my primary car policy. I would use it to run errands. Pop to shops and other things that my primary vehicle wasn't suitable for. I would always add fuel to the car to be fair about petrol usage. I paid for half of the maintenance costs like servicing and repairs. Despite the fact he was the main driver causing the wear and tear mainly it was still my vested interest so I thought it only fair to contribute to the cars upkeep.

He was also listed on my primary car insurance policy as an additional driver so he could also have the use of my primary vehicle if needed. If I needed to use the Clio at a time for example during his work hours I would either go and swap cars and then return it. Or when the timing was such I would just take him to work and then pick him up after his shift.

At no point did I transfer ownership to him of the car. If I had of wanted to I would have done so by way of a receipt or something to give him proof of owning it. I always made it clear to him whilst he was using the car as his own. That I will not give him legal ownership or transfer it to him. He owed me a lot,,, a lot of money from borrowing from me so the notion I would give him the car for free would be insane. Had he not have owed me so much money which he still does. I may have considered giving him the car or reduced price purchase. But the amount he owes me the car is the only real avenue of reclaiming any financial loss I have. All the money he borrowed was without a formal agreement and I knew the risks of that - I loved him and always tried to help him as much as I could. I am not trying to pursue him for the thousands he owes me despite the fact in messaging he has acknowledged that he owes me money and needs to come up with a payment plan to pay me back since the break up happened.

The issue is the return of the car. and the fact his actions on my vodafone account have caused all my contract bill to come due. So at the moment I am on the hook to pay a couple grand settlement with the phone company, and currently he still has the iphone itself. Vodafone have supposedly barred the imei of the phone but what that means in the long run I do not know.

Also now he is making suggestive comments online that I was perhaps abusive or controlling. Which is completely untrue I am terrified though that he may try to make a report against me to the police and I have to go through all that kind of problem. I don't see how I could be charged with anything, having not done anything wrong to him I don't see how anything could be proved against me. But mud sticks. And there is the court of public opinion that makes me worried all day long about it happening.