Testimonial: Mike Paterson

I'm collecting stories of people who are or have been owed money by Asif Zamir. Below is the Mike Paterson's experience with him written April 20th, 2007. Since that time, Mike has gotten back $1000 of the $1500 owed to him thanks to the tireless efforts of a Toronto fraud detective who had been pestering Asif for months. Now, of course, the detective cannot reach Asif anymore, so cases like mine remain unresolved.

"Hello,
This is an email in regards to Asif Zamir. This is my story and I would really appreciate if you could reply with your story. How much money you're out, the time it's taken to date, anything you can think that would be of importance that would help in having him charged and convicted for fraud. I will also be filing suit against him and anyone is welcome to join me. The more people we have against him the better.

I first dealt with Asif Zamir roughly a year or so ago. I found his ad on Ebay but realized he was local.
I called up the number and he told me he had a camera on him and that he could deliver it to me the very next day which he did. That was a Rebel XT which a bought slightly used for $700.00. After roughly a few months I called him again and ordered an L series lens. It was an F4 300mm IS Prime. He told me it would take 3 weeks. After a month passed I started calling him and he gave me the run around. He told me this was unusual so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I finally did receive my lens after 3 months. He told me because it was something not usually ordered was the reason why it took so long. He also said because it took so long that I would get a refund of $200.00. To date I have still not received this money. I did give him the benefit of the doubt and decided to try one more time. This time I ordered a 30D camera body and an S710 7.1 MP for my girlfriend for Christmas 2006. I originally ordered the 30D at the end of August 2006 after selling my previous camera to a friend. I was thinking it would only be a couple weeks like Asif told me because it was a stock item that was very popular and there wouldn't be any issues. 6 weeks went by then I called him. I had to call him. He then told me the shipment had come in 2 weeks but was damaged and he didn't have the money to put up front for another one. I told him okay I'll pay him and then he can just order another one for me. I payed him $1100.00 on Oct. 18th/06 and then sent him a money order for another $380.00 on the 19th of Oct. for an S710 camera for my girlfriend. That was supposed to be a gift for Christmas. After countless emails and phone calls, I have received nothing but stress. At one point he gave me a loaner camera because so much time had passed and I had missed 2 opportunities in Central America for some wildlife photography. I was going away again and told him he'd better get something to me for the next trip which he did. One day before I went away. He also told me if my 30D didn't come in on time (he'd told me it had been shipped) that he would give me half price on the camera. Later he changed his statement and said that if I didn't have (A) camera by the time I went away that I would get half off. He loaned me one just in time and said because he got me a camera in time that there was no half off anymore.
That was a lie. I've been told by him that he had my cameras when I came back from vacation. He sent me an email saying we could meet up and exchange the loaner for the ones I had purchased. I thought great.
Finally. I phoned and phoned. I emailed him and nothing. Another letdown. I kept emailing and phoning getting no response. Finally he responded telling me that he returned my cameras to Canon and that I would get a refund as soon as they sent him the refund.
Another lie. Why the hell would he send them back if he had them? This guy must think people are really stupid. I also have emails and phone messages stating when I would get my money by. I have in writing that I would have it 2 weeks at the latest from Feb.28th/07.
That would be March 14th. Still nothing and still nothing to date. Now he's talked to Detective Lemkie and told him that the loaner was the camera I had purchased. Another lie. I have proof that it's not.
This is basically my story. I ask that you please do the same and reply back with your phone numbers and addresses. I will be using this as evidence against him in a lawsuit. As I stated, anyone who wishes to join me is more than welcome. This guy has to be stopped. I know he's still selling cameras. He will continue to do this as long as he can get away with it. Thank you for your time."