Lapland New Forest Scam. How to get money back...

whitewing

Hello Edna, good to see you back and have your comments.

There are a lot of new posts this evening, so in case anyone is in any doubt of what to do at the moment, we suggest you continue with your chargeback claim as per Gomer's post for the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1412867

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

Re Accountancy page: They are asking for ticket holders to contact Grant Thornton via post prior to the creditor's meeting. What are the implications of that, and how are ticketholders going to know to do that unless they read the article? Edna?

The implications, as Whitewing and I have said, are unclear because we are not experts in this field but caution is the watchword.

With regard to how ticketholders know, they will be informed by the liquidator. Now an interesting point is how the liquidator is going to contact the creditors. If the purchases were online and tickets were to be collected on site then there was probably no need for a customer to give a full postal address, merely some address details to allow Streamline to validate the transaction. In these cases I would doubt the liquidator would get postal information from Streamline, but would send email to the affected parties. For those who booked and tickets were to be posted to them there is a good chance that the liquidator will write to them, but they may use email instead. Again a question for the liquidator.

We should realise that, as far as my understanding goes, the liquidator can only directly contact creditors for whom they have contact information (obvious) and is under no obligation to go any further other than to advertise in the London Gazette and two local papers. Of course, any other papers carrying the story and having had contact with the liquidator, will further the spread of knowledge of the liquidation, but in reality there is no way the liquidator can ensure they nave contacted all creditors, nor is that their fault, so the important thing is for as many people as possible to spread the word of this forum, and any others carrying this story, and tell as many people as possible.

I'm sorry for all the long posts tonight but I have had some technical issues with Internet access over the last few days and there have been some developmemnts so I have only just caught up, please bear with it and read through them, you may find helpful advice in there.

CHARGE BACK - go for it!

whitewing

This article (not sure of date/time) contains some text from Trading Standards that I don't recall reading since the creditors' meeting has been announced:

http://www.wave105.com/article.asp?id=1134748

Latest advice from Dorset County Council's trading standards service
Grant Thornton will be handling any queries about the liquidation process and how to claim. If Lapland New Forest customers have any other queries, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Customers should still consider trying to obtain money back via their credit or debit card provider, but their success with this will vary depending on their particular card type. Our advice for those seeking to claim money back from their card provider is to contact that card provider.
If the payment was made on a credit card and was more than £100, then the credit card company may be jointly liable for any breach of contract. If payment was made by debit card for any amount then customers may be able to make a claim depending on the rules of that card.

The latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1412867

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

This article (not sure of date/time) contains some text from Trading Standards that I don't recall reading since the creditors' meeting has been announced:

http://www.wave105.com/article.asp?id=1134748

Thanks go again to whitewing for this 'find'

QUOTE
Latest advice from Dorset County Council's trading standards service
Grant Thornton will be handling any queries about the liquidation process and how to claim. If Lapland New Forest customers have any other queries, please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
UNQUOTE

It is important to be aware that in this context 'claim' is a claim as a creditor of the company in the liquidation process and NOT a claim for refund of monies paid. Do not let this further confusion spouted by DTS detract from the refund process and please do continue with this.

QUOTE
Customers should still consider trying to obtain money back via their credit or debit card provider, but their success with this will vary depending on their particular card type. Our advice for those seeking to claim money back from their card provider is to contact that card provider.
If the payment was made on a credit card and was more than £100, then the credit card company may be jointly liable for any breach of contract. If payment was made by debit card for any amount then customers may be able to make a claim depending on the rules of that card.
UNQUOTE

This passage tells us no more than we know already and, sadly, perpetuates some factual errors with regard to the various processes for claiming refunds from cards merchants of all type. PLEASE check the thread that GomerPyle initiated for information regarding the claim process, and tell ANYONE you know affected by this scam of what can be found here, please.

Gomer's guide is at:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=17633351#post17633351


Please note, however, that the registered address of the company is now that of Grant Thornton (we are not able to edit Gomer's post to reflect this) and I would advise that any documents served to that new address remain solely concerned with refund and do not, at this stage, indicate any desire to register as a creditor.

IMPORTANT
This is rapidly becoming a legal issue WRT liquidation, and I am not an expert, nor am I affiliated in any way with any party involved. I try to provide information that will be of use to affected parties but it is in the interest of those parties to seek expert advice rather than to act on 'amateur considerations' such as mine. Consumer Direct may be able to assist but if they cannot answer your questions I would suggest asking them who can answer queries. For clarity, any information from GT will be from their (quite correct) stance as a liquidator, and will not reflect any individual's interests. I also doubt requesting information from card issuers/banks etc will be fruitful and/or impartial, so if Consumer Direct suggest these sources I would politely point out that they are 'interested parties' who will not be impartial, and that you wish to have impartial advice.

Another tuppence worth - hope it helps *someone*

k2tog

This morning I received a letter from Grant Thornton about the liquidation of the Cr*pland lot. One of the documents from them states DO NOT SEND ANY DOCUMENTATION AT THIS TIME and then further down asks you to send in documentation . Not impressed so far.
Unfortunately I have been unable to go through the chargeback route as I sent a cheque due to their site being down when I was trying to book in November.
Watching what happens but not full of hope for getting my 150 quid back.
I'm sorry, I have no way of getting the GT documents on here.

I would rather they were liquidised than liquidated :rolleyes:

EdnaCloud

k2tog wrote: »

This morning I received a letter from Grant Thornton about the liquidation of the Cr*pland lot. One of the documents from them states DO NOT SEND ANY DOCUMENTATION AT THIS TIME and then further down asks you to send in documentation . Not impressed so far.

k2tog, thanks for posting your update, sad as it is. I'm not surprised that you are not impressed - may be worth a call to them on Monday asking for clarification. I suspect it is corporate incompetence rather than anything sinister.

Unfortunately I have been unable to go through the chargeback route as I sent a cheque due to their site being down when I was trying to book in November.

That's interesting, it means there could be a significant number of people in the the same boat. What would be really useful would be know to whom the cheque was payable and where it was sent. If you would prefer not to post this publicly please feel free to PM me, I will not post any detail but it may well help in the dossier of material we are building.

Watching what happens but not full of hope for getting my 150 quid back.

Sadly that may be the case and I am sure all here on the thread sympathise with you. It is unlikely that cheque payers will have much recourse, so you are right to not hold out too much hope, however we are not at the end of the road yet, so please don't give up completely, keep an eye on this thread.

I'm sorry, I have no way of getting the GT documents on here.

That's a shame, but even if you could just summarise what you have received it would be a help.

I would rather they were liquidised than liquidated :rolleyes:

You and 41,999 other people if tabloids are to be believed. I have to say the various readers' comments in the press local to the event do not paint a pretty picture of the Director, or his associates. One even went as far as to warn people that one going to the creditors meeting is likely to be met by a large number of 'family and freinds' in ten Toyota Landcuisers. Of course that is a a quote from an unspecified source and with no corroboration, however I see no complaint to this comment or similar comments, and I have not seen any comment in support of the organisers.

KEEP CLAIMING

whitewing

If you are thinking of attending the creditors' meeting, you had better get your name down quick! From today's Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2192290.ece

Only 300 of the 42,000 creditors will be able to attend amid tight security.

I note the papers are still telling you that you are unlikely to get your money back. If, however, you do a chargeback, you are more likely get a full refund. Please also read Edna's posts that caution you against registering as a claimant in response to Grant Thornton's letter until you have sought impartial advice, in case doing so prohibits you from doing a chargeback.

See Gomer's post for the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1412867

whitewing

From a comment on the Sun's article:

Posted by: Newsvigilo
He was obviously trading illegally, Trading Standards should freeze his assets so people can claim from him as an individual, rather than his sham, bankrupt 'Company'.

I don't have experience to comment on this comment. Any views on this, Edna?

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

If you are thinking of attending the creditors' meeting, you had better get your name down quick! From today's Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2192290.ece

Only 300 of the 42,000 creditors will be able to attend amid tight security.

I note the papers are still telling you that you are unlikely to get your money back. If, however, you do a chargeback, you are more likely get a full refund. Please also read Edna's posts that caution you against registering as a claimant in response to Grant Thornton's letter until you have sought impartial advice, in case doing so prohibits you from doing a chargeback.

See Gomer's post for the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1412867

The following is a partisan comment of my own.

This should not panic anyone. Not being able to attend has no bearing whatsoever on one's legal position, and to be realistic it would be difficult to find a venue that would accommodate 42,000 people anyway. (Although a new use for the ill-fated Millenium dome has just hove into view.......excuse the pun). I would think there are two factors here, one is that 300 is probably the largest number that could be accommodated anywhere in the vicinity at reasonable short notice and, I suspect but do not know, that there may have been some limit placed to avoid public disturbance, lynchings etc (sadly, in my opinion). But the police have not stated that one cannot travel there so one could still go to show one's displeasure, but I guess there will be a lot of Dorset Constabulary around. One hopes there are not too many of them with the M word as surnames. Fingers in pies etc.

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

From a comment on the Sun's article:

Posted by: Newsvigilo
He was obviously trading illegally, Trading Standards should freeze his assets so people can claim from him as an individual, rather than his sham, bankrupt 'Company'.

I don't have experience to comment on this comment. Any views on this, Edna?

I do believe that in the past Directors have been stripped of their limited liability under certain circumstances, but I do not have any supporting evidence to hand, nor do I know under what specific circumstances this can happen. I will try to find out, but at this juncture we could really do with a kind hearted solicitor to give free advice. Mind you, if that happens we'll probably have to duck because of the low flying pigs. (Sorry any lawyers out there - only jesting).

I will see what I can find, I did mention this some weeks ago as being a possible 'last resort' (I know I'm boring but try and read my rambling posts, please!) and if I can find out more I will, of course, let the thread know.