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

whitewing

A reminder to you all:

[EMAIL="lapland.liquidation@gtuk.com"]lapland.liquidation@gtuk.com[/EMAIL]

Grant Thornton is making every effort to notify all customers who bought tickets to Lapland New Forest. If you believe you are a creditor and have not received notification by Wednesday 4 February, please contact Grant Thornton at the above email address.

(The above is from the dorsetforyou website. If you bought tickets and haven't had a letter from Grant Thornton, it may be worth contacting the email address.

You will need to seek independent advice from Trading Standards/Consumer Direct on whether to register as creditors though in case this affects your chargeback.

I think Gorginoo is awaiting details from Trading Standards on whether people who have been 'temporarily' refunded by their bank already should be registering).

The important thing for debit and credit card ticketholders is to do your chargeback immediately.

To do a chargeback, please see:

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

EdnaCloud

Whitewing,

whitewing wrote: »

**snip**
If, however, they are sending out letters within their current 'official capacity of assisting with the liquidation process', then there must be some scope for them to do something on their own website.

Yes, one would have though so, but I wonder what is actually allowed, the letters are to known or possible creditors, not the public as a whole, and I just don't know exactly how much they can make public at this stage, but regardless of that I would expect them to be really cautious anyway. When the appointment of the liquidator is announced it will have to be made public and in my opinion it is then that an announcement should be made on a web site.
RANT
In fact, I would go further, I think the quaint (=outdated, archaic) statutory method of legal notices being served in 2 local papers and the London Gazette (which dates from many many years ago) be thoroughly overhauled and provision made to require a web site with the notice in addition to the paltry mechanism now in force. Possibly announcements in at least 2 national newspapers and on various satellite news channels should be included. I believe we are living in the digital age and it is about time the law caught up (their weasel words that you helpfully posted a little while back does little to assuage my despair at the antiquity of the legal system). But when the judiciary still wear stockings, frocks and wigs what can one expect? And when at an age of well over 80, (experience or past it?) a judge tells a convicted rapist to pay for his young victim to buy a bike or go on holiday (which did happen a few years ago) what sort of justice can we expect?
UNRANT
Edna, becoming an anarchist and proud of it.

Gorginoo

whitewing wrote: »

<snip>
I think Gorginoo is awaiting details from Trading Standards on whether people who have been 'temporarily' refunded by their bank already should be registering).
<snip>

Yes, I am waiting for reply from TS. They have read my email so I'm hoping they will reply soon!

whitewing

EdnaCloud wrote: »

RANT
In fact, I would go further, I think the quaint (=outdated, archaic) statutory method of legal notices being served in 2 local papers and the London Gazette (which dates from many many years ago) be thoroughly overhauled and provision made to require a web site with the notice in addition to the paltry mechanism now in force. Possibly announcements in at least 2 national newspapers and on various satellite news channels should be included. I believe we are living in the digital age and it is about time the law caught up (their weasel words that you helpfully posted a little while back does little to assuage my despair at the antiquity of the legal system). But when the judiciary still wear stockings, frocks and wigs what can one expect? And when at an age of well over 80, (experience or past it?) a judge tells a convicted rapist to pay for his young victim to buy a bike or go on holiday (which did happen a few years ago) what sort of justice can we expect?
UNRANT
Edna, becoming an anarchist and proud of it.

So, feed it back.......

Have your say

The review team would welcome your views about the consumer protection regime, and how it can be improved, as well as any examples of where it is or isn’t working.
If you would like to share your ideas or experiences, please contact the team on 020 7215 0325 or [EMAIL="consumerlawreview&#64;berr.gsi.gov.uk"]consumerlawreview@berr.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL].

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

So, feed it back.......

I did that after sending the post - oh, and after de-ranting it!

If we can get others to the same sort of thing, who knows, we may even get heard.

whitewing

EdnaCloud wrote: »

I did that after sending the post - oh, and after de-ranting it!

If we can get others to the same sort of thing, who knows, we may even get heard.

Fantastic! I will send one too when I have more time.

roversforever

Hi,

I haven't posted for a while, but have been keeping up with the thread. I have used the advice on this forum to direct my efforts at a refund. I had paid using a One Account Maestro debit card (One Account being backed by RBS). We were one of the unlucky ones that actually attended the LNF site and were disgusted with it - as opposed to those who were unable to even attend.

My first three attempts met with no joy from One Account staff who essentially said "tough luck, a Maestro card offers you no protection at all - it is like using cash". I refused to accept this response and in the end One Account referred it to RBS complaints team, who they said would have more experience in this regard. I have now heard back from RBS who say exactly the same as One Account......
"There is no chargeback provision where the goods or servis=ces are either not delivered or of the standard you were led to expect. Maestro cards do not offer the same level of protection in these circumstances as VISA cards".

I intend referring this to the Ombudsman now, but before I do I would appreciate being brought up to date with info from anyone who paid using Maestro cards, and who have been successful at getting refunds from their banks. It would be especially great if it was an RBS bank...!

Thanks in advance.

Gorginoo

Afternoon all, just recieved my email reply from Trading Standards:

Dear ****

I write to confirm receipt of your recent email to this office. I note that you have now received a refund from your credit card company in this matter. As this is now the case, I do not think you would need to register as a creditor with Grant Thornton, as you have received your money back. You may however wish to contact them to check for what other reason your details may be required.

I hope this information is of use to you.

Yours sincerely

******
Advisory Officer
Hampshire Trading Standards

EdnaCloud

Gorginoo wrote: »

Afternoon all, just recieved my email reply from Trading Standards:

Afternoon to you, and thanks for your post.

**snip** I do not think you would need to register as a creditor with Grant Thornton,

Although it is good to get a reply, this is hardly a definitive piece of advice, I would be tempted to email them and ask for a *definitive* answer not *I think*. That is just not advice, it is opinion.

as you have received your money back. You may however wish to contact them to check for what other reason your details may be required.

Indeed one should, and as you have received a refund ask they why the hell they are holding your personal data anyway, if there is no possibility of you making a claim as a creditor. To be holding your details when there is no valid reason to would be an infringement of the Data Protection Act, and I would also ask, nay, demand, to know from whence your information came because the company that released it has no business to divulge your personal information under those circumstances and are also in breach of the DPA as far as I can tell. Who knows who now has your name, address and card details?

This may be over-reaction but I take the divulgence of personal information, where it is not necessary to normal business, as very serious.

whitewing

roversforever,

The only people I know paid by Maestro are megspinkgiraffe and ironed out, but we've not been updated by them.

However, we do know that all cardholders at Lapland West Midlands were refunded, so that must include Maestro debit card holders. So, maybe call or emailTrading Standards to find out why LWM got refunded and you as part of LNF didn't. (Report back, of course).

Also maybe email Grant Thornton and Trading Standards and ask them for their advice on the matter as you will need to understand whether or not to register as a creditor, and how taking your complaint to the Ombusman (which I think you should do) will affect your next actions! (You don't have to follow their advice, but would be interesting to see who says what). After all, you could lose out both ways.

Everyone else, do your chargebacks.

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

Also, remember to seek IMPARTIAL advice (maybe from Trading Standards, but ensure that they understand the advice MUST BE IMPARTIAL) regarding the implications of sending anything back to Grant Thornton in case it affects your ability to chargeback.