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

CazandCo_2

:T :T :T :T

Excellent Whitewing. thank you very much.

whitewing

Purely out of interest, I would like to know if anyone lurking intends to go to the creditors' meeting on 16th Feb?

Now I think we can be reasonably confident that you can complete the claim form and still proceed with a chargeback. Has this fact changed anyone’s mind?


If you are not going, do you know anyone who intends to go? (Either a ticketholder, or anyone else who is a potential creditor)

If you aren't going, why not?....

Do you know of anyone who is a potential creditor (potentially owed money by Lapland New Forest Ltd) who has NOT received a letter from Grant Thornton? (If so, tell us - but don't give personal details - and also, get them to email Grant Thornton: [EMAIL="Lapland.Liquidation@gtuk.com"]Lapland.Liquidation@gtuk.com[/EMAIL])

It seems quiet on here now – have you all given up on Lapland?

whitewing

Here's Gomer's chargeback guide:

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

You can still register as a creditor if you do a chargeback. If you get a refund as a result of the chargeback, it would appear that your bank then becomes a creditor. (Best to just advise Grant Thornton via email above if you do register as a creditor and then get a refund via your bank).

If you do nothing at all, then you are helping create an environment where people can fail to deliver on their promises and never be accountable for their actions. And where regulatory bodies and other third parties are unable to put in improvements in their processes to support consumers. One of the biggest problems that was raised in this thread was incomplete or misleading information with regard to your rights as ticketholders. You must do something!

(Phew, I need a lie down).

whitewing

On the facebook thread,

http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52567450258

2cr fm radio are looking for someone who visited Lapland New Forest and who hasn't had their refund yet. Click through to the thread, if you're interested in contacting them.

whitewing

codger wrote: »

*snip*

The key section in the Grant Thornton letter which Steve received is as follows:

"However, I have been informed by the Director that there are no monies available to repay creditors.

"The main purpose of the creditors' meeting will be to vote for the appointment of a liquidator to deal with the winding up of the company.

"The appointed liquidator has a duty to consider the conduct of the director and would need to fully review the company's trading activities."

*snip*

Grant Thornton's reference to the liquidator's role is intriguing, because it's pretty much an open invitation to creditors to communicate the facts of their own experience to her / him.

*snip*


Steve: thanks again for the GT letter.

Just a reminder of a previous post of codger's.

If you purchased tickets, or are potentially owed any money by Lapland New Forest, you need to get in contact with Grant Thornton. Even if you don't get your money back, your experience can help build a picture for the conduct of the director. Spread the word.

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

Just a reminder of a previous post of codger's.

If you purchased tickets, or are potentially owed any money by Lapland New Forest, you need to get in contact with Grant Thornton. Even if you don't get your money back, your experience can help build a picture for the conduct of the director. Spread the word.

I do think the statements made by GT, apparently on behalf of the director(s), stating 'no monies are available' should NOT be taken as a reason not to claim. What that statement may mean is that a) the director(s) have really got no monies in their possession, but b) Streamline are holding frozen assets, *or* c) that the director(s) CLAIM there are no monies in their possession but, as in b) above, Streamline are holding frozen Assets, *or* worst case scenario a) as above applies and d) Streamline disbursed all monies to the director(s). I personally believe this last case is unlikely and it is frustrating that the GT statement is rather vague about all this - probably because they just don't know at this point.

The best case would be that the majority of funds are frozen by Streamline and GT are able to justify 'ringfencing' those for customers as a special case, and that the conduct of the director(s) allow their assets to be seized, although this happening is doubtful.

whitewing

Edna,

I googled Grant Thornton yesterday, and it seems to be a common statement of theirs at the point they get involved to state that 'no monies are available'. I haven't worked out what they expect to achieve by stating it. Whether they simply think that they are setting creditors' expectations? I must admit it comes across to me that they are trying to decrease their own workload by getting a message out that it isn't worth claiming so don't bother.

I haven't looked at any other liquidators so I don't know if they all do it.

Anyway, my advice is still to register as a creditor by filling in the simple form that Grant Thornton sent to you, and sending it back. If you didn't receive any paperwork, and Lapland New Forest owes you money, then email the Lapland.Liquidation email address a few posts back. The only time you shouldn't register as a creditor is if you have already had a refund from your bank, even if it has been temporarily credited, as it is very unlikely to be claimed back (and if it is, then you can escalate if necessary).

In addition, if you paid by card, put in a chargeback claim with your bank. If they come back with any nonsense that they can't refund as you are registered as a creditor, we know from Grant Thornton's email that that would be nonsense, so you can escalate and take to the Ombudsman if necessary.

I would think the more people with chargeback claims in progress, the more likely it would be that the liquidator deems it necessary to ringfence funds, as it would be much less hassle for the liquidator to get a proper process in place for the 9000 or so ticketholders.

Here's Gomer's chargeback guide:

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

If anyone does go to the meeting tomorrow, please can you let us know what happens.

Hopefully The Sun and Bournemouth Echo will send reporters along. Be a shame to not have a news report if it gets 'heated'.

whitewing

2CR FM radio are also looking to speak to people who are going to the creditors' meeting:

http://www.2crfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=1162496

whitewing

I just did a different search than normal and look what I found:

CD stands for Consumer Direct.

The Board was informed of the fact that CD received a huge volume of calls
complaining about Lapland New Forest resort which has received substantial
media coverage this week. This has cost CD circa £30k.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/board/Dec08.pdf

That was from the Minutes of The Office of Fair Trading Board Meeting of 4th Dec 08, so that will be more than £30K now.

Shepherdess76

Hello everyone

Just a quick message to say that if you couldn't get into the meeting, we're going to be doing live updates here

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4128878.LAPLAND_NEW_FOREST__Creditors_meeting/

(assuming they don't change their mind about letting us in!) and if you're on Twitter you can follow it with the tag #laplandnf

Here's hoping Victor Mears shows up!