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

whitewing

I wonder if the comments are true:

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/mysun/comment/view.page?storyId=2244504&submissionId=712282&nav=jump&pageNo=1

whitewing

I see the My Comments page of the Scottish Sun is experiencing technical problems to which an engineer has been called.

The comments relate to housing benefit and disability benefit and are repeated (but not verified) here:

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4130973.What_happened_to_the_Lapland___900k_/#show

whitewing

Our advice for any card-paying ticketholder is to do a chargeback and register as a creditor.

If you paid by other means, or you are owed money by Lapland New Forest Ltd, then do ensure you register as a creditor.

Here's Gomer's chargeback guide:

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

You should 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).

Additionally, if you know where any of the 'cash payments' have gone, then let us know. I'm curious.

EdnaCloud

whitewing wrote: »

Our advice for any card-paying ticketholder is to do a chargeback and register as a creditor.

If you paid by other means, or you are owed money by Lapland New Forest Ltd, then do ensure you register as a creditor.

Here's Gomer's chargeback guide:

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

You should 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).

As usual, sound advice from whitewing and as it says at the masthead of this forum
'Anyone can post so always exercise caution when acting on info' I think I can speak for many who have contributed here that all advice provided has been good, reasoned, and above all, accurate. I do hope those such as whitewing, gomer, codger et al continue to offer their opinions which seem to be consistently correct and to the point.

Additionally, if you know where any of the 'cash payments' have gone, then let us know. I'm curious.

I am presuming that whitewing refers to the large cash payments made without receipt as suggested by the HMRC official at Monday's meeting. (Sorry if this is not the case, but the point I wish to make is valid in any case).

It has been quoted that large sums of money were paid to suppliers and service providers to the failed company, one that comes to mind is the small matter of GBP40,000 being paid to the company providing the snow effects. Now, firstly we must accept that we are using at best third party evidence (i.e. reports in the media from Monday's liquidator appointment meeting) at worst circumstantial evidence.

However, if it be the case that this large large amount was paid without receipt, and the fact that very early in this thread the company involved made an honest an open statement (thus evidencing themselves as a professional organisation), one can only assume that the receipt, or more likely the invoice, has been conveniently lost by Victor Mears, self confessed illiterate. Presumably he did not know what it was. I am of the opinion that the company in this example would not accept 40 grand in used oncers from a pickey spiv, and that their records will be pristine in this matter, thus enabling the authorities to establish that Mr Mears has failed in not only his duty to HMRC but in many aspects of the requirements of duty as a director of a UK limited company.

The sums of money that Mears has claimed as being remitted to suppliers with no receipt beggars belief and once again I urge the authorities who may be observing this to take action to freeze all personal assets now. There is adequate reason to do so now, given the result of the meeting on Monday and as I have said, further prevarication will only allow Mears to secrete more of these monies, so action is needed now.

On a mission now,
anyone who wishes to extract detail or quote me in full to any official body whatsoever is not only welcome to, but also actively encouraged to do so. Please pass on these sentiments to Dorset Trading Standards. Brighton Council (hah hah bloody hah! we all know who the frickin leader is don't we) Your MP and any newspaper whatsoever.

I will try and draw up a list of places this needs to be raised to assist all here.

Any party who wishes to take this matter up with me personally is welcome to PM me.

yorksrabbit

I have been following this thread with interest and the great advice from posters whitewing and ednacloud.

Could I just say that one of the people assigned by Grant Thornton is a forensic accountant of repute, and it is no coincidence that this appointment has been made, more that Grant Thornton are well aware of what is likely to have happened and were so briefed before becoming involved (not by Mears but by, I guess, The Royal Bank of Scotland).

Mears may think himself clever and also anyone who advised him (finessing receipts and fabricating expenses seems likely to require more skills than Mears possesses) but this is now in its end game. Trying to pretend that everything was done with cash and is therefore untraceable won't wash with either a forensic accountant or the police and courts, which is the direction Mears and any close associates are heading now.

whitewing

EdnaCloud wrote: »

I am presuming that whitewing refers to the large cash payments made without receipt as suggested by the HMRC official at Monday's meeting. (Sorry if this is not the case, but the point I wish to make is valid in any case).

Edna, yes, I was interested in any amounts really. Looks like at least £4.99 was spent on a new jumper for the the creditors' meeting, but what about the rest of it?

As you said, I am sure that Darcey Crownshaw, Managing Director of

Snow Business International Ltd
The Snow Mill, Bridge Road
Ebley, Stroud
Glos, GL5 4TR
Tel & Fax: +44 (0) 1453 840077
www.snowbusiness.com

who provided the snow, according to electromonkey's post 91 of this thread, will be only too happy to provide full copies of the paperwork of his dealings with Lapland New Forest. Now, the impression I had at the time that all the problems erupted was that Snow Business was a reputable company, who strive to produce a high level of customer service, and they certainly seemed prompt to answer emails from concerned customers of Lapland New Forest. I am sure their records will therefore have full details of all cash payments made. In fact, they've probably already been in touch with investigators.

whitewing

[quote=yorksrabbit;18927419
Could I just say that one of the people assigned by Grant Thornton is a forensic accountant of repute, and it is no coincidence that this appointment has been made, more that Grant Thornton are well aware of what is likely to have happened and were so briefed before becoming involved (not by Mears but by, I guess, The Royal Bank of Scotland). [/quote]

Thank you yorksrabbit.

RBS are not off the hook yet as far as I am concerned, and I hope that Grant Thornton are willing and able to establish how the payment facility became available to Lapland NF.

whitewing

I remember from the babyandbump forum (or one of the 'mummy' forums) about a photographer who was supposed to be going to work at Lapland New Forest. I'm absolutely certain he said that he has spoken to one or other of the Mears a number of times. If only we could get copies of their mobile phone records, I'm sure we could google all the suppliers from the phone records. I mean you wouldn't buy big quantities of crackers and wrapping paper without negotiating the prices.

(Don't forget to do your chargebacks, folks).

whitewing

Now I also seem to remember a media report that the agency who supplied (some of) the workers had the sense to get (a couple of weeks of?) payment in advance. So again, they'll be able to supply copy paperwork to Grant Thornton too.

whitewing

It was the 'nativity scene' that has always stumped me. Truely no offence to anyone, but I didn't understand why they felt it necessary to ensure they included a nativity scene.

But reading some of the comments from early news reports, it seems that they may have been under the impression that they didn't need VAT registration for a cultural event, such as 'Christmas'. I feel fairly sure that some of the early comments were put on by peple associated with the organisation of Lapland New Forest.