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

trisontana

Two very good newspaper articles here :-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scammed-by-santa-attraction-closes-six-days-after-it-opened-1055550.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5299242.ece

essexlander_2

EdnaCloud wrote: »

Given the current state of suspicion keeping off main roads may be sensible. With regards to your short staff shortage, what about cutting off some unmentionables at the knees? They'd be about the right height then.

sorry i did'nt reply ealier i've been looking for my saw now another problem has occurred the van wont start oh well another lapland idea down the pan

GomerPyle

I've just read the first article trisontana and what a brilliant summation.

I was particularly interested in this part

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scammed-by-santa-attraction-closes-six-days-after-it-opened-1055550.html

QUOTE
It's quite a mess, and it all began, as far as official records show, on 12 August, when a company called Lapland New Forest Ltd was registered. Its sole director was Victor Robert Mears, a 65-year-old member of the Brighton Mears clan and related to Mary Mears, Conservative leader of Brighton council. In the 1980s, he served four years for tax evasion, during which he gave evidence about the Brinks Mat robbery on behalf of the defendant Kenny Noye, later the M25 killer. Mears, then a gold trader, had links to the case through another trader called Derek "Little Legs" Larkins. These are, to say the least, unusual antecedents for a man who planned to spread festive joy.
UNQUOTE

Clearly a bank providing facilities to any customer is legally obliged to know their history and track record, and did this customer have 'previous' or what ? Surely a connection with one of the most notorious crimes of the century didn't pass them by, did it ? Surely the account manage would have had to acquire his own added descriptor to his name at the preliminary account opening session and briefing, when sitting amongst a group of people with 'name furniture' in the style of Derek 'Little Legs' Larkins.

"Let me introduce myself. I am your account manager - Horace 'Credit Comes Easy' Postlethwaite (name ficitious)" It seems that the bank were bedazzled to be in such emminent company.

I bet there were more cauliflower ears and flat noses than you'd have at a Bernard Bresslaw tribute meeting, and that details of where the bank vault was located were kept well hidden.

All I'm suggesting is that the bankers of Mr Victor Mears played a crucial role in this debacle in providing the financial facility that was used to perform this 'tour de fArce' and cannot expect to lurk in the background without sharing responsipility for the fiasco. The effort and trouble card holders wll have to go through is bad enough, but there is no reason that all the others should be overlooked.

Where do the bankers stand ? Answer me this.

Marvellous article, brilliantly written. All praise to those who deserve it.

EdnaCloud

essexlander wrote: »

sorry i did'nt reply ealier i've been looking for my saw now another problem has occurred the van wont start oh well another lapland idea down the pan

No probs M8 I've got my chainsaw. Should do the trick. Re the van - get the reindeer to bump start it. Oh, and once it's going don't stop and turn the engine off, just pull over and tick over in neutral while we take the dosh. Then we don't have to risk it not starting and as a bonus we can be on our way before anyone has a chance to complain. Don't worry about fuel if it's diesel I know someone who knows someone in the Midlands who gets red - dead cheap.

Best Jason Bognop II (no relation)

GomerPyle

I'm thinking Financial Services Authority if the bank don't choose to comment.

A lot of people have suffered and it shouldn't have happened.

... and I've found another interesting connection, but I need to do some more investigating first.

The public statements some people have made, represent nothing more than cynically spitting in the faces of people who have been exploited.

Sorry - I'm angry again.

Rockerfella

Quote GomerPyle

"Excuse me asking Rockerfella but how many tickets did you buy and what was the cost, how was it worked out and did that include children and the ages ?"

My outlay was small in comparison, only £70, 2 adults and an 18 month old baby, so under the £100 limit.

Quote cynical-lady

"Thanks for cheering me up Rockerfella ......
I too used a Barclaycard MasterCard and after several calls to India! last week I was led to believe that the money would be refunded."

I was lucky enough to speak to someone in this country, but we didn't even get the point of discussing my particular transaction. I told him I'd been caught up in the mess and he immediately stated that “section 75” wouldn't come into it as the tickets would be considered separate items. I asked who do I complain to regarding the banks stance on this and he referred me to the head office address.

I will fill out the standard form so they at least have my claim on file and I shall be using your advice GomerPyle for the next correspondence with the bank.

I did visit Matchams yesterday, as we had already booked a Travelodge and arranged to catch up with friends as well as visting Lapland. I parked at the entrance opposite a police van which had at least three policemen inside. While I was taking photos of the defunct Lapland signs, as evidence for my credit card claim, three people approached and asked me to leave, stating I was on private property and committing a criminal offence(!) I replied with “like the one that’s already been committed here?”. They then said if I didn’t go immediately they would ram my car back onto the road and proceeded to drive a Landrover at us in a threatening manner. All this with my wife and baby in the car, and in front of the police officers!

Oh the joy of interacting with some companies and their people! Mind you I didn't expect to be greeted with a Ho Ho Ho. Needless to say we decided not to stick around and discuss the matter in a cordial manner!

essexlander_2

EdnaCloud wrote: »

No probs M8 I've got my chainsaw. Should do the trick. Re the van - get the reindeer to bump start it. Oh, and once it's going don't stop and turn the engine off, just pull over and tick over in neutral while we take the dosh. Then we don't have to risk it not starting and as a bonus we can be on our way before anyone has a chance to complain. Don't worry about fuel if it's diesel I know someone who knows someone in the Midlands who gets red - dead cheap.

Best Jason Bognop II (no relation)

a ha could be up and running after all then as for the red diesel its all its ever known since i had it so if i can rustle up the reindeer get the van started were ok then btw i got a job lot of toys cheap straight of a boat at the docks they were great gifts for kids and if we only charge 20 quid to look round the van we're gonna make a profit job done

GomerPyle

One thing that sums up this fiasco is that the perpetrators aren't very bright, and threatening a family with a baby in front of police just shows what you are dealing with when you scratch off the thin and implausibe veneer of their mannered concern.

No sense in putting yourself or your family at risk. though you are only following the official advice. There is now plenty of photographic and written evidence on the internet to back up any valid claim that the site didn't remotely measure up to the advertised service.

I don't think anyone should write off the money they paid out, not even if they pushed notes through the proprietor's letter box, and why should anyone lose money on such a pathetic and miserable scheme ?

Some may not wish to take the time and effort involved, which is their free choice, but those who are angry, feel cheated and are prepared to make the effort, then go ahead, or at least 'keep tuned' as I don't think this is the final position. I could be wrong, I'm only human, but this isn't the normal customer/trader dispute.

EdnaCloud

essexlander wrote: »

a ha could be up and running after all then as for the red diesel its all its ever known since i had it so if i can rustle up the reindeer get the van started were ok then btw i got a job lot of toys cheap straight of a boat at the docks they were great gifts for kids and if we only charge 20 quid to look round the van we're gonna make a profit job done

If it's only ever run on red then that might be the prob. The dye in the fuel eventually blocks the injectors, ho hum, anyway a blast up the A12 to Colchester (or A14 to Ipswich) and then hack it fast on the A14 to newmarket should clear the injectors. Trubble is once past there it's slow in every direction but that may be a good start for Lapland-to-go.

I also got toys from a very cheap source in Devon a while back. Theyr'e a bit water damaged and salt stained so haven't been able to shift them from my Luxury Goods Emporium (PObox 69, Shed2, wassock trailer park, NN37 5UP) so between us we have a good start. But we're not in anyway related yeah? See you in the lay-by at Needham.

Dun some costings and think the charge should be 30 - if we undersell the punters will think we are scammers like the rest, but with a higher price tag it'll seem far more [STRIKE]genin, jenune, genune,[/STRIKE] real

Best
Rod Bognopper III (no relation)

EdnaCloud

GomerPyle wrote: »

One thing that sums up this fiasco is that the perpetrators aren't very bright, and threatening a family with a baby in front of police **snip**

Rockerfella, where were the police at this time and were they informed of this alleged incident? If so what was their response?
This is an important point, if your report as read is true then the police may have been negligent.

But I do agree with Gomer that it is not worth putting yourself or more importantly you family, at risk when dealing with these people.

I don't think anyone should write off the money they paid out, not even if they pushed notes through the proprietor's letter box, and why should anyone lose money on such a pathetic and miserable scheme ?

I also believe that everyone should take all action they are able to in order to recover monies lost by fraud. It is the lackadaisical attitude of consumers that these fraudsters often rely on, in these cases we have shown there is a 'consumer voice' so let's not lose that momentum and pursue the matter.

Gomer, is there a possibility of a 'case' action in this matter? I ask you, as you have shown interest and knowledge but of course if anyone else can respond to this question please do.

Some may not wish to take the time and effort involved, which is their free choice, but those who are angry, feel cheated and are prepared to make the effort, then go ahead, or at least 'keep tuned' as I don't think this is the final position. I could be wrong, I'm only human, but this isn't the normal customer/trader dispute.

Well said - keep up the pressure!

Edna
Fighting scams for 25 years.