BMG Browne Mackenzie = Fraud?

doingwhatican

Hello forum. Not sure exactly where to post this, but I thought I would try here first.

My father has recently made some purchases with the company BMG Browne Mackenzie. He has purchased supposed land near Garshake Road in Dumbarton.

I have searched the web for this company and not found much about them really - their web site is www.brownemackenzie.com - and is not finished - which does not bode well. Also in with the letters is another letter from a revabell investments limited - searched of this company pop up lots of different offices all over the place - but nothing substantial.

Does any one have any knowledge about this company and their selling of this land.

I would appreciate any information anyone has about these companies and whether they are above board or not. My instinct tells me they are not - and I have at least got my fater to agree to not part with any more money.

Many thanks in advance

Matt

G_M

What purchases? I've only had a quick look at them but myinstinct screams standard land sale scam.

Has he purchased a 'buy to let'? If so, did he buy it from them, or did they advise and he bought on the open market?

Or has he purchased land/residential property? Again, from them?

I don't know the specific company, but it is always unwise to buy from a 'land company', or to invest on their recommendation, without knowing exactly what you're buying and making your own enqiries/decisions.

They do not appear to be FSA regulated, nor members of any reputable property association (ARLA etc)

doingwhatican

Hi G_M. My father has purchased land from them by the Sq Ft. He has done three transactions with them so far. All of the documents he has got seem to be very vague about the exact land - there are only a memorandum of sale and an agreement letter.

G_M

Has he seen the land? If not why not and why is he buying it? Where is it? Did he use a solicitor? Has he got, or seen, the Land Registry Title deeds?
Are you saying he's bought 3 plots of land? To do what with? Wait for planning permission to be granted in 85 years at which point the value will go up? (ha ha! - oops sorry, very common scam this).
Or has he bought 3 houses?

Or is he investing in a 'property fund'? (ie one like a unit trust that pools all investors money together in order to invest in (usually commercial) property?

Given that a) he seems to have handed over money (I dread to ask how much) and b) the documants are in your words 'vague', I would take all paperwork to a solicitor. Or independant financial advisor if it is a property investment fund

Jowo_2

The Whois record lists some contact details but when I googled them, they belong to a web designer and web hosting company, so might just be the people involved in the website production..

http://whois.domaintools.com/brownemackenzie.com

Go to the Companies House website and use the Webcheck function to find that company. It shows it was formed in Sept 2007 and its returns and accounts are overdue. You can order reports for a pound or two to find out the company directors, etc. Looks like there was once a motion to strike off the company which was discontinued (reference in the reports to a DISS40 document).

Here's a link to another forum that's discussed it

http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=11857702&sort=postdate

The FSA have them listed an unathorised firm "Below are listed the names of some firms and/or individuals who are not approved or authorised by the FSA to conduct regulated activities. Please use the links below to view alerts issued by the FSA. Not all fund raising activities require authorisation or approval by the FSA."

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/unauthorised.shtml

If you analyse some of its pages in Copyscape.com (which detects plagiarism of website content), you will see a strong correspondance to other sites (i.e. straight lift).

For example

http://www.brownemackenzie.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=193

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39263377455 (you may need to expand content -the original domain name it links to is now inactive).

and

doingwhatican

I think it is land without planing permission that is meant to become more valuable when permission is granted. You right, he has not seen this land, and no solicitor is involved.

SouthCoast

Google Street View reveals that aliens have landed at the north east end of Garshake Road. Potential buyers?

Suggest that the tyres are removed from the road before the EA takes their marketing photos.

MobileSaver

Browne Mackenzie Ltd has an outstanding CCJ of £9188 from Apr 2009. There was also a motion to strike them off the Companies House Register in Feb 2009 but this was cancelled in May 2009 (possibly due to the CCJ.)

Their accounts are almost a year late in being submitted (the company has never submitted any accounts) and their annual return is over 6 months late.

Doesn't bode well I'm afraid.

Jowo_2

doingwhatican wrote: »

Hi G_M. My father has purchased land from them by the Sq Ft. He has done three transactions with them so far. All of the documents he has got seem to be very vague about the exact land - there are only a memorandum of sale and an agreement letter.

Did he even meet anyone from the company or did he just send them funds on the strength of a few pictures and a phone call.....?

http://boards.fool.co.uk/MessagePrint.asp?mid=11857502

G_M

doingwhatican wrote: »

I think it is land without planing permission that is meant to become more valuable when permission is granted. You right, he has not seen this land, and no solicitor is involved.

Very well-known scam. Planning permission will be granted..... never.

MobileSaver

Jowo wrote: »

Go to the Companies House website and use the Webcheck function to find that company. It shows it was formed in Sept 2007 and its returns and accounts are overdue. You can order reports for a pound or two to find out the company directors, etc.

I've already downloaded these details so in MoneySaving tradition I'm happy to PM the files to the OP if they'd like me to.