Help!!! Just found out i've been defrauded!!!

GeorgiaMB

Hi All,

I'm panicking here. I have an IVA with William Goldberg. I received a letter in Sept telling me they'd changed their name to Knightsbridge with all my account details correct and my creditors info correct.

They sent me a letter asking me to update my Direct Direct with their "CORRECT BANK DETAILS" after a little research on the internet to see if this was a fraud (and finding nothing), I duly cancelled my old SO and set up a new one to Knightsbridge. I never thought to call WG and check because I was just about to leave the house for a week's holiday and wanted to get it sorted quickly before I left (literally, I was on my way out of the door and stopped to read the mail, saw it and thought "I should get this sorted before I go").

My payments leave my account on the 1st of the month.

I went away for the weekend to my in-laws. Left Friday morning (29th) and came back today (31st) to a letter from William Goldberg saying that any correspondence saying they'd changed their name was to be ignored. I immeadiately went online, to cancel the SO before it left my account in the morning bound for the apparently fradulent Knightsbridge account. Only... it's already gone.

In a panic, I rang my bank to see if they could recall the transaction as it's not due out till tomorrow. They told me if it was fast tracked (to arrive within 2 hours) probably not, but if it hadn't been there was a chance and I should ring back in the morning to speak to the SO team to see if I could get that sorted and if not, they might be able to open an investigation for me.

I haven't yet called William Goldberg OR Knightsbridge because it's Sunday night (I returned home at 9pm).

My questions therefore are simple;

1) Why didn't WG call me as soon as my payments did not show up? They usually do this without fail, to the point of being annoying (even when I have never missed a payment, occasionally they will misplace one and accuse me of not paying...IDIOTS).

2) How did "Knightsbridge" get so much information about me? They knew who my creditors were, how much I owed each one, name, age, bank details, address, account details with WG, when my payments were made, the split that my money was divided into, how much I'd paid WG and when, when my plan started etc etc etc. Stuff only WG should know. This surely wouldn't show up on my credit history??! Not to this depth??! Yes ok, maybe who I owed money to and how much and that I have an IVA with WG, but surely nothing else??!

3) Knightsbridge's Mode of Opererandi is IDENTICAL to WG, down to the envelopes they send you. hmmmm....

3) Which is fradulent? Knightsbridge? Or WG saying that Knightsbridge are fradulent? Nothing smells right about either side of the coin.

4) If it turns out that Knightsbridge HAVE been defrauding me, will I be liable to pay WG the money they've swindled me out of??! Please god no, I can't afford to pay twice!! I wouldn't have an IVA if I COULD!!!

5) Has anyone else come across this? If so, what happened? What was the resolution?

6) Can I use this as a reason to sack off WG/Knightsbridge completely? Or am I stuck with them? Never received amazing service from them and I'm feeling extremely insecure right now!! I want a company who will look after me, not freak me out like this!!

Thanks

Charco_2

That's interesting!

I doubt many people will have much to offer you on this one, it's certainly a completely new one on me!
The name Knightsbridge does ring a bell but not for fraud!

Q2 I dont know where they've gotten their info but the Insovency Register would have some of that info!

Q3 It's not uncommon for IVA companies to be mimicked. There has been a common fraud going round where some companies were set up using copied logos and official sounding names to helpfully inform people that they had been mis-sold IVA (using info lifted from the Insolvency register) and that if they wanted to take action to contact them...

Q4 If it turns out that your are too late to recall the fraud, i think it will be your fault and you will be liable for the outstanding amounts. You'll have to pay the IVA but your should be able to defer it for a month and simply be a month behind... you wont be expected to suddenly the magic the money from nowhere!

I wouldn't advise that you be in too much of a hurry to sack off your IVA - even if your company are below par! To leave an IVA it's usualkly as simple as missing three payments... unless you have vast amounts of assets, it is unlikely that anyone will pursue you for bankruptcy.

What would you do about your debts then though??? Have you a better plan up your sleeve???

a3girlieb

I have also had the same happen to me. i have had Knightsbridge on the phone and William Goldberg asking for payment, which used to go to WG but since having all the same happen as above query i started paying KB. Now I have both companies ringing me saying 'dont listen to WG, we've taken them over DO NOT PAY THEM you pay us' and then i get WG ringing saying the same.

I really dont know who im supposed to believe here and who im supposed to pay to..if its not KB then they have already taken money off me..if it is WG am i supposed to pay them on top of what ive 'lost' to KB.

I would be happy to switch companies now to be honest. I do not feel secure having 2 companies fighting over my payment with both having my personal details inc bank details. Its enough stress and strain to pay the loan and get on top of things as well as now having this to deal with.

Who do i believe when both are saying 'its us not them'.

debtinfo

Ring them both up, ask who their Insolvency practitioner is, and who their regulator is then go to the regulator and ask them to sort it out

Charco_2

very good advice Debtinfo!

GeorgiaMB

Hi Guys,

Charco, Debtinfo's advice WOULD seem like good advice... only I've done just that (after consulting with the CAB)

Guess what? Neither WG NOR KB are registered/licensed to be able to provide IVAs.

I've written to both companies, PLUS the Insolvency Practioner Policy Unity (the guys they should be registered with) to complain and have issued them an ultimatum... SORT IT OUT, DECIDE WHO I OWE THE MONEY TOO AND GET LICENSED OR I AM TAKING MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.

The CAB advised me to cancel my Standing Order to BOTH companies and change my bank account (if they're clever enough to access all our info, I wouldn't put it past them to steal directly from our accounts even after the SO has been cancelled), which I have done. I have threatened KB that if they don't sort it out and refund my money if they are found to be acting fradulently or put pressure on me in ANY way to pay them, I WILL be going to the press with this and as many people as possible are welcome to join me. I knew I would not be the only one and as a 5 month pregnant lady, I'm not sure that Joe public would take kindly to the way I've been treated and I'm sure their business would be negatively affected. We are already vulnerable, we would not have taken out IVAs if we weren't, we don't need this!

I was also advised (by a solicitor) NOT to communicate with EITHER company via phone in respect to this but to put EVERYTHING in writing and tell them what I am doing. If they call, politely say "If you have anything to tell me, please put it in writing because I have taken legal advice and been told NOT to talk to you on the phone. Goodbye" That way, they cannot wriggle out by saying things like "we never said that" or "you said this". If you speak to them 2 things will happen 1) they will try and convince you that they are the legitimate company 2) they will pile the pressure on to get payment. KEEP EVERY SINGLE LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER YOU EVER RECEIVE FROM THEM. I was also told that we should keep the money we would normally pay to one side, so that when this is resolved we can pay the legitimate company what we owe. But for god's sake, don't tell them that!!

If we play by the book, they can take us to court if they like, but they won't win.

If your account is held with Lloyds, then perhaps we can band together? Lloyds is getting the police onto this for me so the more people complain to Lloyds about this the better.

Is there anyway we could get this thread put somewhere on the site where EVERYONE can read it? Perhaps it could be put in the weekly email newsletter? The more people who are aware that William Goldberg and Knightsbridge are NOT licensed IVA providers, the better and the more people we can find to back up our case, the stronger chance we have with the media. I feel this is VERY important that as many people as possible are aware and perhaps this will bring them to their knees and make them realise we are NOT idiots and our threats are NOT idol.

Thanks for your support guys!

GeorgiaMB

I've just sent a message through to the email address for personal news items.

I wonder if Lloyds would be interested in getting some positive press and helping us out? They were recommended to me by William Goldberg as they carry a good cash card account, so I'm guessing they have a lot of customers complaining about the same thing? They've been brilliant with my case, kept me informed at every turn, opened me up a new bank account without a problem and have gotten the police involved.

Perhaps they would be interested in helping us out in some way, perhaps making a statement to the press to let everyone know how many of their customers have been affected.

Barclays too were recommended to me when I first took out the IVA, so I'm betting a few of their customers have been affected and they might be willing to back us up?

Both banks might even write to their customers who have SOs with WG and KB and inform them of what is happening and how to complain and get a resolution?

With all the bad press surrounding banks, I'd be prepared to bet that they would jump at the chance to get in some positive press for a change.

Anyone have any ideas how we could go about getting them on board?

JokerDurden

Not sure if this is the same William Goldberg but from this link it doesn't look good:

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/william-goldberg

Basically says Active - Proposal to strike off

GeorgiaMB

Oh, I should also mention that I've checked out BOTH companies on company's house... guess what? They're BOTH legitimate companies and KB did TRULY change their name from William Goldberg.

HOWEVER, William Goldberg are STILL a company in their own right. If they HAD been taken over by KB, the company ID numbers would be identical... they're not. My guess is KB are the fraudulent company and have somehow gotten hold of our details. Which STILL means that WG must have GIVEN them that info at some point, breaking the Data Protection act and losing my faith entirely.

The solicitor thinks that 1 of 2 things has happened; 1) There's a hostile take-over involved between the companies which hasn't been resolved 2) Some little idiot moved jobs from WG to KB and took a load of client info with him.

Under the freedom of information act, included in my complaint letters, I have asked BOTH companies to provide me with all the data they hold me, where they got it from, how it is used and who they have given it to and evidence to back that all up. We will see who has given my information to KB and boy are they in for a world of pain!

Charco_2

I'm fearing the worst here!

I'm beginning to suspect that your are not and never have been in an IVA - run a check for your details on the insolvency register:

http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/eiir/

My suspicion is that you have been in a DMP with a cowboy operation (WG). A "partner" in the WG set-up has broken away and taken a copy of their client database with them as they walked out the door. This would obviously have all the details that you mentioned in your first post. And now the two companies are in a struggle to convince you that they're the real slim shady!

Your fraud doesn't simply date back to being contacted by this comany Knightsbridge, it goes back to the start of your relationship with WG - if they made you belive you were in an IVA and not simply a DMP... there is a huge difference!

NOW, all of the above is just speculation by me... you can confirm some of this with a search of the Insolvency register!

You would have very little come back however... the unfortunate thing is that DMPs are dangerous and simply unregulated! A cowboy company sets up for an "easy" buck every day!


JUST READ YOUR POST ABOVE: Can I just reconfirm to you that WG are NOT registered Insolvency Practitioners. There is a company based around Manchester called Knightsbridge something or other who ARE Insolvency Practitioners but I'm willing to bet it's not the same company!

GeorgiaMB

JokerDurden wrote: »

Not sure if this is the same William Goldberg but from this link it doesn't look good:


Basically says Active - Proposal to strike off

Thanks for this!

Proposal to strike off means the company will cease to exist. "When?" is the question though!

What I'd like to know is, how does this affect us? I've read after some searching that we should contact Company's house, but we pay money TO them, we have no financial interest in them except who we will pay money to now and whether what we've already paid will be counted by our new provider!

I've just read that in most cases you cannot change IVA providers without a court order. Anyone else think that all of the above is reasonable grounds to obtain one?!