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

Charco_2

Very good Spaceman, that was annoying me! That does make more sense, I know Churchwood and Kingsgate!

GeorgiaMB, your best option now - if your debts are £9k or so - might be to contact your creditors and thank them for holding your interest and charges and explain that after recent trouble with your Debt Management company you would like to bypass WG and make your payments directly to your creditors instead... the benefit of this being that more of your money will go direct to your creditors instead of paying a management fee to a go-between company!

Then simply set up payments to each of your creditors for the same figure that was going to each of them anyway - or even a little bit more since there's no management fee!

It is likely that your creditors will try to harrass you for more money then but you do have rights too. Firstly you can insist that all correspondence is done in writing and not by phone. You will find plenty of help over on the Debt Management board of these forums from people who are also running their own DMPs!

EDIT: An IVA is an agreement that lasts for five years, occassionally six. Certainly not 9 or twelve years!

debtinfo

Just wanted to issue a note of caution, what charco said is usually right about the Insolvency Register but it is currently up and down due to an IT change over and so you cannot 100% certain right at the moment that the information is fully accurate

debtinfo

also if you want to ring them up and ask them if it is an IVA, if they say it is ask for the court number which all IVA's should have, then you cn ring the court and make sure that it is registered

GeorgiaMB

Well folks, after checking all the fine print (literally - it's tiny) it is indeed an DMP and NOT an IVA. Therefore I think it's the financial obudsman I need to be complaining to and the police - not the Insolvency Practioners Policy Unit as I'm not sure they can do anything for me? At this stage I am doubtful that I will see the money KB stole returned to me but I can kick up a stink, cancel my agreements with both parties and perhaps I might get somewhere.

My biggest concern right now (which you have addressed, thanks Charco) is where to go from here in regard to my creditors. I think you are probably right about managing it myself. I was panicking thinking "I can't get an IVA and I can't without serious concerns take out another DMP... what choice do I have except to declare myself bankrupt?" Looking at it, I think now I have learnt my lesson from my DMP and seen how a company would do it, I will probably quite easily manage to do it myself. My only concern is that my creditors will begin to get really nasty about this once they have direct access to me. I guess the beauty of this plan is that if I get a windfall of cash, I can pay back more and all of that will go towards paying off my debts, rather than lining some crooks pocket. I will check out the DIY DMP board and see what I can see from that.

Thanks for all your help guys, I really appreciate it!! I will sleep easier tonight.

a3girlieb

This has made very intresting if not gut wrenching reading. My post earlier was regarding the same problem regarding WG and KB. I get calls, texts and emails constantly EVERY DAY from both, sometimes upto 10 calls. I too have not replied/answered any calls to either.
I will certainly be looking into the different calls of action posted on all replies above.
GeorgiaMB i am in exactly the same boat as you. I didnt take an IVA out with WG so it must have been an DMP. I will need to check back onto paperwork.
Looking through paperwork from both companies, i did notice one name stand out which has jumped from WG to KB..a 'Mark Balgh' or something like that. Could this be the disgruntled employee??
GeorgiaMB have you noticed his name on either paperwork from these 2 "companies".
I cancelled my WG SO when KB came up with all there "legitimate paperwork" and they havent taken any money from me, yet do still call/text/email. BUT, i have previously paid KB when it all first happened with the "takeover" as i posted previously. This payment was made by a transfer i did in my bank (Natwest). Since being on here and seeing everything unfold i stopped making my transfers. I never signed any agreement for KB to take any money or in face ever gave them my authorisation...yet in the last couple of days ive noticed activity on my account.
KB have taken £100 out of bank account,,not in one lump, but on the 10Nov a payment of £30 went out, followed by another for £50 and lastly a payment of £20 went out. Can they do this??? As i have said, i never gave them authorisation to access my account, never signed their SO or DD form!
I will indeed be visiting my bank and CAB 1st thing Monday morning for advice on how to handle this situation, what can be done and wether there is anyway out of this.
Truely saddened & disheartened by all this.

GeorgiaMB

Don't lose heart a3girl!

I don't think Mark Balogh IS a disgruntled employee... despite them not really being able to help me, the IPPU responded to my complaint today - they too are very confused by this. They did however notice that there IS a link between the two companies, at one point or another they both have been run by Mohammed Buksh and unsurprisingly he worked for WG before switching to KB. HE IS THE LINK, if anyone is the disgruntled ex-employee stealing client files and taking them to a new company, it's him.

I have spoken with CAB many times and they have been more than helpful. They have told me that I can take KB to the small claims court without the need for a solicitor to retrieve my money. This will cost £30. And I fully intend to do this. In the meantime, do what I have done and get a new account and close your old one. Have you spoken to your bank? You should do that if you've not already done so, explain the situation, cancel the overdraft on that account (if you have one) explain that KB are taking money without your authorisation and ask for a new account to be set up to avoid this... they cannot take money from an account which is empty. If they refuse, I recommend Lloyds who have been nothing but amazing over this and I now have a new account which neither company is aware of and therefore cannot steal any money out of.

Here's a list of people I have complained to so far...

1) Knightsbridge
2) William Goldberg
3) Financial Ombudsman Service
4) Insolvency Practioners Unit

You cannot approach the FO till you have complained directly to the companies themselves and they will make you wait 8 weeks before they will take action on your behalf, so COMPLAIN NOW and don't bother waiting the 8 weeks. Sorry, but in that times my accounts will have defaulted even more than they have already so I'm not prepared to wait and will complain to anyone who will listen and take whatever action I can MYSELF.

I complained to the IPPU (as above) who have forwarded my complaint to the Office of Fair Trading and the The Service’s
Company Investigation Team (by this I believe they mean the Financial Obbudsman Service - but I am happy for them to try as well, perhaps the FOS will realise I'm not going to shut up and lie down) which will be able to investigate and act against companies who are not acting in the public's best interest.

I honestly feel having found all this out that William Goldberg are not actually to blame in the defrauding stakes, I'm not sure they realise what has happened and by who. It is this Mohammed Buksh and Knightsbridge who are the dodgy crooks. William Goldberg will be able to sort them out and hopefully do something about Mr Buksh, that's not really our place.

HOWEVER, Lloyds also sent me my credit report recently... it details all my creditors, the balances and what payments have been made to each... guess what? SURPRISE SURPRISE WG have NOT been making monthly payments to my accounts. They have been stealing my money and not using it for my advantage, so all bar one of my creditors have removed the freeze on interest and I now owe MORE than I did before taking out the plan. I could handle owing the same amount JUST, but not MORE. I am supposed to give them 4 week's notice and a month's fee to cancel my contract. I will give them 4 week's notice and 1p as a fee. This is making a mockery of their T&Cs I realise, but if they have not upheld their end of the contract and have basically stolen money from me, why should I uphold my end of the contract when previously I have been brilliant at making my payments?

So these are the steps I think you should take;
1) contact your bank straight away if you haven't already done so, explain the situation and ask them to get the police involved on your behalf.
2) Cancel any SOs or DDs with EITHER company
3) Write to both companies via recorded delivery complaining and explaining what you are doing (cancelling the SO) and why. Threaten them with whatever you like - small claims court, bad press, cancellation of your contract etc etc but make it something you will follow through with if your demands (the return of your money and immeadiate cessation of harasssing calls) are not met.
4) Ring the Financial Ombudsman Service and explain. Yes, they won't be able to act immeadiately but they will record the complaint and send a letter to KB saying "we know she's complained, do something about it, or else"
5) Close down your old bank account and create another - this should be easy if you have explained to your bank WHY you need this doing.
6) Go and speak to the CAB to see if you are elligible for their free DMP and get any advice and support you can, taking all paperwork with you.
7) If you're NOT elligible for their free service, speak to PayPlan.
8) If they won't take you on, speak to CAB for advice on how to create you own DMP and get started straight away, writing to your creditors etc. Get agreements in place BEFORE moving on to step 9.
9) Cancel all contracts with KB and WG, giving them 4 week's notice but NO MONEY. If they want to argue it, let them... it is unlikely they will win if you stand firm. They may accept it and walk away if you stand firm and say "leave me alone or I will take you to court for harassment, fraud, breach of contract AND I will speak to whatever media sources will listen."

Generally if you tell a company something that they think you don't know (that if they fail to record their accounts again, Company's house will close them in the case of WG and that Mr Buksh is a crook in the case of KB) then they will shut up because it puts you in the driving seat and gives you power. You stop being the stupid victim they have defrauded and let down and become the very intelligent consumer who knows her rights and won't be taken for a ride and won't be silenced easily... infinitely more threatening than a simpering wimp who will take whatever rubbish treatment is thrown at her because she's scared of her creditors!

Oh, I would also talk to your employer. Unless you work part-time, like me this investigation and trying to sort this mess out is taking up a lot of time during work hours with visits to my bank, visits to the CAB, phone calls, letter writing and while I hope it wont come to this... court appearances. Plus, they might have some kind of counselling service for employees which will help no end, just to have someone to chat to if you need it. Employers are infinitely kinder to staff members who are upfront and honest about what they're struggling with than those who lie and hide because they're ashamed. You don't have to give them a blow-by-blow account, just a short "I've been defrauded and money has been stolen from me. I'm really sorry but I will need to be popping in and out to see the CAB, my bank etc and I'd really appreciate it if you could be flexible enough with me to let me make the time up at some other point" is all that you need to tell them.

Good luck hun! Think we'll both need it!

debtinfo

Hi georgia, Company Investigation Branch are a part of the Insolvency Service, they investigate live companies and have the power to apply on behalf of the Secretary of state to apply to court to wind up companies that are acting fraudulently.

here is a link to their website

http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/cib/index.htm

MatyMoo

This sounds like a right pickle

But you also need to look at how you can move forward to get your debt situation resolved.

Please have a read of this thread as it has invaluable advice for people in your situation:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2077631

a3girlieb

GeorgiaMB, thank you. I will be getting onto this straight away. Fingers crossed will get this sorted!!

a3girlieb

Following up on whats been happening, i have since contacted all my creditors and am awaiting detailed statements on what has apparently been paid. Although i worked out i should only owe approx £2000 now i have since received a solicitors note from one of my creditors saying i still owe £7459 to them. So it appears my payments have not been met

I see Knightsbridges website is up and running, where as before it wouldnt let you access it

knightsbridgefinancial.co.uk

and William Goldbergs has made a reapperance, although "site is under construction"

williamgoldberg.net

I have launched complaints with The FOS, Insolvency Practice & Companies house in reference to everything that has happened.

I did find another forum posting regarding William Goldberg on here too:

(forums.moneysavingexpert.com) /showthread.php?t=2549717

I complained to WG and KB and asked them not contact me through endless phone calls but all correspondence would now need to be in writing...ive yet to hear from them.

I am in talks to pay my creditors directly or i may look into Payplan