The Norfolk hamper company thread

notanewuser

Don't get carried away. He can't be made personally bankrupt because it is/was a limited company. Similarly you can't get money put of him personally. If there's nowt in the company coffers then you'll not get money out of him.

It will come down to whether he continued trading knowing that he couldn't fulfil orders then he and his darling wife can be prosecuted and prevented from holding any future directorships.

sproggi

It might be worth making Trading Standards aware that this person has done this before and that they have also registered another company in their name.
If Tradings standards feel that it is in the public interest (i.e they are likely to set up other businesses then file for voluntary insolvency again and again), they may be willing to file a case with the courts to prevent him/them becoming directors again.
I know that it will not help the people that have been affected on here, but at least it might stop it happening again to others.

It is possible for anyone affected to take action through the small claims court up until the point that the company is dissolved (3 months after the liquidation is complete, although it is possible to request that the court delay the dissolution), but the chances of getting anything back are just about zero and you would be left with court costs to add to your losses.

kingfisherblue

I was one of the lucky posters who received all of their hampers, well filled and as advertised. I hope that everyone who has been let down receives a full refund, but sadly I doubt if that will happen.

As a limited company, as others have said, he has little or no personal liability. I am a voluntary director of a charity and registered limited company, and my liability is £10 if we 'go under'.

Somebody (sorry, can't remember who) posted a few days/weeks ago that they didn't think he would be trading much longer. For those who have lost out, I'm really sorry that they were right. I hope that Neil is prevented from ever opening up another company again, taking people's money and failing to deliver. It is immoral, disgusting, and beyond comprehension.

Good luck to everyone in getting refunds, whether via paypal or banks. It's a real shame that the one person who should be refunding money is not going to, and that he has benefited from people's faith (and cash) in ordering from him.

bilko1234

please be aware mr alvey is a person of interest to the authorities at the moment , i cannot go into details but i would suggest that if you think he has committed any offence if fraud, continued trading while insolvent, deception etc. then go to police station and make a formal complaint. he made a mistake of answering some people with his personal email addresses with no company disclaimer, and making promises which can be classed as personal rather than business as no mention in emails was of the nhc

sharnad

Tiniest bit about all this in mirror yesterday

Daffy22

For those that recall the twitter account, could it be holiday abroad time do you think? Just close down for a week or two?!

antrobus

bluepatchworkcat wrote: »

...
I have spoken to the Insolvency Service and there ARE NO INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS against this company. Insolvency ran some searches, including Companies House and The London Gazette, and no steps have been taken against him, and he has taken no steps to declare himself insolvent either. Effectively he is still trading, he has NOT OFFICIALLY CEASED TRADING.

I spoke to Citizens advice, and because he is still officially trading, we can still pursue him for refunds.....

On a point of information. It is not uncommon for companies to simply cease trading and not bother with any formal insolvency proceedings; the owner/directors simply don't file any accounts or annual returns with Companies House, and wait for them to strike off the company.

soolin

The thing that made me uneasy about this was the newbie posters registering to support Neil and those telling people not to be hasty about filing charges as he was a good man.

I am glad a few people did manage to get PayPal claims in and I am so sorry for those who look like they will lose their money. The only thing I am surprised at is that the 'depression/stress' card has not be played yet.

Lip_Stick

Sorry to hear about people losing their money. I can imagine you're so angry about the situation and I don't blame you.

Talking about his insolvency, a previous firm I worked at had the bank pull the plug for any more funding, so practically made the company insolvent although it wasn't on paper at the time. I got told that was it, no money, so to go home, and was sent on my not-so-merry way. Perhaps this is what has happened with this company?

luxor4t

soolin wrote: »

.......... The only thing I am surprised at is that the 'depression/stress' card has not be played yet.

No doubt that will be next.

After all MSE forumites "threatened" him and scared him by asking for their goods, so he could not get the hampers out. It will all be his customers' faults. Again.

Added: I wonder where the sock puppets have gone?