Fastline Legal

G_Hamley

Does anyone have any information or had dealings with Fastline Legal who operate from Spain offering to recover money lost to timeshare scams.
Or anyone had success in recovering funds from these scams..Thank you...:)

magpiecottage

If they are trying to get you to do this from the UK they need to be regulated - and aren't.

Report the matter to consumer@claimsregulation.gov.uk

G_Hamley

:)Thank you very much for your help..I had similar reply from an independant in Spain..Graham..

Catherine_Taylor

If it is to recover money paid to resale companies and such like, and you did it on your credit card, you can probably recover it yourself through a Consumer Credit Act claim with your credit card provider. Remember that you will be claiming for misrepresentation by the supplier (verbal) and not breach of contract. Also, taking money upfront for a timeshare resale is illegal as per the European Timeshare Directive.

If they say they will get money back for a timeshare you have bought, see if it fits the criteria for a credit card claim. If not, I would say that the costs of going to court in Spain to recover monies prevent most people from doing it, and there is only one legitimate company that does it. Before paying anyone to undertake legal action on your behalf in Spain check them out with the Law Society in Spain, or ask your family solicitor to call them to make sure they are bona fide registered lawyers. I think you will find that this company is not a registered legal operation.

Good luck.

G_Hamley

Thank you Catherine. It is not a credit card deal..It was a time share scam carried out in the UK by a firm who had there office in Gibraltar CASHBACK EUROPE.. Fast Line Legal got our number from somewhere and cold called from Spain, claiming to be able to get the money back with interest as the scammers have had their assets siezed..They want money upfront to go to court in Spain, but from what I have read about Spanish lawyers it is not worth taking the risk, but thank you for your input

moonmaiden1

I paid £750 to Fastline Legal in late 2013, by credit card as they suggested, but could not get back when I enquired last year from my cc company because it was a click and collect transaction, even though click and collect provided details of the payee.

Had the lawyer checked by Spanish consul in London (luckily am very close to them and they are helpful). Lawyer is genuine, on the Spanish Bar and they spoke to her - however, as we well know there are dodgy registered lawyers.

Fastline are at a genuine address and Donna Smythe is always very helpful, not always easy to get hold of, but will call back. Last July she asked for POA as going into court gateway. She said get from consul, much cheaper -and it was, only £20.
Consul say Fastline may be for real as they have done POA's for them for a long time and scam companies usually disappear sooner.

Who knows!

Anyway, the latest scam is this: got call from Lisa Barrett in "foreigners court completions dept" in Malaga and was asked to contact Louise Martin to release an award of 16,950 Euros. She had a mobile number (34-602 418 361) and said it was "a walkie talkie for use outside her office". I checked with Donna at FastLine, who said it was a SCAM, and they had passed details to the police. She said a few people had parted with money, one elderly man as much as £3000. So I played along with it to get more info. Sting came when Louise asked for £998 to "release funds in full". She wouldn't send email or any paperwork and said if it wasn't released by next Monday, the "funds would be reallocated". So at least I got bank transfer and beneficiary details, gave her fake details for my account.

bradroack

this is very nice information

moonmaiden1

Got follow up call from Philippa Wood asking why I wasn't paying yet to "release" my award. I said must have some sort of official email, etc, so she gave address and phone number of UK Monetary Services, Greville St, London EC. who she said would be dealing with funds release. Rang them, no answer.
Gave info to FCA and will report to Action Fraud.
These scams get more and more prolific and persistent and still netting so many victims.