Hand back cmpany laptop? Dilemma

backwardsanddownwards

Hi – I was recently made redundant from my company of 14 years due to COVID.  They “phoenixed” the company – closed on Friday and opened on the following Monday under a new name – ditching their suppliers and staff leaving £13m of debt.  The owner is a multi-millionaire.
I claimed redundancy through the Insolvency Service, and received around half of what I would have got had they instead restructured and made me redundant.  They failed to pay my last two month’s pension contributions and are unlikely to.
They are now chasing me for the company laptop I have, worth around £900.  Should I a) ignore it and hope it goes away b) reply and tell them it broke and I chucked it, sorry 3) reply and try to buy it off them at a reduced price d) give it to them?
Thanks

JReacher1

You probably don’t want to steal a laptop. Doesn’t sound like a sensible decision. 

unforeseen

Give it to them
Why you would consider theft (1 & 2) is anybody's guess. I doubt 3 is a goer either as there is probably confidential information on it that they don't want you to keep. 
Also the laptop may be leased so not their property. 

MalMonroe

backwardsanddownwards said:

Hi – I was recently made redundant from my company of 14 years due to COVID.  They “phoenixed” the company – closed on Friday and opened on the following Monday under a new name – ditching their suppliers and staff leaving £13m of debt.  The owner is a multi-millionaire.
I claimed redundancy through the Insolvency Service, and received around half of what I would have got had they instead restructured and made me redundant.  They failed to pay my last two month’s pension contributions and are unlikely to.
They are now chasing me for the company laptop I have, worth around £900.  Should I a) ignore it and hope it goes away b) reply and tell them it broke and I chucked it, sorry 3) reply and try to buy it off them at a reduced price d) give it to them?
Thanks

Return it and retain your dignity.

Just because they live in the gutter doesn't mean that you have to join them.

Take this as a positive sign and look forward to finding a brand new job with employers who aren't scum.

That's my advice! 

Alter_ego

Is it the non existent company that wants the laptop or the new company?

backwardsanddownwards

Alter_ego said:

Is it the non existent company that wants the laptop or the new company?

The new company.  I guess they have "bought" all the IT off the old company...

nick74

backwardsanddownwards said:

Alter_ego said:

Is it the non existent company that wants the laptop or the new company?

The new company.  I guess they have "bought" all the IT off the old company...

That's very likely.

bradders1983

Tell them to pay your missing pension contributions and then you might consider it 🤣

unforeseen

bradders1983 said:

Tell them to pay your missing pension contributions and then you might consider it 🤣

I bet the company can get a theft charge through court before the op gets their contributions back. 

bradders1983

unforeseen said:

bradders1983 said:

Tell them to pay your missing pension contributions and then you might consider it 🤣

I bet the company can get a theft charge through court before the op gets their contributions back. 

Maybe. I would at least give them the runaround first, must really grate the OP that they can just restart a business like this.

Thrugelmir

Who is chasing you the Administrators or the new Company? 

Prepackaged administration normally has agreement of major suppliers who are creditors.