Independent Research Services

IvanOpinion

I am posting this on behalf of a friend who has recently received several mailings from a cmpany calling themselves Independent Research Services (IRS). They seem to be trying to sell some sort of investing/finanacial lessons with the backing of some big names including the likes of Nigel Lawson.

Has anybody heard of these people? Are they legit? Has anybody paid for the courses/training from them? Is it any good

Many thanks for any help

Ivan

dunstonh

There was a program on BBC2 during the week about a guy who gave lectures on how to invest on property. £3400 a lecture (first one free). During the lectures, properties were there for people to purchase as supposed good deals. It was basically a scam. They paid massive amounts for information you could get off the internet and some ended up with duff properties. Most couldnt afford it but were still plunged into debt to buy.

Now, I havent heard of this IRS but there are a couple of companies with a similar name on the FSA register but not the same name. They could be legit but you need to remember that lectures/presentations are usually there for you to be sold something and in non-regulated areas, all sorts of scams are sold this way.

innovate

I'd be very weary about them - I believe they are just another clever money-making outfit that sells online courses/e-books that promise to show you how you can build a fortune. And you never know, Lord Lawson might well get a cut [of your money] for letting them use his name.

If your friend wants to use them, first thing he might want to check is whether they belong to any of the recognised industry bodies, or are regulated by the FSA etc.

Edited: I believe they are a Ltd company, so you could check for more info on them (e.g. who the Directors etc are) in the Companies House Register but the search on this site only works weekdays.

carnet

IIRC, IRS have been going for many years and, AFAIK, are a completely legit financial/investment training outfit who used to (and probably still do ) send out their courses by post in monthly instalments.

Think I remember seeing some of their training material almost 20 years ago and it looked OK - if a little basic and generalistic for all but relatively novice investors - but it would be, wouldn't it .

blinko

anything that offers you big money for small money is a scam !! if it wasnt he wouldnt be there telling you about it.

carnet

blinko wrote:

anything that offers you big money for small money is a scam !! if it wasnt he wouldnt be there telling you about it.

Have you actually seen any of their stuff to justify your rant about scams ?

IIRC all they are "selling" are LESSONS in the basics of finance and investing ie similar to what you could probably obtain cheaper from a few Jim Slater type books.

Milarky

http://www.touchoxford.com/business/list/bid/3371360

'no email, no website' would be a small outfit then?

blinko

carnet wrote:

Have you actually seen any of their stuff to justify your rant about scams ?

IIRC all they are "selling" are LESSONS in the basics of finance and investing ie similar to what you could probably obtain cheaper from a few Jim Slater type books.

its people like you who end up paying these scammers and complaing that you got done over !

isasmurf

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IvanOpinion

Thanks everyone
How the heck is it that Ivan was able to start an argument ourside of DT :rotfl:

Ivan

carnet

To quote the facts, rather than some ill-informed opinion of "scams";

"IRS and Independent Research Services are trading names of Charterhouse Communications plc. Reg. in England no.3242649. Reg. Office: Arnold House, 36-41 Holywell Lane, London EC2A 3SF.

"The group publishes personal finance and mortgage related magazines and directories for private investors and professional advisers and an educational home-study course on personal finance as well as being engaged in bookselling to professional practices and institutions"

"Advisory Board
Peter M. Oppenheimer, Chairman
Kevin Goldstein-Jackson
Walter Sinclair, FCA"

Anyone with any degree of knowledge of the UK personal investment industry should be familiar with at least the second named.