13 February 2015

A UK company advertised properties on third party property search websites and on two websites operated by or connected with the compan.

The Court heard that the investigation was met with deliberate confusion and obstruction to prevent its business and affairs being fully investigated and that despite the obstruction, accounts were identified which had received over half a million pounds all of which remains unaccounted for.

According to the sole registered director of the company at the time of the investigation, a Ms Kimberley Grice (who the investigators were not able to meet and who an employee of the company stated she had never heard of) had decided to sell the company’s business to one of its employees, a Mr Shakiru Knight (a former employee of Credence) who was going to trade as a sole trader.

The investigation found that the company was a continuation of the business previously carried on from the same address in Catford by Piper London Limited (trading as ‘Credence’), one of 14 connected companies which were all wound up in the public interest on 4 June 2014. The companies were linked in that they were found to be vehicles for the business interests of Mr Charles Gordon, an undischarged bankrupt.

Welcoming the Court’s winding up decision Chris Mayhew, Company Investigations Supervisor, said:

“This formally brings to an end a disreputable estate agency business carried on by this company which failed to co-operate with the investigation and deliberately sought to mislead the investigation as to who managed and controlled its affairs.”

“The Insolvency Service works closely with other regulators to protect the interests of the public against unscrupulous companies and I would like to thank Lewisham Trading Standards for their assistance in bringing this company’s affairs to an end.”

“The company engaged in unfair trading practices and complaints made to Lewisham Trading Standards included allegations of taking deposits and attempting to retain administration fees in circumstances where the property had been let to someone else or the transaction did not proceed; giving false information as to why properties were available as to price, availability and/or condition of properties; taking an unreasonable length of time to refund deposits; advertising properties for sale when not a member of an estate agent redress scheme as required by law and making false claims of membership in this regard.”

“The Insolvency Service will not allow companies to operate in this way and will investigate abuses and close down companies if they are found to be operating, as here, against the public interest.”