Just seen this:

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/632669-7m-missing-at-stockport-debt-manager.html?news_section=4148

My goodness it is terrible, people should go to the police.

Nancy

The Financial Conduct Authority replaced the OFT in April 2014.

Fleeing to Spain may not have been a good move, with European Warrants being available to the UK authorities now.

Oh I didn't know they had a new title, as usual nothing gets past me;o)

I have just been using the contacts there I have had since last year but I will call them and talk to them, just to see what they can advise.

Re. that family, lets hope they get their comeupance, I realised they were dodgy in their handling of my account but I never imagined they were this bad.

Nancy

Bluestone Claims of Stockport I believe is also part of this disgraceful lot.

They were also talking about FSF and the rest on Moneybox on Radio 4 this lunch time.

Administrators said they have a lot to go through re the trading of FSF and the rest.

DG

Well I just got a txt from +44 7860 035861:

''BEGBIES appoint PLATINUM MANAGEMENT the official financial solutions provider for DEBT HELP & ADVICE customers.

Reply HELP for an Advisor to call you tomorrow.''

So they are using FSF contact base in double quick time...I think someone should tell them that a lot of these people would be very happy to get a call from one of their advisors, regarding all the money they are owed from FSF !!!!!! Are they stupid ????

Just incase anyone was in any doubt about what this company has done here is the link to Moneybox on radio 4

The saga continues

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/what-debt-firm-7m-ask-3802115

that's is truly disgusting

bit like our mate from Link.

dx

She should be jailed.

Anyone who did get a result from them should be thanking their lucky stars.

Yes she should and all their assests taken as it seems the whole family is involved.

I personally thank my lucky stars everyday DD but mainly I thank Bane of Banks, Lord Tiger Putin, Diamond Girl and a couple of people who helped me, inc the OFT.

I would be sat here over 8k poorer if I hadn't realised in time started to pursue things and I just couldn't have done it by myself.

They really should be jailed as they really do destroy peoples lives and I hear a lot of the staff have been screwed too which is a disgrace, as they were only doing their jobs.

Terrible business

The whole family should be they are all involved in it one way or another, sisters, aunts, uncles, sons and daughters and the others who just changed the name are as bad as they knew exactly what was going on

From the FCA: http://www.fca.org.uk/news/debt-help-advice-first-step-finance-customers-stop-payments

Debt Help & Advice Ltd and First Step Finance Ltd have stopped trading and been placed in administration. Debt management customers should stop making payments to these companies and Primary Business Solutions Ltd.

If you have a debt management plan with Debt Help & Advice, First Step Finance or Primary Business Solutions you should stop making payments to the company immediately. You may have to contact your bank to ensure these payments are stopped.

Read more at the above link

From the FCA: http://www.fca.org.uk/news/debt-help...-stop-payments

Debt Help & Advice Ltd and First Step Finance Ltd have stopped trading and been placed in administration. debt management customers should stop making payments to these companies and Primary Business Solutions Ltd.

If you have a debt management plan with Debt Help & Advice, First Step Finance or Primary Business Solutions you should stop making payments to the company immediately. You may have to contact your bank to ensure these payments are stopped.

Read more at the above link

nancysmile.

I have unapproved your post for the following reasons.

1: It is a commercial site - we cant just go hoovering up statements from their site without permission

2: We do not permit 100% copy and paste from other sites in any case.. link and 15% quote

3: The FCA will no doubt be updating their site with any information that people will require.

My apologies Citizen B, I didn't realise.

Nancy

No worries.. just didnt want you to panic about a missing post !

the administrators report which can be found on the companies house website is damning

- apparently it had been going on for years

they stole systematically every penny paid in by clients,

they lied to the regulators and then the guy who "bought it" didn't in fact do anything and

he had known what they were up to for at least 3 years

They funded their son in The Debt Professionals and their 3 children as shareholders in Pick a Pay Day and

they still own a business that their son runs which hasn't been mentioned anywhere

Christine Whitehurst owns Bluestone Claims Limited and funded it,

her son is the MD her daughter,

and sister work there

and her husband is the marketing consultant

:mad2:

I hope they go to jail for what they have done

I hope they go to jail for what they have done

I have just been sent this if anyone is interested. Its from last July

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/debt-management-directors-disqualified-for-taking-client-funds

I hope it is OK to post this

.......and here is an article about the son

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2626127/hollyoaks-star-nikki-sandersons-businessman-boyfriend-in-government-probe-over-his-ppi-compo-firm/

Avoid these lowlifes

All fee paying DMPs are the same

Most are run by ex dca staff or their mates

Well here at last

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today banned Adrian and Christine Whitehurst, former directors of debt management firm First Step Finance Limited (now dissolved), for dishonestly misappropriating client money.

Over 4000 customers lost a total in excess of £6m as a result of their actions.

Between them, the Whitehursts ran First Step Finance, a debt management company licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) from 2007 to 2013, until the OFT revoked First Step’s licence taking effect in October 2013.

The OFT found that First Step had deceitful, oppressive, improper and unfair business practices.

The FCA took over the regulation of consumer credit in April 2014 and has now banned the Whitehursts from any involvement in regulated financial services activity.

The FCA has also referred the Whitehursts to the City of London Police, who are considering the matter.

First Step’s clients were largely vulnerable individuals who went to the firm for help to pay off their debts.

The firm told customers that it would build a ‘pot’ of money for each customer and that it would use this ‘pot’ to make a full and final settlement of their debts with the customer’s creditors.

First Step received monthly payments from their customers, who were told that the money would be held in a ring-fenced account (as required by the OFT).

However, the Whitehursts in fact used clients’ money to fund their businesses and a luxurious lifestyle.

They spent over £500,000 on holidays, bars and restaurants,

including stays at five-star luxury hotels in Marbella, Venice, Vienna and Greece;

over £200,000 on luxury motor vehicles, including a Bentley, a Range Rover and a Ducati;

and significant sums on luxury brands, including goods from Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

Over £1m of cash was transferred to Mr Whitehurst for his personal use.

In addition, over £1m of client money was used for the benefit of firms associated with the Whitehursts

and over £2.2m of client money was used to fund First Step’s expenses.

https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-bans-debt-management-couple-misappropriating-client-money

adrian-whitehurst-2017.pdf

truly a disgusting pair

lets hope the police seize assets and these poor debtors get something back

or atleast get their debts wiped..

I bet 99% of the debts are with DCA's anyway and are totally unenforceable anyway.

great work Nancy