Howard Cohen is no more!!!

[pookeymonkey]

No he is not dead, but they have merged with another solicitor to form Cohen Cramer. As such Howard Cohen & Co are only listed with the Law Society under organisations and as having one office in Leeds, with no registered Solicitors at this address.

 

The address they are using on stationary to collect CL Finance debts no longer exists with the Law Society and should be questioned if recieved.

Complain to the SRA if they can't give a reasonable explanation.

 

Leeds law firms Howard Cohen and Cramer Richards announce merger - Yorkshire Evening Post

 

CohenCramer Solicitors

 

The Law Society - Find a solicitor

 

Also Companies House lists them as being dormant up until July 2008 with overdue accounts since.

There is also this - Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off

which I dont understand.

 

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/97043cfcb1df72f38cc1d46d19b76850/compdetails

 

 

Pookey

Edited March 4, 2009 by pookeymonkey

[pookeymonkey]

In addition I have just found this!

 

DX Online Directory

 

So it looks like the DX No quoted on 'Howard Cohen'

headed paper is actually belongs to the Lewis Group.

 

The plot thickens.

 

Pookey

[pookeymonkey]

Finally got a disclosure list through from 'Howard Cohen', fortunately this is part of a Court Order which also states that I should be allowed to inspect the documents on this list.

 

This gave me a golden opportunity to do some more digging!!!!!!!!!

 

So I put on my best 'confused and don't really know whats going on voice' and phoned 'Howard Cohen'. After a quick intro, which involved giving a refernce number and no security questions - not even my name! I established that the 'Credit Agreement' they are relying on is a microfiche copy and they do not have the original - but thats another story! We then proceeded on to the main purpose of my call -

 

I said 'Can I come and have a look at the documents?'

 

HC - quite shocked 'You want to come to the office and look at them! I can send you copies'

 

PM - 'No thanks I would like to see them in person'

 

HC - 'Oh ok, we are open 9.00 - 5.00 Mon - Fri'

 

PM - 'Can I just drop in?'

 

HC - 'No you had better make an appointment'

 

PM - 'Ok I will see what I am up to next week and call back. By the way where are you so I know where to come?'

 

HC - 'Our address is Lawrence House, Riverside Drive, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4DH'

 

PM - 'Thats the same address as The Lewis Group, isn't it?'

 

HC - 'Errr yes. We have and office in the same building'

 

PM - 'Thanks bye'

 

Put phone down to the sound of cogs whirring as she realised she had been scammed for the information I was really after - their address.

 

So now we know 'Howard Cohens' real address in Cleckheaton, not the PO Box they hide behind. Who would have thought it would have been the same as The Lewis Group?

 

Pookey

[pookeymonkey]

They were asked by Court Order to disclose all documents that they will be relying upon only documents they have are

 

Copy of the microfiche copy of the 'Credit agreement'

copy statements 'various'

copy of notice of assignment

 

The rest is copies of letters either myself or the Court has written and I already have these.

 

 

I am going to start a new thread regarding this claim as it is dragging on and should not have been allowed to get this far. All will be revealed!

 

Pookey

 

PS They also missed the Court Order deadline by 3 days, and sent the docs 2nd class (so they obviously dont care). I am going to ask that their claim is struck out - as the Court order said I could if they don't comply.

[pookeymonkey]

Now I have their address I have just found this -

 

Howard Cohen & Co | InterSolicitors.co.uk

 

So they are advertising themselves as solicitors, no mention of Cohen Cramer and still The Lewis Group DX No. Still no record of them at that address on The Law Society website.

 

Also their stationary is headed 'Howard Cohen & Co. Solicitors' not just Howard Cohen & Co. Small point but surely they should be called one or the other.

 

Still Im almost ready to put my complaint to the SRA.

 

Pookey

[pookeymonkey]

Click on the link and scroll down to see a letter from Howard Cohen dated 2002.

 

FIRST FAX MESSAGE 22 MAY 2002: YOUR REF: COH/7404/001226-7 ON BEHALF OF LEWIS DEBT SERVICES BRADFORD UNITED KINGDOM

 

Spot the Email address - [email protected]

 

God bless the internet!!!

 

Pookey

[pookeymonkey]

I agree.

 

I am working on a letter to be sent to the SRA detailing the argument you make above and the lack of clarity in their listing on the Law Society website. I will also go to my local Trading Standards next week to seek advice.

 

Pookey