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Property Concepts UK

Property Concepts UK review: An employer severely mistreating and harassing employees! 186

R
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12:00 am EST
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Writing it again because of one ugly word I used in the last one so not having got through. This company used to employ me for 2 months. Already so much have I written on them that I don't feel like repeating myself. To cut the story short, they use "vulnerable" people to make money for themselves (e.g. longterm unemployed or foreigners as me who apparently have lower rights) and not pay them the due wages and bully them.

They run an ongoing recruitment process which is a mockery at the word "recruitment". Then after a few days 90%resign not getting paid. The others cherish hope to earn good money and strive still on. They can use every excuse in order to avoid payment of the wages.

For example their T&C's state that after you had visited the property, you must prepare fully formatted blunder-free Excel version of the inventory in 24 hours, and also send it with the pictures. Which is in most case not physically possible when you are given a couple of estates to visit a day. So you travel round london 9am-9pm and then you are "obliged" to sit and work through the night on your reports (remember - any blunder as even small misspelling can exclude you from paying in 100% and so can also the lack of photos or photos being not ideal - at their discretion). Next day to work remember!

If you have submitted e.g. 79 reports for the month behind you and you still are behind with a single one, or you don't have a set of pics for any one of the 80 lets say jobs, you will not get paid for the whole month. You will never see a payslip whatsoever. They give you small advances (as they call them) for survival - 150 pounds a week or every two weeks.

By the way, "advances" are money that are not yet due to workers (if you were paid for the last month and before the end of another). After money's due (after 1st month) the cash pays cannot be called advances if the 1st month wages wasn't fully paid out, isn't it? They are installments of money that's already been due to you for some time. And I had to beg them for these "installments" because I said I had no money for tickets to get round to properties and for food and rent.

The issue is now investigated by the employment tribunal. They will probably issue a default payment order. This is not it. Andrew (boss) want to sue me and get back of all those "advances" which asa whole amount to 1290 pounds and he somehow figured out himself the sum of 2000!

This is not it. I was multiple times called on my mobile and intimidated including using swearwords.

Also, he has many times blackmailed me that my payslip will not be done unless I finish this report or the other (but eventually he did not keep his promise when i did those reports). Those behaviors when I reported them to Jobcentre lady were described by her simply as harassment and bullying at work. There are proper paragraphs for it in the law!

Of course the excuse that I shouldn't have been paid those advances he came up with now is that i did not submitted my jobs in 24 hours time (above) and several of the jobs lacked pictures (which delay and lack of pictures he didn't mind AT ALL ALTOGETHER WHATSOEVER before my struggle for my due money with him started thru the Empl.Trib.). I urge you not to try start working for him and if you are an estate agency, I leave it to your wisdom and consideration whether you want to place orders with them for inventory makes or not.

I would better not if I were you. I know the inventory clerk of theirs are very good (me for example) but remember - it's a sly-very based company!

Update by Raphael
Jan 26, 2008 7:09 am EST

Jean Baptiste, are you considering legal action?

Update by Raphael
Apr 30, 2008 11:38 am EDT

wow I can see that the list of the wronged is gradually and continually increasing!
Darren Russell? Yes, it is definiately Andrew Carlton a few years ago on the picture.

Who would suspect they were employed by a crook and criminal.

And good news - Employment Tribunal issued me with a default judgemnt of late, let's see if he doesn't ignore even this one!

Update by Raphael
Jan 25, 2009 3:46 pm EST

I only wanted to say that Mr. Carlton has finally paid Darnell (he wasn't procrastinating very much) but he is still avoiding to pay the ordered money from the Employment Tribunal to me.

As I said at the beginning I was born in Poland and as a non-English person I was and am treated by him in the same way the non-white British people are, ie. worse than all the white-English employees (I don't have anything against them, but I do hate Mr. Carlton as the only English person [if only he IS English as I heard rumours he is of foreign descent, Middle East, I suggest?])

I have called the ### several times. He obviously "went on holiday" to Seychelles. Well, yes, he eventually economised sme money by failure to pay me.

I am sending the enforcement to the Bow County Court tomorrow.

Remember - do not trade with this fraudster, do not start working for him, don't be involved with him in any way if you want to stay on the safe side, steer clear of Mr. Darren Russell (Mr. Andrew Carlton), Mr. Davidson, Property Concepts UK in 10-16 Tiller Road E14 8PX, and Apple Properties and Homes Direct.

I have also made an appeal that the discrimination and bullying case be proceeded with.

I have too strong and irrefutable proofs to let him go.

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186 comments
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misterpool
, GB
Feb 29, 2012 11:34 am EST

Very few clerks are there longer than 2-3 months due to the payment issues and chaotic disorganisation. The amazing thing is that so many agents are actually prepared to use them, and i don't say this from any moralistic point of view but because the standard of their reports is extremely poor. They're nothing more than fraudulent jokers and pisstakers, claiming to provide a high quality service when in fact their reports aren't worth the paper they're written on. To the best of my knowledge they're still going and the whole operation - cleaning - maintenance - inventories - are all owned by them under different names, which is illegal under AIIC rules, tho' they're not members of the AIIC or any other professional inventory body so it doesn't affect them.

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BIGBOBG
London, GB
Feb 29, 2012 11:04 am EST

Does anyone still work for Churchill butler, or used to within the past year, I have some useful information regarding monies owed including tax that was not paid over. BTW is this company still running and are they using the same cleaning company. Please let me know. Bobby G

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J_Z
London, GB
Jan 04, 2012 9:33 pm EST

Is there a new company name ? Whats it called now ?

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lightergirl
, GB
Dec 20, 2011 11:06 am EST

'Providence Agent'? how did you find out about the new company. Ironically my friend was going to apply for a position with this company ! I can't believe it !

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Roge
, GB
Dec 14, 2011 1:10 pm EST

Yes I am interested in meeting and throwing this ### a long overdue beating.

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witchypoo
catford, GB
Dec 04, 2011 8:07 pm EST

'Andrew' has just took on new staff to keep up with S&D from the estate agents. You guys who are owed money should grow some BALLS. He knows full well you will not seek solicitors help as most of you are wimps. You have to threaten this person with a beating of his life he will never forget and that you will visit him every single day at his new plush offices until you get paid. It is my honest opinion you have only yourselves to blame, you came across soft when he did not pay you first time around, therefore he will keep on doing it you.

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Providence Agent
, GB
Dec 04, 2011 8:03 pm EST

http://www.tenancytransitions.co.uk/contact-us.php

Their office address coincidentally is also at:
145-157 St. John Street
London
EC1V 4PW

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Providence Agent
, GB
Dec 04, 2011 7:55 pm EST

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darren-Russell-aka-Andrew-Carlton-crook-of-unknown-current-name-lol/188087187885793

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Countess Cristo
London, GB
Oct 31, 2011 8:22 pm EDT

They're not with AIIC so aren't subject to their code of practice, if they were they'd definitely be breaking this rule:
"The Inventory Clerk will not have any financial connection with a maintenance, cleaning or similar contracting company."
Oakleighs & Castlewhite eat your heart out!
I've heard on the grapevine Andrew has already begun another inventory company which is a chip off the old Churchill block, naturally his name isn't involved in this one.

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mau2011
London, GB
Oct 30, 2011 10:21 pm EDT

hello,
worked for the as well, and they own us quite a lot as well...is there anybody interested in meeting and chassing these unscrupulous people?

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ronchester
Bedford, GB
Oct 26, 2011 12:06 pm EDT

Worked for him for about 6 months in 2008 and didn't get paid some months whilst others it was the incorrect amount and had to constantly chase and harass him. After I keft I took him to employment tribunal and found about 6 other claimants doing the same thing at that time anyway we all met up and then got our money owed but it took the threat of bailiffs and of a beating to force him!

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lightergirl
, GB
Oct 26, 2011 9:05 am EDT

DATE POSTED 18/10/2011
Job No:PAP/18485SOC Code:4133WageApproximately £10 per hour, see DescriptionHours16 - 40 per week, Monday - Saturday, hours to suit applicantLocationLondon, E14 E14DurationPermanentDate posted18 October 2011Pension detailsNo details held
Description
No experience necessary as training will be provided. Must be presentable and have excellent communication skills. Must be willing to travel around London, own transport not essential as most properties are within reach of public transport. Duties will include conducting inventory reports within empty residential properties across London. Hours to be arranged to suit applicant, between the hours of 9am - 6pm. Work is paid at £30 per report on average, reports usually take 2-3 hours to create.
How to apply
You can apply for this job by sending a CV/written application to Recruitment at Churchill Butler Ltd, recruitment@churchillbutler.com.
Employer
Churchill Butler Ltd

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LuckyNewwie
Norwich, GB
Oct 25, 2011 11:59 am EDT

I don't think the job advertisement above is for Property Concepts/ Addlefields/ Churchill Butler.

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lightergirl
, GB
Oct 24, 2011 11:02 am EDT

They are also advertising vacancies on the Job Site website for this company. I agree stay clear away from any of these jobs/vacancies advertised. BTW I have checked on companies house, looks like he has somehow persuaded two of his employees to take directorship of Churchill Butler and Oakleighs - they must me mad !

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Countess Cristo
London, GB
Oct 14, 2011 1:13 am EDT

I didn't say the recruitment company were knowingly part of the scam, just that Churchill Butler are using them to deceive jobseekers. Out of curiosity, why is this agency still advertising jobs for Andrew's companies on their website?

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DPSG
London, GB
Oct 12, 2011 8:11 am EDT

@countesschristo and @churchill_butler_are_conmen. Can I suggest you remove the comments regarding the recruitment company being part of the scam because that is wholly incorrect and defamatory. If you see my previous comments you will know I am not a fan of the man and cannot wait for his downfall but don't pull innocent people into it. The company address appears the same because that is one of the largest Registered Office addresses in the UK. Literally hundreds if not thousands of small businesses are registered there. It is not a trading address. Chances are they are probably owed more than you if his habit of not paying staff also covers him not paying suppliers! Focus on the main man and good luck in getting your money!

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Sectar
, GB
Oct 11, 2011 6:55 pm EDT

how the hell isnt the government doing anything about this man? its absolutely ridiculous! he should be locked up for a very long time. I would love for a group of us to go get him and make him cough up the cash...

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Churchill_Butler_are_conmen
, GB
Oct 11, 2011 4:20 pm EDT

Work-Relief is part of the scam. It's a bogus recruitment agency that's been set up to recruit a constant supply of unknowing victims to work for Churchill Butler/Addelfields/Oakleighs & Castle White. Ah, the irony of Work Relief's claim on their website that they "reward responsible employers!" If anybody needs proof of their involvement, here's their address listed:
http://www.wecando.biz/profile.php?bid=7359 - 145-157 St John Street, London EC1v 4PW, exactly the same as the new Addlefields address listed on their website recently & detailed a few posts above, tho' it's now been changed to a West End address as true to form, "Andrew" moves from address to address after not paying his bills...

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Sectar
, GB
Oct 10, 2011 2:43 pm EDT

Anybody still missing payment from this guy, we should all meet up and go visit him...

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Countess Cristo
London, GB
Oct 06, 2011 6:36 pm EDT

Churchill Butler & Addlefields are still at Docklands Business Centre, 10-14 Tiller Road, London, E14 8PX.
http://churchillbutler.com/
Andrew's email: clientservices@addlefields.com, reports@churchillbutler.com, headoffice@churchillbutler.com, customercare@churchillbutler.com
Here's the recruitment agency & advert Churchill Butler are using to deceive jobseekers:
Property Inventory Clerk
Recruiter Sarah Knight Trading As Work-Relief
E: sarah@work-relief.co.uk
W: www.work-relief.co.uk
Location London, South East England
Salary £30.00 - £100.00 per day
Sector Estate Agency - Other Estate Agency
Job Type Part time
Job ref no [protected]
Exciting and expanding property inventory company is expanding their headcount due to increasing work levels and seeks a property inventory clerk to help with the demands.
You will be conducting inventory checks in residential lettings properties across London at the start or end of the tenancy. This will include taking key photo's of the properties and their contents and descriptive dictation to a Dictaphone.
Full training will be provided (although any experience or exposure to property inventories would be a bonus!)
The ideal candidate must have:
Excellent communication skills
An eye for detail
Flexibility
Willingness to travel
Your own digital camera
Salary is dependent on how many inventory checks you complete. You can expect to earn between £25 - £35 per inventory depending on the property size.
To start this role won't be quite full time but this will increase in the future and as much work will be put your way in the meantime.
Work Relief
Rewarding Responsible Employers

The above comments tie in with what I & other employees have experienced, such as delayed wages or being underpaid, unreasonable hours, problems obtaining payslips, tax & national insurance not being paid, staff not trained properly, very high staff turnover e.g. the inventory clerks who "trained" me had only been doing the job for 2 months themselves, we have all since left the company. I also feel sorry for the estate agents who pay a large fee for Churchill Butlers inventory reports thinking they are hiring highly trained inventory professionals.

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Sectar
, GB
Sep 21, 2011 3:51 pm EDT

Anybody have Andrews Mobile number or email address for direct contact? If possible please forward to me or leave it here as I will be leaving him a nice message to remind him that theres a few bills he needs to pay off. Thanks

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Sectar
, GB
Sep 21, 2011 3:43 pm EDT

Witchypoo could you submit more information and maybe set up a email address we all can contact you on. I was scammed by Property Concepts a few years ago, took them to a small claims court and won, paid for bailiffs to get my money and they moved out of the offices in Docklands. Therefore i did not get a penny. I will be willing to take this further to watchdog and rogue traders as what they are doing is very very bad, hours of hard labour from hard working people and he rips them off without a care in the world.

Witchypoo why dont you submit this webpage to those places that you have contacted? I am sure they can blatently see for themselves how many people are unhappy with this cruel cruel man!

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witchypoo
catford, GB
Jul 11, 2011 12:47 pm EDT

URGENT ! URGENT ! URGENT ! URGENT !
This is the NEW very plush offices of Andrew and his staff
145--157 ST JOHNS STREET LONDON EC1V 4PW
[protected] PHONE
works@oakleighs.com
He now has over 10 staff, concierge, waiting rooms he now has added some 7 more estate agents to his business, and has even more Polish workers working for him now.
His business is going from strength to strength
All on our money.
This man has to be stopped. I am doing all I can but whenever I ring watchdog, OFT, Evening Standard I get the same message, "Are you the only compliant?" "are there more of people like you?"
I cant say Yes because they want names and addresses
So folks get of your backsides and start complaining either by phone or email, or old fashioned writing but whatever you do ...COMPLAIN

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Browndeutch
Milton keynes, GB
Jul 05, 2011 11:49 am EDT

He is currently running Churchill
Butler inventories, you can contact the slimy worm on [protected]

Call him and tell him what you think of him

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DPSG
London, GB
May 21, 2011 6:18 am EDT

Property Concepts UK has gone, and started trading as Addlefields Ltd. Andrew Carlton (Darren Russell of old) is still running the show. Addlefields will soon be no more as he is setting up 3 other companies to take over their business. Names to be wary of are Churchill Butler (for Inventories), Castle White Consultancy Ltd (for cleaning) and Oakleighs Maintenance UK. He is still up to his old tricks and not paying his staff. They go months without getting paid and he fights their claims every inch of the way to avoid paying. I have a number of horror stories if anyone needs them (Watchdog...Rogue Trader...). The man is calculating and completely unscrupulous. I worked for him - i know! Craig Davidson is still involved as the name on the Bank details and he still has his loyal close circle of staff who deflect everything for him. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS MAN, AND CERTAINLY DO NOT WORK FOR ANY OF HIS COMPANIES

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Oscardemontfort
Milton keyns, GB
Apr 28, 2011 1:01 pm EDT

Reading your comments i feel so Angry, I worked for propert concepts back in 2007 and went through a very similar situation, I was studying to become a black cab driver so i though the job sounded perfect to fit around my studying, however working the long hours then not getting paid turned me into a frustrated and very angry person, I had a couple of months of sporadic pay checks, "errors" in my reports were causing delays, anything really to get out of paying me, I ended up speaking to Andrew over the phone and telling him in no uncertain terms "if my money isn't paid into my account on Monday, I'm gonna wait out side your office for you untill you come out, I then told him we'd either be walking to the nearest bank or hed be in an ambulance to the nearest hospital" the money owed was paid into my account at 9am the following Monday morning, they were bullies to vulnerable people who were desperate for work, as for Andrew he was a typical fly by business man trying to make a quick buck, in other words a ### who buckled the minute I bullied him, I won't give my name as I know he'll remember me well, he'd probably try taking mento court for the threat. If i ever see you Andrew you should walk the other way as reading this complaints from other innocent people it's stoked up the same anger i had for you back in 2007

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MaryOC
London, GB
Jun 07, 2010 5:06 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Yeap, they are at it again, 2010

They are now operating under the name of Addlesfield Cleaning Contractors and Addlesefield Property Maintenance. Taking the thos desperate for work for a complete ride. During this recession people are 1o a penny to them!

They had my Husband with them for three months, only getting his money via brute force, not nice - but this is how they operate!

Plenty of other men have done two + months work and have not been paid. The office staff all appear to be ex convicts and try to intimidate as many of the works as they can.

My Husband met cleaners and maintenance staff, all of which had not been paid - when they phone the office they are flobbed off with excuses.

Beware, they start of great, offering fantastic money, fair pay for a fair days work - the goal posts will move. You will find yourself doing work, and you are not sure how much you will get for the job as they do not even know, at times, the client does not even pay them as they are unable to quote accurately for works, thus the balls up that will then follow!

BEWARE FOLKS - ALSO BRINGING THIS TO WATCHDOGS ATTENTION AS THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED THEM IN THE PAST!

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Dave Watkins
London, GB
Aug 25, 2009 4:47 am EDT

Contact Claire Dunn at BBC Watchdog on [protected].

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Starlite
London, GB
Aug 18, 2009 10:51 am EDT

have PCUK moved their offices or have they stopped trading as a business altogether as the website seems to go to a admin login panel now.

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PremierHse
, GB
Aug 18, 2009 5:21 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I contacted Tiller Road and there was almost a sigh of relief from the receptionist when she said the company was not there any more, I went there just in case it was another lie but all the doors were open, last time they were all locked and very hard to get in so just with that it was true.

With Watchdog they know Darren Russell from years ago so they will know him, you also need to make sure Mr Davidson is involved as he is the director of the company and is fully responsible for how the company is run, Virgin Atlantic (Mr Davidson works for them) may also be very interested in his dealings of people.

These men have ruined many people but voilence is NOT the answer, stay professional utilise all the resourses the media will allow and let their own actions put them down.

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drew watkins
london, GB
Aug 17, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

starlite i do not know personally if pcuk have moved or not as i have not been there recently but it wouldn't be too hard to find out you can either visit the business centre or call them and find out. As for getting your money either call the bailiffs in to his new company address or pay him a nice little visit as I did and collect what is yours from the slimy worm. How comes nobody has battered this man yet?

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drew watkins
london, GB
Aug 17, 2009 2:12 pm EDT

I will post a contact for watchdog up here shortly. I spoke with her not so long ago and they are definitely stil linterested in this ###.

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Starlite
London, GB
Aug 15, 2009 12:56 pm EDT

How do u guys know that PCUK have moved from TIller Road? Though it doesnt really matter because we all know Andrew is running Addlesfield. Run he may but he cannot hide. I will be calling the bailiffs to Addlesfield as he is still the person behind PCUK.

I will also be informing TV's rogue Traders, and Watchdog. Hopefully we all can see Mr Carlton/Russell on TV. Would teach the stupid ### a lesson :)

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rutledge
london, GB
Aug 13, 2009 6:46 am EDT

"Starlite" read all the above comments to find out about the other ET cases, we all got our judgements and the cash owed. It was at the point of bailiffs being called in for me however. If they have left tiller road it may be more difficult now though.

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24BridgeHouseQuay
, GB
Aug 11, 2009 10:01 am EDT

Just to let you know Craig Davidson has resigned as Director so their is NO director for the company now - they have moved out of their Tiller Road offices with no other address given but you may want to address claims to the Co Sec or this other address - 11A EMPIRE PARADE, EMPIRE WAY WEMBLEY HA9 0RQ or a trading address of 9 Allies House 105 Brook Road NW2 7BZ - you may also want to get your solictors to trace Mr Davidson home address as he was probably director of the company so responsible for all company activity whilst you were in employment.

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Starlite
London, GB
Aug 08, 2009 7:02 am EDT

Looks like the bailiffs will be coming in :)

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Starlite
London, GB
Aug 07, 2009 10:48 am EDT

any news of any other ET claims?

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Starlite
London, GB
Aug 06, 2009 5:34 pm EDT

Hi all, unfortunately I've fell victim to this fraudster, and I HAVE taken this issue to the tribunals which he has failed to defend. Thus meaning I got a default judgement and also I have also been given a remedy hearing. How did those who took the same route get their money back? are the Bailiffs the way to go?

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Rafalh
Poole, GB
Jun 20, 2009 1:46 am EDT

I couldn't get my discrimination case over through the E.A.T (my ET claim was placed out of time unfortunately! ) but I wonder if they would be surprised getting summons from the county court. Guess they would.
What a bunch of crooks.

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PremierHse
, GB
Jun 19, 2009 9:06 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Congratulations to Darren and Craig who have now bought there own property, the premier Bridge House probably with employees hard earned cash that refuse to pay over or even the latest CCJ against the company and possible Craigs realisation of resigning as Director - good luck !