Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
A Covid fraudster who bought a house in Huddersfield using Bounce Back Loan funds has been jailed. Mohammed Rashidzadeh appointed solicitors to help him buy a three-bedroom semi-detached house in the Almondbury area of the town just two days after receiving the £50,000 loan in June 2020. The 34-year-old also attempted to strike his Cozy…
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A tour operator has been jailed after securing two maximum-value £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loans when businesses were only entitled to one. Raja Imtiaz fraudulently applied for a second Bounce Back Loan on behalf of Al Fayroz Travel & Tourism Limited in the summer of 2020, just two weeks after securing another £50,000 loan for…
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A former Director General of the Institute of Directors, who was nominated for a prestigious businesswoman of the year award has been disqualified as a company director for Covid loan abuse. Anna Daroy served as interim Chief Operating Officer and later as interim Director General of the Institute of Directors from October 2018 to November…
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The owner of a scaffolding company who fraudulently obtained £100,000 in Covid loan funds has been ordered to repay the money in full, with interest of more than £15,000. Mark Degnan, repaid £55,608 before appearing at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 15 September where he was ordered to repay the remaining £59,578 within six months.…
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Three connected debt collection companies, which kept more than £50,000 in client funds they collected on their behalf, have been shut down. Sunderland-based EDC Group NE Ltd, UK EDC Ltd and UK TCF Limited falsely presented themselves as professional agencies with decades of experience while taking money from both clients and their debtors. The companies…
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The director of a century-old Scottish machinery firm which went into administration last year has been banned after failing to declare more than £1.5 million in VAT. David Smith, was the director of FB Realisations Limited, which was known for decades as Balgownie Limited. However, for more than three years between 2019 and 2022, Smith…
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A video game composer and sound designer who fraudulently applied for a Covid loan has been jailed. Peter Connelly, best known for his work on the Tomb Raider series, overstated his company’s turnover to obtain a second Bounce Back Loan of £37,500 in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to a single loan. Connelly had…
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The Insolvency Service has announced ambitious and transformational plans to play a more prominent role in the fight against economic crime and be recognised as the UK’s leading authority in enforcing corporate and insolvency standards. The strategy commits the agency to broadening its remit, taking robust action against criminals who defraud businesses and taxpayers, and…
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A West London building contractor who overstated his company’s turnover by almost £200,000 to secure a maximum-value Covid Bounce Back loan has been banned as a director and ordered to repay the money he was not entitled to. Tahir Haq obtained a £50,000 Bounce Back loan for building completion and freight transport company Integral Maintenance…
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A new Government report has highlighted how Companies House is transforming from a passive register to an active gatekeeper, providing examples of how the agency is actively tackling economic crime and improving register data. Key to Companies House progress is strengthened collaboration with The Insolvency Service and other law enforcement agencies to present a unified front…
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The boss of four companies, which owed HMRC more than £1 million, including £400,000 in VAT they falsely reclaimed, has been banned as a Director. Hassan Waqar was the director of HN Restaurants Limited, Kiani Construction Limited and Moneemint Ventures Limited when they submitted falsified documents to HMRC. A fourth company, Zoya Investments Limited, failed…
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The director of two companies which run mobile phone shops across the UK has been handed a two-year suspended sentence, after he fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Covid Bounce Back loans. Zahid Afzal, the director of Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received Covid loans for both companies legitimately – totalling £52,500 –…
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A Management Consultant who secured two Covid Bounce Back Loans – totalling £80,000 – having twice significantly overstated his company’s turnover has been disqualified for 11 years. Romain McLean was the sole director of RMC Associates Limited, registered at Kingston Road in Wimbledon. He applied for a £30,000 Covid Bounce Back loan for his business…
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