People in debt are desperate (ie me 4 years ago) and reality is that you google ( ie me ) and you take your pick.
Luckily for me this ended up with a firm that as it happens is one on this forum but I can see how some companies can just spam advertisining with multiple urls and this is what you get.
Well done to the OFT and in this instance I hope the company in this instance lose.
Last edited by herbekj on Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Last Payment - November 2011 - Completion Certificate received 2 weeks after last payment, Removed from Insolvency Register within 4 weeks after last payment.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I suspect that these proposed trading names would have been considered acceptable if an application had been submitted 12 months ago. The tide certainly seems to have turned.
It's worth mentioning that the firm concerned vigourously disagree with the decision and intend to use the appeals process.
What's more interesting is that there are plenty of debt assistance organisations already in operation with similar names, and who are properly licenced to use those names. I wonder if their trading names will be looked at retrospectively?
Andrew Graveson
Bright Oak Ltd
UK Debt Management Company
Website: www.brightoak.co.uk
It's true that the restrictions have recently been tightened to protect consumers. As Andrew says, it would be very interesting if they started to apply their restrictions retrospectively.
Today you would also have trouble using a new website or trading style with "Scotland" or "England" in the title, as the OFT feel it implies you are an official government arm. They have had huge issues with the word "Free" recently too, both when referring to service charges and also when included in the term "debt free". They feel that unless "free" means "completely free in every instance", every use of the word "free" should be balanced by an explanation of what isn't free.
I think anything that can be done to make sure that people in debt are given all of the facts to allow them to choose the right debt solution is a step in the right direction. If the OFTs actions help this in any way then this is very good news.
Sorry James, you are not allowed to post any links in your signature unless you are an expert.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Hi
Jan is quite correct as usual
However James is an expert from the early days of IVA.co.uk with a well balanced and huge knowledge base. A warm welcome back.
I will contact you off line James with a view to dusting off your expert status
Regards
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
