Blog - Debt Collection

Bogus Bailiffs Jailed Over £500,000 Pensioner Scam

A gang of conmen have been jailed after stealing close to half a million pounds in an elaborate three-year debt collection scam. Wayne Mark McCreery, 50, of St Andrews Road, Stretford, Manchester and Liam Dinsdale, 38, of Varley Street, Colne, posed as court bailiffs to con victims out of more than £470,000 over a three-year period between 2015 and 2018.

Victims of Wine Investment Stitch-Up Face Double Threat

Losing money to a scam investment scheme is bad enough. But then being targeted a second time by bogus officials asking victims to hand over personal details with false promises of getting their money back… it’s enough to make you wonder if there’s any justice in the world.

Reports of just such a so-called recovery room scam targeting investors who were duped into backing a rogue wine company have prompted the Insolvency Service to issue a warning.

What makes it even worse is that many of the people being hounded again are known to be elderly and vulnerable.

Footballer Slapped With Bankruptcy Order Over Gambling Debts

A former Premier League footballer who ran up huge gambling debts while struggling to pay his bills has been hit with extended bankruptcy restrictions.

Danny Guthrie, 35, who started his career at Liverpool before going on to play for Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Reading in the Premier League, admitted breaking insolvency rules after borrowing £75,000 from a friend.

The loan was made in May 2019 to help Guthrie through some financial difficulties on the understanding that he was in the process of selling a property to raise capital. A promise was made to repay the loan after the sale went through.

Contractors Face Losses as Tax-Dodging Director Gets Laughable Ban

Contractors could end up footing the bill after a recruitment agency director who swindled HMRC out of millions in unpaid taxes received a paltry eight-year disqualification.

Adrian Sacco ran Manchester-based Best Employment Services (BES), an umbrella payroll company targeting high-earning contractors in IT, engineering and HR.

The 55-year-old, who company records show has been director of a string of liquidated or dissolved payroll agencies over the years, faced investigation by the Insolvency Service after BES was wound up in 2019 owing at least £4.1m in tax to HMRC.