question regarding a company

[XslaneyX]

Good Morning all,

My Grandparents recently had a letter through the door along with a gas/electric smart meter type device after my Granddad stupidly gave his bank details over the phone. The letter is from a PLC called E-SAVEUK. It looks poorly done and upon taking it to the local bank, the chap behind the desk informed us that it was the 3rd such letter they received in the past 2 weeks which has been complained about. I have asked my granddad if he was aware of the sum that has been taken (£125) but he says no such figure was ever mentioned to him other then what is on the letter.

I have checked the Companies house regarding this and found that the director has a previous business under 1 company number which is now renamed as ESAVEUK (10223846) but also another as E-SAVESUK (10302372) both with the same address.

Probably being daft but does something seem odd here or has my Granddad made the mistake by giving out his details as willingly as he did even though he doesn't want/need the device sent?


Cheers.

[anonymous-user]

What did your grandfather think he was getting when he gave out his bank details? Presumably switching energy supplier or similar?

If he's still within the 14 day cooling off period then that would seem to be the best bet if he just wants out of the deal.

[matjk]

I would think distance selling regs would give you a get out, what did he actual receive, something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loop-Energy-Electricity-M...

[singlecoil]

XslaneyX said:

has my Granddad made the mistake by giving out his details...

Yes.

Hopefully the money can be got back by returning the item, otherwise consider it an inexpensive lesson for everybody concerned (apart from the firm in question).

[Red Devil]

XslaneyX said:

I have checked the Companies house regarding this and found that the director has a previous business under 1 company number which is now renamed as ESAVEUK (10223846) but also another as E-SAVESUK (10302372) both with the same address.

Neither company is a PLC. Both are private. One 20 year old director common to both.

The former has only been in existence for 6 months with changes of name, directors, and registered office.
The latter only 5 months with nothing other than its incorporation and registered at his home address.
Check him out on 192.com btw and see who else resides there.

Why would he need two companies with such similar names? My spidey senses are tingling.
£125 for an energy saver monitor is a total rip off.
Is this individual working from his bedroom taking advantage of elderly and possibly gullible folk?

[exelero]

Red Devil said:

Neither company is a PLC. Both are private. One 20 year old director common to both.

The former has only been in existence for 6 months with changes of name, directors, and registered office.
The latter only 5 months with nothing other than its incorporation and registered at his home address.
Check him out on 192.com btw and see who else resides there.

Why would he need two companies with such similar names? My spidey senses are tingling.
£125 for an energy saver monitor is a total rip off.
Is this individual working from his bedroom taking advantage of elderly and possibly gullible folk?

Well, if he registered those businesses to his own home address I'd know a way to tech him not to do things like this in the future...

[UpTheIron]

What "Bank details" did he give? A debit card purchase? Or has he set up a direct debit?

What goods or services were supplied for £125?

What does the letter say?

[anonymous-user]

Has he bought this "smart meter" device to which you refer?

What does it do?

Did he / does he want it?

Was the payment a 1 off or a DD / SO?

[Red Devil]

exelero said:

Well, if he registered those businesses to his own home address I'd know a way to tech him not to do things like this in the future...

Only one of them now - E-SAVESUK. The other - ESAVEUK (note the lack of the hyphen and the S) - was originally registered at the home address (a posh part of Broadstone) of the other active director of E-SAVESUK.

The correspondence addresses of both directors of E-SAVESUK are their homes. For ESAVEUK one director's remains his home address whereas the other's is now the current registered office.

The latter company's registered office was changed 6 weeks after incorporation to a serviced office complex in Poole. That may well be no more than a poky room with a desk, chair, and a phone/internet connection or even just a mailbox drop. A further 6 weeks after that the company name was changed. Even more murky is the fact that the more recently formed company (E-SAVESUK) has a SIC code whereas the older one (ESAVEUK) doesn't, so it's anybody's guess what trading activities it is engaged in.

As the OP has discovered there is no such company as E-SAVEUK registered at Companies House. The exact name of a legal entity is crucial if one is contemplating further action against it.

XslaneyX said:

The letter is from a PLC called E-SAVEUK. It looks poorly done and upon taking it to the local bank, the chap behind the desk informed us that it was the 3rd such letter they received in the past 2 weeks which has been complained about.

Everything I am seeing here is flying a big red flag. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 will be of little help to your Granddad if these businesses are primarily funding the directors' lifestyles. I hope for his sake a satisfactory outcome can be achieved and that you have warned him not to trust 'Greeks bearing gifts' in future, especially sales concluded by phone. Unfortunately many senior citizens fall prey to this.

Oh, nearly forgot. The Bookface profile pics of these two suggest they are best mates as well as in business together.

[Wings]

Red Devil said:

Everything I am seeing here is flying a big red flag. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 will be of little help to your Granddad if these businesses are primarily funding the directors' lifestyles. I hope for his sake a satisfactory outcome can be achieved and that you have warned him not to trust 'Greeks bearing gifts' in future, especially sales concluded by phone. Unfortunately many senior citizens fall prey to this.

Oh, nearly forgot. The Bookface profile pics of these two suggest they are best mates as well as in business together.

Correct, both social friends on farcebook,with residential address in the post code area BH18 8AJ .

[Greengecko]

I've PMed you OP.

[XslaneyX]

Thanks for the responses all. It's just a simple smart meter which shows daily gas/electric usage. They definately don't need it and it was a 1 off payment which they have taken. I have stressed to him and my nan to not pick up any private or with held numbers and to never give any details out. I will post a copy of the letter up shortly.

I will find out tomorrow if the bank are helping him or if he has been given further advice.

[tyranical]

Did you pick up your blatant disregard for personal information from your Grandad?

You've just shared his name and address with the internet whilst telling people he is vulnerable.

• edit* just so context isn't lost, he posted a picture of the letter complete with name and address, since been deleted after mistake was pointed out.

Edited by tyranical on Tuesday 6th December 22:00

[SteveR1979]

tyranical said:

Did you pick up your blatant disregard for personal information from your Grandad?

You've just shared his name and address with the internet whilst telling people he is vulnerable.

Textbook huh!!!

[XslaneyX]

Will repost when address amended

[GSalt]

Give the following organisations a call..
- Action Fraud
- Age UK

You can report the situation to Action Fraud for them to investigate, it sounds like the sort of vulnerable persons scam they deal with.

Age UK has been running campaigns against targeting of the elderly by scammers/fraudsters and is tracking reports made to Action Fraud.

[XslaneyX]

GSalt said:

Give the following organisations a call..
- Action Fraud
- Age UK

You can report the situation to Action Fraud for them to investigate, it sounds like the sort of vulnerable persons scam they deal with.

Age UK has been running campaigns against targeting of the elderly by scammers/fraudsters and is tracking reports made to Action Fraud.

Thank you

[anonymous-user]

Red Devil said:

exelero said:

Well, if he registered those businesses to his own home address I'd know a way to tech him not to do things like this in the future...

Only one of them now - E-SAVESUK. The other - ESAVEUK (note the lack of the hyphen and the S) - was originally registered at the home address (a posh part of Broadstone) of the other active director of E-SAVESUK.

The correspondence addresses of both directors of E-SAVESUK are their homes. For ESAVEUK one director's remains his home address whereas the other's is now the current registered office.

The latter company's registered office was changed 6 weeks after incorporation to a serviced office complex in Poole. That may well be no more than a poky room with a desk, chair, and a phone/internet connection or even just a mailbox drop. A further 6 weeks after that the company name was changed. Even more murky is the fact that the more recently formed company (E-SAVESUK) has a SIC code whereas the older one (ESAVEUK) doesn't, so it's anybody's guess what trading activities it is engaged in.

As the OP has discovered there is no such company as E-SAVEUK registered at Companies House. The exact name of a legal entity is crucial if one is contemplating further action against it.

XslaneyX said:

The letter is from a PLC called E-SAVEUK. It looks poorly done and upon taking it to the local bank, the chap behind the desk informed us that it was the 3rd such letter they received in the past 2 weeks which has been complained about.

Everything I am seeing here is flying a big red flag. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 will be of little help to your Granddad if these businesses are primarily funding the directors' lifestyles. I hope for his sake a satisfactory outcome can be achieved and that you have warned him not to trust 'Greeks bearing gifts' in future, especially sales concluded by phone. Unfortunately many senior citizens fall prey to this.

Oh, nearly forgot. The Bookface profile pics of these two suggest they are best mates as well as in business together.

I live in Poole OP if you need any help with any of this give me a shout, I fking hate scammers and people taking advantage of the elderly.

[XslaneyX]

Learn2MergeInTurn said:

I live in Poole OP if you need any help with any of this give me a shout, I fking hate scammers and people taking advantage of the elderly.

Many thanks.

Just a quick update to say the bank has put the £125 into his account and are looking into the whole thing through their relevant department(s) also which is good to hear.

• EDIT*

Sorry to sound ignorant but what is an SIC code as mentioned above in a previous comment?

Edited by XslaneyX on Wednesday 7th December 13:55

[GSalt]

Standard Industrial Classification
It describes the activities the company undertake.

See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Industrial_...