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Tuesday 16 August 2016

Penketh Associates (Penketh Developments Ltd) false claim re Bordeaux Fine Wines

'subsidary' (sic) arm of PENKETH DEVELOPMENTS LTD

Our services: Penketh Associates – investment planning, 
retirement planning, planning your estate, personal cash  

Update: 30th August 2016 – the above website, which was registered on 28th July 2016, has now disappeared.  

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Crates and pallets & site construction in Islington 

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Birmingham: 'so Penketh Developments Limited 
is engaged in Buying and selling of own real estate'


Here we have yet another company – Penketh Associates, a subsidary (sic) of Penketh Developments Ltd – that is claiming falsely to have taken over as liquidator of Bordeaux Fine Wines Ltd from David Ingram of Grant Thornton as well as recovering missing wine for investors. 

Message from Grant Thornton – re Bordeaux Fine Wines Ltd
'In addition, we have been contacted by a number of investors recently who have been contacted by a company called Penketh Associates (penkethassociates.co.uk). They have been advising creditors (in Bordeaux Fine Wines Ltd) they have replaced David Ingram (Grant Thornton) as Liquidator and that they have "found their wine". One investor has transferred £10,000 and surprisingly hasn't received anything in return.

I have advised the police of this company and they are currently assisting the creditor to get their money back."  

Company history and activities
It has to be said that Penketh Developments Ltd is somewhat of a mystery. Penketh Developments Ltd was founded on 9th December 2002 with a share capital of £2 held by the company formation agents. It remained a dormant company until 31st December 2013. The accounts to 31st December 2013 listed assets as £2 – the original share capital. However, the accounts to 31st December 2014 listed stocks for 2013 as £100,000.... presumably the £100K shares belonging to Robert Hawes as listed on the annual return to 9.12.14 filed on 21.7.2015.




Balance sheet 31.12.13: current assets £2



 Balance sheet 31.12.14 – stocks (2013) £100,000


On 1st November 2014 Robert Hawes (DOB: May 1967) was appointed a director of Penketh Developments Ltd. However, this appointment wasn't filed at Companies House until 21st July 2015. On 21st April 2015 a First Gazette for a compulsory strike off was issued. This was lifted on 22nd July 2015 once the annual return to 9.12.14 was filed on 21.7.15. On 11.6.2015 the registered office was changed to Unit 9, 3 Warstone Lane, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6JE, where the company's activity was apparently 'Buying and selling of own real estate'.  

Balance sheet to 31.12.2014
Current stocks in the first year of trading starting presumably on 1st November 2014 when Robert Hawes was appointed a director taking over from the company formation agents were listed as £1,907,540 with total assets less current liabilities as £2,040,722. Total net assets including liabilities were £1,161,234. It looks like Robert Hawes, described as sales director, should be congratulated on a remarkable achievement on only just two months (November and December) of trading. The accounts are unaudited as under UK company there is no requirement for small companies to have their accounts audited. 

Change of directors     
Despite Hawes admirable success during the company's first two months of trading, he resigned as a director on 5th January 2015, although his resignation wasn't filed at Companies House until 23rd December 2015. Hawes was replaced by David Hinsworth (DOB: 1.1973) appointed on 4th January 2015, although the paperwork wasn't received by Companies House until 6th December 2015. Hawes transferred the £100k worth of shares to Hinsworth on 5th January 2015. 

Accounts to 31st December 2015
In the company's (Penketh Developments Ltd) first full year of trading to 31st December 2015 Hinsworth has continued Hawes' remarkable success. Total net assets are given as £2,073,962 against £1,161,234 to 31st December 2014.
  


23 comments:

  1. I received a call today from a James Thompson from Penketh Associates offering to buy 2 cases of wine which they are storing for me - i only have one case. They were offering good money but I had to pay upfront the VAT and transportation costs amounting to over £3000. I didn't fall for it as it was too good to be true and I had heard before about such scams asking for money upfront.

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    1. Thanks Anon. Looks like an advance fee scam. Wise not to be taken in.

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    2. I did email you last week Jim to ask about Penketh associates I have already paid 4,100 to this company and they are expecting the next payment ASAP.After reading the anonymous comments above and have been dealing with the same man mine also was EFW

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    3. This is exactly the same story as mine and they have a buyer already as they thought I would want to sell straight away

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    4. My apologies if I did not reply but I don't recall receiving your email. Please send no more money. Grant Thornton, the liquidator, have stated that there is no wine.

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  2. I have been contacted yesterday by Penketh Associates telling me they have taken over as the liquidators for EFW. They have 'found' 2 cases of wine of mine which they are offering to transport at a cost of £600/case or they have offered to sell it for me. They are ringing back to get my answer tonight..

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  3. Jo R Utter nonsense from Penketh Associates.

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    1. thanks - the story now is they had sold to EFW and were advised by the liquidators to 'keep back' wine bought by EFW as there were issues with EFW. now they are looking to re-unite wine with owners. Its been moved to Southampton for shipping although I hadn't agreed to sell. The cost of transport (prior to it moving) was £600+ each box to move it from 1 warehouse in London to another and I have to pay the VAT which will be paid back to me. Total upfront charges of £2600

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    2. Thanks Jo. Yes and I am the pope and there is a squadron of flying pigs over London. Total advance fee fraud of £2600.

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  4. I have been asked to pay PA over £6k so that they can sell some diamonds that I purchased through companies now in liquidation

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  5. Simple advance fee fraud. More details of who you bought from would be much appreciated please.

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  6. It this the same company offering to sell assets for you and requiring up front payment?

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  7. I have been contacted by Penrith Associates about a plot of land I bought from CBS (now liquidated) they have offered to buy it from me for £12,140. However, they are talking about a Capital Exchange Process which involves me paying a fee up front! They said they got my details from Central Reservations and that I had a unique ref number which they gave me. I was told if anyone talking to me about the land couldn't quote this unique ref number I should refuse to talk to them! Sounds like a scam to me.

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    1. Donna. I agree it looks like a advance fee scam. I wouldn't touch it.

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    2. i have also been asked for money upfront to sell my diamonds another scam i suspect.

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  8. I have been contacted by these people offering to sell my diamonds for an upfront fee and now they want me to pay VAT on it. Has anyone seen thier offices or is this just another scam ?

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    1. It looks like advance fee fraud.

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    2. I was told I had to pay VAT after paying their fees. I received the funds from my sale of two diamonds on the 28th of September. But now I am waiting for my refunds which they say are due on 11th October.

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    3. I have not seen their offices, but have got the money they promised from my sale of 1 diamond. Now awaiting the money from my refunds. Expecting this on 11th of October. Will update On this day

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    4. did they sell your diamonds in this country or abroad ? and did you get a reasonable price for them ?

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  9. We've been contacted by the same company with regard to some land we bought. Same story with regards to Central Reservations. We told them to deduct their fees from the sale proceeds, which they alledgedly can't do as the money needs to go to the court. Shame they can't provide either the court name or the case number...

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  10. I feel I have been subject to another scam they wanted money to change land deeds so Valco Group LLP wanted to buy land, once fees paid they stopped contact and can't contact them,

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    Replies
    1. Kevin. Sorry to hear this. Suggest you file a report with Action Fraud.

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