Have you tried contacting him on facebook as well? He has been reasonably active in the last few days and weeks.https://www.facebook.com/neil.hart.37?fref=ts
There seem to be a few people on here who know Neil personally. Might this be the time to give him a nudge to offer these people at least an explanation, an apology, and hopefully a timescale within which he will seek to reimburse them? It's all looking a bit dodgy to the casual onlooker.
If it's closed will he not have just folded the company? N if it's ltd he'll owe no one anything.
Neil's had a few climbing related businesses, if he wants to have more in the future making sure your not labeled "that guy that ripped off a bunch of climbers holiday money" might be worthwhile. Small community and all that, besides right thing to do no?
Quote from: ferret on May 12, 2016, 06:12:49 amNeil's had a few climbing related businesses, if he wants to have more in the future making sure your not labeled "that guy that ripped off a bunch of climbers holiday money" might be worthwhile. Small community and all that, besides right thing to do no?This.Another option for getting you money back is travel insurance, assuming folk were not too tight to get some in the first place.
Good that's he's keeping busy anyway.
Quote from: a dense loner on May 12, 2016, 06:01:23 amIf it's closed will he not have just folded the company? N if it's ltd he'll owe no one anything.Why would he say we're owed a refund then?
Why? I have no idea. All I'm doing is pointing out the possibility of what could happen
Quote from: a dense loner on May 12, 2016, 06:01:23 amIf it's closed will he not have just folded the company? N if it's ltd he'll owe no one anything.Quote from: LaurenG on May 12, 2016, 06:06:50 amQuote from: a dense loner on May 12, 2016, 06:01:23 amIf it's closed will he not have just folded the company? N if it's ltd he'll owe no one anything.Why would he say we're owed a refund then? Quote from: a dense loner on May 12, 2016, 06:24:00 amWhy? I have no idea. All I'm doing is pointing out the possibility of what could happenAs Dense indicates the first step is to establish whether you are dealing with a limited company or someone running the business in their own name (typically as a sole tradder) If payment was made to a limited company account that is now insolvent then you pursue the debt with the Administrator. Limited company means limited financial liability ie the responsibility is largely with the company as an entity not the Director running it unless the Director is proved culpable of transgressing company law. It is not illegal to go bust. If the company is not insolvent then you are best pursuing via a solicitor who can take actions such as issuing a winding up order - however the costs means this is only worthwhile if the debt is in the £1000's. However, if it was a business and account run by someone in their own name then that person is liable and the debt can be pursued with them personally most likely through the small claims court requiring you to prove the debt and liability. www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/overviewI have no personal experience of following the small claims legal process but it is apparently not as onerous as it sounds.
Hopefully one of Neils friends will see this and tell him to sort it out before he winds up looking like a proper tool.Neil's had a few climbing related businesses, if he wants to have more in the future making sure your not labeled "that guy that ripped off a bunch of climbers holiday money" might be worthwhile. Small community and all that, besides right thing to do no?
Regardless of whether there is legal liability or not, I think the point that Ferret makes is the most pertinent. It's a question of reputation. A brief glance at Neil's social media indicates he is still looking to make a living in the world of climbing and it would be beneficial to come out of this untarnished. Shit happens and if Neil is broke then he's broke, but if I was one of the out of pocket people I'd be much more inclined to move on if I'd had reasonable communication about the matter. Ignoring the emails of people who have lost their holiday money, after he has committed to reimbursing them, doesn't come across well, especially as it will make travel insurance claims more difficult if the insurer is aware that a promise of reimbursement is still hanging in the air.