URGENT CONSUMER ALERT
UPDATE - 3rd August 2007
Following a strongly worded email I sent to Kent Trading Standards in Ashford and a copy to Kent Police, the offending website was taken down at around 14.00hrs today.
From: Editor
[mailto:editor@rip-off.co.uk] Sent: 02 August 2007 23:59
To:
trading.standards@kent.gov.uk CMY TS
Subject: Bogus Trader -
yourchoicesltd.co.uk
Importance: High
In light of the fact you confess you are
well aware of this bogus business,
I am appalled by the fact consumers can
still login www.yourchoicesltd.co.uk chose a holiday
- and then pay for it
by PayPal to sales@yourchoicesltd.co.uk
Trading Standards have the power to
immediately close this website down by Court Order to Nominet.
After all,
the website is hosted in the UK which makes it far easier. So, why are you
sitting on your hands?
I am absolutely disgusted that an organisation like
yours is doing absolutely nothing to protect the consumer.
Can you please
explain your lamentable procrastination?
Regards, Editor, Rip-Off
Britain
If you are a victim of Your Choices Ltd., you should immediately contact Kent Police and Trading Standards.
Kent Police
Serious Economic Fraud
Unit
Phone: 01622 654377
Email:
secu@kent.pnn.police.uk
Trading Standards
Kent County Council
Trading Standards East Kent Area
PO Box 320 Ashford TN24 8AS
Phone:
01233 898825
Email:
trading.standards@kent.gov.uk
Alert Date: 26th July 2007
Time:
23.57hrs
Following an advertisement in a Kent newspaper, local news tonight on Meridian TV (South East) highlighted several consumers who had booked their holidays and paid as much as £2,500 to yourchoicesltd.co.uk - but have not received their tickets. Evidently, Trading Standards and the Police are investigating, but the 'Your Choices Ltd' website is STILL amazingly operational!
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY!!
Domain name:
yourchoicesltd.co.uk
(and
yourchoicesltd.com)
Registrant: Your Choices Ltd
Registrant type:
Unknown
Registrant's address: Regency House, Suite F, 6-7 Elwick Road
Ashford Kent TN23 1PD GB
Phone: or: 0870 803 1375 or 01233 646414
Fax:
01233 639793
Registrar: Freestart plc [Tag = FREESTART]
Relevant dates:
Registered on: 22-Aug-2006
Renewal date: 22-Aug-2008
Registration
status: Registered until renewal date.
Name servers: ns0.freestart.plc.uk
ns1.freestart.plc.uk
WHOIS lookup made at 23:23:32
26-Jul-2007
Additional information
Also listed at: Your Choices Ltd: Ingles
Manor/Castle Hill Av Folkestone CT20 2RD
Tel: 01233-646414
Companies House records: Click here
Also trading as: Your Choices Travel Passport: PO BOX 172 ASHFORD KENT TN23 9EZ
Company appears to be owned by an S.
Weaver
Also listed as: Your Choices Ltd (Finance Department)
Consumer
Credit License Number 592384
PO Box 172 Ashford Kent TN23 9EZ
Phone: 0870
803 1375
Fax: 01233 639793
E-mail: s.weaver@yourchoicesltd.co.uk
or info@yourchoicesltd.co.uk
Your Choices Limited Client Account
Barclays Bank, Ashford
Sort Code: 20-02-62
Account No:
90934836
UPDATE - 30th July 2007
yourchoicesltd.co.uk is also 'associated' with the following:
Domain name:
yourchoices.me.uk
(Also t/a: www.loanoptions.co.uk):
Registrant: ANDREW Moody
Registrant type: UK Limited Company, (Company number: 5045102)
Registrant's address: 7 Millbank House Riverside Business Park - Bollin Way
wilmslow cheshire SK9 1BJ GB
Registrar: Pipex Communications UK Ltd t/a
123-Reg.co.uk [Tag = 123-REG]
URL: http://www.123-reg.co.uk
Relevant
dates:
Registered on: 28-Nov-2006
Renewal date: 28-Nov-2008
Registration status: Registered until renewal date.
Name servers:
ns.123-reg.co.uk ns2.123-reg.co.uk
WHOIS lookup made at 00:27:17
30-Jul-2007
How to find out if a lender is licensed
The Consumer Credit Public Register lists everyone with an OFT licence as well as everyone who has applied for one or has had one taken away or suspended. Ref: www.oft.gov.uk/oft_and_cd
Consumers need educating
Notwithstanding the yourchoicesltd.co.uk website that was a very amateurish design, the firm was not a member of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents), so alarm bells should have rung for anyone visiting the website.
I'm forever telling consumers to pay everything they purchase on-line by credit card, because it does offer protection. But NEVER by cash, cheque or debit card!! In addition, if the company isn't a high street name take the time to check them out. Google is a great place to start looking for complaints and anomolies.