RegulationApr 20 2017

Claims management director banned for 10 years

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Claims management director banned for 10 years

The director of a claims management company has been banned for 10 years after misleading customers and breaching government rules.

Dean Anthony Spencer was the director of Swansea-based Claim & Gain Limited.

He will be banned from being directly or indirectly involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company until 4 April 2027.

The Insolvency Service ruled that Claim & Gain misled the public in sales calls regarding claims services offered, fees charged, outsourcing to third parties and cancellations.

Services paid for by customers were not provided and fees were deducted from customers without their authorisation.

Robert Clarke, investigations group leader at the Insolvency Service said: “The compensation regulations provide protection to the general public from unfair sales techniques by agents for companies operating within the claims management sector.

“When company directors do not comply with legislation that is designed to protect customers and avoidable losses result, The Insolvency Service will seek lengthy periods of disqualification.

“This should serve as a warning to other directors who may feel tempted to breach customer protection legislation.”

Following an investigation The Insolvency Service found Claim & Gain engaged in unfair trading practices contrary to Regulation 22 of the Compensation (Claims Management Services) Regulations 2006.

Despite the investigation and subsequent warnings from the Ministry of Justice, Mr Spencer failed to rectify the breaches and continued to mislead customers by taking “upfront” fees from a further 149 customers.

Claim & Gain was incorporated in October 2011 and was placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation in March 2015.

damian.fantato@ft.com