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Both myself and my friend were ripped off terribly recently, I lost £2K and my friend £10K by a man called Steve Bound of TPM; The Property Magnate. He took our holding deposits and then become uncontactable and no property was available. I went to the papers but they weren't interested. Yes I should have got lawyers involved before any money was handed over. He was very convincing.
 
These are the telephone numbers i had for him, 078240565026, 07825510168 and his e-mail steve.bound@thepropertymagnate.com;
 
I want to warn other investors of this scam artist and this was the reason I joined this site.
 
We could have pursued through the courts, but I don't earn a lot and could foresee huge legal costs, pursueing someone I don't even know is using the correct name. All I know that is for certain is his bank account details.

why not use the small claims court thus doing the claim yourself at minimal cost - I know of others that have been sucessful against against another person in the property industry just depends if you can trace him to an address and whether he has any assets worth talking about in his name

Paul is right. Go after him via the County Court Small Claims Procedure. 

You can use it for any claim up to £15,000 and you won't need a Solicitor, nor could the Defendant claim legal costs against you if you lost (which sounds very unlikely from what you say).

Go to the HM Courts Service website and you'll find all the information you need to do it.

The Small Claims procedure usually only applies where the amount is not more than £5,000 - the leaflet obtainable here gives more details:-

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/HMCSCourtFinder/GetLeaflet.do?court_leaflets_id=179

I had a similar question recently in respect of a claim for an amount above the limit, but still under £10,000, and the solicitor advised me that the small claims procedure could not normally be used in such a case.

 

Sorry - you're right and, in my hurry, I did not make myself clear.

The COUNTY COURT can deal with claims up to £15,000, after which it is normally Multi-Track (i.e. effectively High Court)

The SMALL CLAIMS procedure in the County Court can be used for claims up to £5,000.

You can still represent yourself, but over £5,000 you can have costs awarded against you if you lose.

You can still suggest the Small Claims procedure when you complete your Allocation Questionaire, and the Judge may agree to it if the other guy doesn't object. And if he is so skint that he neds to rip people off to make a living, he might well agree to Small Claims procedure on the basis that HE can't afford legal representation or a costs award !

If you can, avoid Solicitors and Barristers like the plague. They'll bleed you dry !

Thankyou all for your help, it is very much appreciated.

I shall look into all the options you have suggested. 

I have also had negative dealings with this man.

I would warn everyone who uses this Forum to steer well clear of him. I may be stepping out of bounds (no pun intended) as far has posting negative info about someone on the forum, but this guy is not to be trusted at all!!

I also have passed reservation fees for property deals that once progressed to valuations, have fallen over as Steve Bound becomes unobtainable, does not respond to emails or texts and hides behind a lady called Stephanie who will always tell you that Steve is out of the office and will pass on the message - Of course everytime you speak with her she says that she has passed on the message and its up to him to call back. I class her as guilty in this as Steve Bound himself!

As far as I can see he takes properties details from Rightmove, markets them as being deals where he has negotiated discounts from the advertised price. To get the reduced price you need to pay a reservation fee to secure the contact details of the agent/deal sourcer etc...

I personally am looking to secure an address to pay him a visit to discuss the payment of my fee's - Any offer of info much appriciated!

What goes around, comes around and this is coming full circle to Mr Bound...

From: steve.bound@btconnect.com
To: community@singingpig.co.uk
Subject: http://www.singingpig.co.uk/forums/post/974189.aspx More Liable
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:11:22 +0000