'Support Publishing' Companies Close Down After Insolvency Service Investigation

Three connected companies claiming to sell business-to-business advertising in safety and emergency services booklets and in an online directory have been wound-up by the High Court in Manchester following investigations by Company Investigations of the Insolvency Service.

The investigation found, Espress Limited, Emergency Services Press Limited and Sponsored Press Limited all operated what is known as “Support publishing” from bases in the North West.

These companies made unsolicited phone calls to businesses purporting to sell advertising space in safety and emergency services booklets or an online directory.

However, investigators found no evidence that booklets were ever produced or that the website was operated as described. Investigators also found that the three companies appeared to be under common control and traded between September 2009 and August 2011, receiving over £950,000 between them.

The Court heard the directors failed to co-operate with the investigation and there were no trading records, with the result that around £650,000 taken from the companies’ bank accounts in cash remained unaccounted for.

Representatives of the companies made misleading claims to the public. In one case, salespeople told prospective clients that the companies had links to the emergency services which was not true. This was aggravated by instances of the cold-caller claiming to be from the police and, in one instance, the caller claimed that a donation would be made to “Help for Heroes”, which was not the case.

Alex Deane, an investigation supervisor, from Company Investigations in Manchester said: "These companies dishonestly promoted themselves as acting on behalf of our emergency services and exploited the goodwill of small businesses. They sold advertising space which, if it existed at all, could not benefit the clients in any way.

"People responsible for such companies should be aware that the Insolvency Service will pursue these companies, take steps to close them down and pursue further action against them wherever possible."

(GK)