A quiet property on a housing estate in Fife is the unlikely headquarters of an operation that allows company directors to walk away from millions of pounds of debts.
The detached home on Dunfermline’s Dunnock Road is a mail drop centre used by John Irvin’s Atherton firms, which offer “company rescue services” allowing businesses to be wound up without owners facing massive liabilities.
The Daily Record has told how how one tycoon, Jamie Smith, used the Atherton scheme to wind up his Snow Factor business – leaving workers owed thousands in unpaid wages.
Now we can reveal that the home, called Dunnock House, has witnessed a steady stream of HMRC officers, debt collectors and police since Atherton signed up for the mailing service more than two years ago.
The innocent householder runs a legitimate mail drop service at the address.
But Dunnock House – which deals with mail services for many reputable companies – is a place many rogue businesses go to die, with more than 100 involved in the Atherton schemes.
Banned director Neville Taylor was appointed to head up the firms as part of the Atherton operations.
He has made more than £270,000 in fees for putting his name on the director forms – then sitting back and waiting for companies to be dissolved.
Many desperate owners have been seduced by the sales pitch that states they can legally walk away from a company and its liabilities – and carry on their business with a different “clean slate” company.
They hundreds on a daily from lots all chasing source at The Record told yesterday how Taylor, 57, was banned from being a director for nine years in January for “repeatedly subverting the insolvency system”.
The patsy director was paid to sign up more than 400 companies by scheme mastermind John Irvin, the Largs-based boss of Atherton Corporate Ltd and other dodgy companies.
The Record has told how the former Snow Factor indoor ski slope in Barrhead, near Glasgow, of letters, basis, of people, debts activities property was shut down for ever after boss Smith did deals via Atherton. In September, the Government’s Insolvency Service shut down seven companies connected to Irvin’s Atherton scheme.
On the Fife company address used by the Atherton schemes, one source said: “The home is simply a mailbox service company.
“They get hundreds of letters, on a daily basis, from lots of people, all chasing debts.
“And then on top of that they get visits from HMRC, sheriff officers and police, which they could be doing without.
“The officials are typically looking for directors of various different companies, and they usually stem from one customer.”
The source added: “The police have been here a few times.”
To create an illusion of running a legitimate business, Taylor often listed his address as “Office 15” in the four-bedroom home.
We previously told how bogus directors such as Taylor replaced original bosses, who coughed up thousands of pounds to offload company liabilities.
Some directors simply shifted assets and kept going with their businesses – believing the Atherton promise that they will be debt-free.
Creditors are often deterred from recouping their money as assets have been moved out of the dying business and it would cost them more money to chase the debts they are owed. A mountain of mail has been collected, with most letters chasing debts for tax, utility bills, business rates and debts to suppliers and private individuals.
It is believed that tens of millions of pounds could have been written off – temporarily at least – at Dunnock Road.
More cash goes down the plughole as creditors pay for debt recovery, with some unaware directors such as Taylor have no intention of paying the debt.
Last August, liquidators were appointed to wind up Atherton Corporate (UK) Ltd and Atherton Corporate Rescue Limited.
In January, Taylor was banned from holding any UK directorship for nine years – specifically for his role as a facilitator for Irvin’s Atherton scheme.
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