‘ … On this issue you seem unwilling to listen, learn or improve’
Energy Secretary Ed Davey has today told Peverel chief executive Janet Entwistle to pay a “much larger compensatory offer” for running a price-fixing cartel.
In December Peverel subsidiary Cirrus was found to have been running bid-rigging tendering for contracts worth £1.4 million at 65 retirement sites.
The scam operated between 2005 and 2009, when Peverel was owned by the Tchenguiz organisation. Now under new owners – venture capitalists Electra and Chamonix – Peverel has offered only a “goodwill” payment of £100,000 to the sites that were conned.
Entwistle (below), a great advocate of legal mediation in other matters – it keeps Peverel’s name out of the courts – has rejected Sir Peter Bottomley’s suggestion that this issue be handed over to an independent mediator.
“Since the OFT has ruled that you have operated a bid rigged system that is very much something which a mediator can now consider to determine the likely level of price inflation that has resulted from your actions.
“The position that you seem to be putting forward is “accept our offer or take us to court”. His hardly matched your code of conduct where you say you “never take advantage of those in a vulnerable position”. Or your customer charter where you say “If we get it wrong we will work hard to put it right as quickly as we can, keep you informed and learn from our mistakes.”
“You also claim ‘we will ask for your views and listen to what you say, so we can learn and improve.’ On this issue you seem unwilling to listen, learn or improve.
“Do you think it ethical that your company now forces these pensioners who have suffered as the result of your bid-rigging to now go to court to obtain compensation?
“You make great play of the fact that your management is somehow different from the previous owners but in this case your behaviour does no seem reflected in your attitude.”
Related posts:
Janet Entwistle says no current Peverel staff ‘linked’ to Cirrus scam
‘Not everything about Peverel was wonderful,’ says Janet Entwistle
No change over Cirrus retirement scam, says Entwistle, although Peverel leaves an open goal for compo claims
Cabinet minister celebrates Charter Quay ‘independence day’ as it breaks free from ‘monstrous companies’: Tchenguiz and Peverel
Three MPs tell Entwistle to pay up more over Peverel / Cirrus scandal, or accept binding mediation
Leasehold Advisory Service to Bottomley: two more weeks to investigate Benjamin Mire
Could a factor in Peverel offering a derisory £100,000 “goodwill” payment as a result of the price fixing simply be that they do not have enough money left to offer any more?
“never take advantage of those in a vulnerable position”.
From the article.
Pervel knows where the money which belongs to Vulnerable Pensioners has gone. In order to bring justice to leasehold property owners, the investigation and pressure should continue until the justice is done. There is no other way.
Simin
How can we check that our development, who paid £22,000.00 for 29 Warden Call Telephones, was part of the Cartel Price Fixing when the management refuse to provide the Tender Documentation which I asked for in March 2010/11.
The Area Manager had stated that a lightening strike had taken out the outdated Warden Call System in 2007/08
This is the same system that we were informed the previous year 206/07, that the system we had installed was outdated and parts were impossible to get if a repair was needed?
We now are aware that the recent Whistle Blower from Peverel Retirement informed us that at 19 years old the Peverel Management would begin informing us that the Warden Call System was outdated and no longer repairable, we were built in 2005/06?
Our residents average age is over 80 and as the Whistle Blower stated, we were ripe for the picking as no one would challenge the need to replace the system?
This was the way Peverel worked and had a captive audience for years???
Chas,
An old Red Indian saying.
When Peverel talk of lightening they speak with Forked Tongue..
(if any one thinks that joke is not Apache on my others i will Sioux!)