Fields Group / Trading Standards Working relationship going back 5 years

Dear Mr Butler,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST 3049

We acknowledge your request for information received on 17^th June 2011.

We are considering your request and you should receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the
information is exempt or we require additional time to consider whether
disclosure is in the public interest in accordance with section 2 of the
Freedom of Information Act.

We will try to supply information in electronic format by email, but if
this is not possible we will let you know. If you have any special
requirements e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let us
know.

The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will
consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption
categories do apply then the information will not be released. We will
tell you if this is the case, and will have a right of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. We will tell you if this is the case.

You may have to pay a fee for this information. We will consider this and
let you know. If so you will have to pay the fee before we process and
release the information. The 20 working day time limit for responses will
not start until we receive your payment.

If you have any queries or concerns, then please contact me directly. You
can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office - Wales
Cambrian Buildings

Mount Stuart Square

Cardiff, CF10 5FL

Telephone: 02920 2044 8044 Fax: 02920 2044 8045

Email: [1][email address]

[2]http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.u...

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643129

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST 3049

Dear Mr Sir/Madam,

We are currently in the process of collating the information that you have
requested. Due to the amount of work that is involved we require an
extension in order respond to your request sent to us on 17^th June 2011.

I hope that no longer than ten working days will be sufficient to provide
a response, however please be assured that a response will be provided
sooner if at all possible.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your freedom of
information request.

Yours faithfully

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643129

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

show quoted sections

Dear Sir or Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST 3049

I refer to your email dated 17^th June 2011, which contained the following
request for information. Following consideration of your request, and in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I respond as follows
to your questions set out below:

re Fields Group, Quickie Divorce, Fields Associates, Injunction Direct,
Llifetime Wills, Managed Divorce, Rapid Data, Dataphoenix, Action Direct,
Tribunal Action, Visa Application and dozens of other document spooling
websites.

Following a recent court case where a Fields Group solicitor claimed they
have "a good working relationship with Bridgend Trading Standards going
back 5 years " but were mulcted by the Judge. The recent conviction in
Cardiff Law Courts of Fields Associates ex- head of operations for
misrepresentation. The removal of Fields Group Investor in People status
after the Welsh Assembly records had been found to be wrong.

And:

The serving of High Court Injunctions by Fields (who claim to serve 10%
of all Injunctions issued annually ) which resulted in my sustaining head
and neck injuries and being hospitalised after being pushed by Fields
process server.

The fact that there have been many out of court refunds and settlements
given to some of their victims who have complained through the website
[1]www.data-recovery-blog.co.uk and [2]www.data-recovery.com

I would like to know how many complaints against the Fields Group that
Trading Standards has investigated in the last 5 years have actually
resulted in a refund or compensation being paid and in which years.

I can confirm that this Council has investigated or intervened in ten (10)
cases which resulted in a refund or compensation for the consumer
following a complaint against businesses operating under the Fields Group
umbrella since June 2006.

I hope that this information satisfies your request. However, if you
require further information please do not hesitate to contact us. If you
are dissatisfied with the handling of the request, under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 you have the right to request a review of the
Council's response to your request for information. If you wish to
request a review, please write to:

Mr P A Jolley

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory
Services

& Monitoring Officer

Bridgend County Borough Council

Civic Offices, Angel Street

Bridgend, CF31 4WB

within 28 days of the date of this letter. If you remain dissatisfied
with the outcome of that review, you may seek further recourse by lodging
an appeal with the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office - Wales

Cambrian Buildings

Mount Stuart Square

Cardiff, CF10 5FL

Tel: 02920 2044 8044

Fax: 02920 2044 8045

E:mail : [3][email address]

Website: [4]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours faithfully

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643129

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

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Dear Sir/Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST X01 - 79

We acknowledge your request for information received on 27 July 2011.

We are considering your request and you should receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, unless the information is exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in the public interest in accordance with section 2 of the Freedom of Information Act.

We will try to supply information in electronic format by email, but if this is not possible we will let you know. If you have any special requirements e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let us know.

The Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption categories do apply then the information will not be released. We will tell you if this is the case, and will have a right of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release the information to you. We will tell you if this is the case.

You may have to pay a fee for this information. We will consider this and let you know. If so you will have to pay the fee before we process and release the information. The 20 working day time limit for responses will not start until we receive your payment.

If you have any queries or concerns, then please contact me directly. You can find out more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner’s Office – Wales
Cambrian Buildings
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff, CF10 5FL
Telephone: 02920 2044 8044 Fax: 02920 2044 8045
Email: [email address]
http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.u...

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643129

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

show quoted sections

To: A Butler

Dear Sir/Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01- 79

We refer to your email dated 27 July 2011 which contained a request for
information as set out in italics below. Following consideration of your
request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I respond
to each point as follows:

Re Fields Group, Quickie Divorce, Fields Associates, Injunction Direct,
Llifetime Wills, Managed Divorce, Rapid Data, Dataphoenix, Action
Direct,Tribunal Action, Visa Application and dozens of other document
spooling websites.

Please clarify in which years the 10 trading standards interventions took
place and the total number of complaints lodged with Trading standards
since 2006 up to this date.

A breakdown of when the 10 complaints were received over the past five
years is as follows:

2008: 2

2009: 3

2010: 5

A total of 571 complaints or enquiries have been made to the department in
relation to Fields Group businesses since January 1^st, 2006.

I hope this response satisfies your request. If you are dissatisfied with
the handling of the request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you
have the right to request a review of the Council's response to your
request for information. If you wish to request a review, please write
to:

Mr P A Jolley

Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services

& Monitoring Officer

Bridgend County Borough Council

Civic Offices,

Angel Street

Bridgend, CF31 4WB

within 28 days of the date of this letter. If you remain dissatisfied
with the outcome of that review, you may seek further recourse by lodging
an appeal with the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office - Wales

Cambrian Buildings

Mount Stuart Square

Cardiff, CF10 5FL

Tel: 02920 2044 8044

Fax: 02920 2044 8045

E:mail : [1][email address]

Website: [2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643129

Email: [Bridgend Council request email]

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