Dear Mr Butler,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01-7306

We acknowledge your request for information received on 15 February 2018.

We are considering your request and you should receive a response 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 you 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.

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 2nd Floor Churchill House Churchill Way Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 02920 678400 Fax: 02920 678399
Email: [email address]
Website: https://ico.org.uk/

Yours sincerely

Y Swyddfa Rhyddid Gwybodaeth | Freedom of Information Office
Gwasanaethau Gweithredol a Phartneriaethol | Operational and Partnership Services
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-Y-Bont ar Ogwr | Bridgend County Borough CouncilFfon / Phone: (01656) 643473
Ffacs / Fax: (01656) 657899

E-bost / E-Mail [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]
Gwefan / Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Rhowch wybod i ni os mai Cymraeg yw eich dewis iaith.
We welcome correspondence in Welsh. Please let us know if your language choice is Welsh.

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Butler,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01- 7306

We refer to your email dated 16 February 2018 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:

Since 2002 the Fields Group Companies  now part of Fields Holdings have
operated a pseudo Law Firm starting with Fields Law / Action Direct UK and
now Endeavour Law Ltd

I appreciate you will only hold complaints from consumers and not
businesses.

I also understand you do not record the European, US or Worldwide
consumers and businesses affected by Fields despite the Bridgend based
company processing all payments from companies and individuals including
those for fake technical and research and development reports paid for by
credit and debit cards over the phone.

I wish to know the total  number of complaints received by trading
standard and consumer direct.

To include site visits, investigations and trading standards interventions
and reccomendations recorded against Fields Group many trading names,
entities and subsidiaries  - most operated by Fields Associates Ltd

Date Range from  1st Jan 2002 to 31st Jan 2018

Please list outcomes for

Consumer complaints

Trading Standards Service Requests

Trading Standards Enforcement Visits

Trading Standards Officer hours / cost to trading standards in managing
complaints of Fields Group Operations

Deatils to also include

Total Amount of the value of the claims from complainents and total
amounts

refunded

property seized and returned

actions / recommendations to prevent further deception / fraud against
consumers

Include in the Bridgend Borough and National Search for

Data Recovery Services Ltd Penarth aka Fields Group website
[1]www.datarecoveryspecialists.co.uk Fields Data Recovery Ltd Rapid Data
Recovery Ltd Action Direct UK Ltd Debt Survival UK Ltd Quickie Divorce Ltd
UK Digital Solutions Ltd Smart B2B Services Ltd First Claims Direct Ltd
Fields Associates Ltd Endevour Law Ltd Smart Company Formations Ltd
Compare IT Ltd

Please note that these following websites were in the past or still are
just a few used as trading names for the above and should therefore be
included in your search.

[2]www.fields-analytics.com

[3]www.comparedatarecovery.co.uk

[4]www.Fields-associates.co.uk

[5]www.hard-drive-data-recovery.co.uk

[6]www.datarecoveryspecialists.co.uk

[7]www.rapid-data.net

[8]www.fields-data-recovery.com

[9]www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk

[10]www.pronto-dati.com

[11]www.dataphoenix.co.uk

[12]www.salvataggio-dati.com

[13]www.datenphoenix.de

[14]www.recuperacionexpress.net

[15]www.clinique-de-donnees.fr

[16]www.computerforensicsspecialists.co.uk

[17]www.www.clean-break.co.uk

[18]www.www.managed-divorce.co.uk

[19]www.solicitor-divorce.com

[20]www.uk-divorce-uk.com

[21]www.cohabitation-agreement.co.uk

[22]www.divorce-solicitor.net

[23]www.pre-nuptial-agreement.co.uk

[24]www.separation-agreement.co.uk

[25]www.injunction-direct.com

[26]www.injunction-online.com

[27]www.tribunal-action.com

[28]www.tribunal-online.com

[29]www.visaaction.co.uk

[30]www.custody-action.com

[31]www.driving-theorytest.co.uk

[32]www.ukds.net

[33]www.ukdigitalsolutions.com

[34]www.online-conveyancing.net

[35]www.which-mortgage.net

[36]www.lushdates.com

[37]www.ukds-recruitment.com

[38]www.smartcompanyformations.co.uk

[39]www.smartsitesolutions.net

[40]www.smart-payroll.co.uk

[41]www.smart-businessplans.co.uk

[42]www.smart-b2b.com

Whilst we can confirm that we hold complaint data in relation to Fields
Group and their subsidiaries we have estimated that the cost of complying
with your request will exceed £450.  We have made this calculation in
accordance with Regulation 4 of the Freedom of Information and Data
Protection (Appropriate Limits and Fees Regulations) 2004. This
calculation was based on an hourly rate of £25.00 for the cost of
locating, retrieving and extracting information involved in the processing
of your request.

We have calculated that it will take in excess of 18 hours to retrieve all
the information requested from our systems for the entire date range
requested.

Under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act we are not obliged to
comply with a request for information if we estimate that the cost of
compliance would exceed £450.  This letter is therefore a formal Refusal
Notice under section 17(5) of the Act.

It may be that we can supply some information if you can refine or reduce
your request to more manageable proportions and resubmit your request so
that it brings the cost within the appropriate limit.

Alternatively, if you wish to pay a full search and retrieval fee, we may
be prepared to consider your request under Section 13 of the Freedom of
Information Act which allows us to charge a fee where the estimated costs
exceed the £450.00 limit. 

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

Corporate Director, Operational and

Partnership Services and 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

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Tel:  02920 678400

Fax:  02920 678399

E:mail : [43][email address]

Website:  [44]www.ico.org.uk

Yours sincerely

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643565

Email: [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]

show quoted sections

Dear Sir/Madam

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01-7306

We acknowledge your refined request for information received on 19 March
2018.

We are considering your request and you should receive a response 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 you 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.

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

2nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Telephone: 02920 678400 Fax: 02920 678399

Email: [email address]

Website: https://ico.org.uk/

Yours sincerely

Y Swyddfa Rhyddid Gwybodaeth | Freedom of Information Office

Gwasanaethau Gweithredol a Phartneriaethol  |  Operational and Partnership
Services

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-Y-Bont ar Ogwr | Bridgend County Borough
Council

Ffon / Phone: (01656) 643473

Ffacs / Fax: (01656) 657899

E-bost / E-Mail [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]

Gwefan / Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Rhowch wybod i ni os mai Cymraeg
yw eich dewis iaith.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh. Please let us know if your language
choice is Welsh.

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Butler,  

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01- 7306

We refer to your email dated 19 March 2018 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:

Will removing the results from a previous search reduce the time needed
for this request

[1]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/f...

Obviously I am concerned that costs are kept to a minimum having helped
many get refunds from Fields Associates Ltd I too am put at considerable
inconvenience and financial disadvantage helping those who have been
scammed by

Rapid Data

Data Recovery Specialists

Fields Data Recovery

Dataphoenix

Comparedatarecovery

Whilst we can confirm that we hold the information requested, we have
estimated that the cost of complying with your request will exceed £450. 
We have made this calculation in accordance with Regulation 4 of the
Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limits and Fees
Regulations) 2004. This calculation was based on an hourly rate of £25.00
for the cost of locating, retrieving and extracting information involved
in the processing of your request.

In February of 2017, we moved to a new Database System and not all data
was transferred, which means that we would have to duplicate the search in
each of the systems. We have calculated that it would take more than 18
hours, as this is only allowing half an hour per company to look at
Service Requests, Inspections, Visits, Miscellaneous Activities,
Prosecutions etc. without allowing for calculating the Officer hours and
financial side of the request.

Information Requested:

·         Consumer complaints

·         Trading Standards Service Requests

·         Trading Standards Enforcement Visits

·         Trading Standards Officer hours / cost to trading standards in
managing complaints of Fields Group Operations

·         Details to also include

·         Total Amount of the value of the claims from complainants and
total amounts refunded

·         property seized and returned

·         actions / recommendations to prevent further deception / fraud
against consumers

Under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act we are not obliged to
comply with a request for information if we estimate that the cost of
compliance would exceed £450.  This letter is therefore a formal Refusal
Notice under section 17(5) of the Act.

It may be that we can supply some information if you can refine or reduce
your request to more manageable proportions and resubmit your request so
that it brings the cost within the appropriate limit.

Alternatively, if you wish to pay a full search and retrieval fee, we may
be prepared to consider your request under Section 13 of the Freedom of
Information Act which allows us to charge a fee where the estimated costs
exceed the £450.00 limit. 

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

Corporate Director, Operational and

Partnership Services and 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

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Tel:  02920 678400

Fax:  02920 678399

E:mail : [2][email address]

Website:  [3]www.ico.org.uk

Yours sincerely

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643565

Email: [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Butler

I write in response to your email dated 13 April. After discussion with our client department have advised that they now revisited your requests and now believe that they will be able provide a response to you.

Please be assured that your requests are receiving attention and responses to both will be provided in due course.

Yours sincerely

Y Swyddfa Rhyddid Gwybodaeth | Freedom of Information Office
Gwasanaethau Gweithredol a Phartneriaethol | Operational and Partnership Services
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-Y-Bont ar Ogwr | Bridgend County Borough Council
Ffon / Phone: (01656) 643473
Ffacs / Fax: (01656) 657899

E-bost / E-Mail [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]
Gwefan / Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk

Dilynwch ni ar
Follow us on

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Rhowch wybod i ni os mai Cymraeg yw eich dewis iaith.
We welcome correspondence in Welsh. Please let us know if your language choice is Welsh.

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Butler,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST X01- 7306

We refer to your email dated 19 March 2018 which contained a request for
information as set out in italics below. A response was provided on 13
April 2018; however having re-visited your request we are able to provide
a response which is set out in the attached document.

Since 2002 the Fields Group Companies now part of Fields Holdings have 
operated a pseudo Law Firm starting with Fields Law / Action Direct UK
and  now Endeavour Law Ltd

I wish to know the total  number of complaints received by trading
standard and consumer direct.

To include site visits, investigations and trading standards interventions
and recommendations recorded against Fields Group many trading names,
entities and subsidiaries  - most operated by Fields Associates Ltd

Date Range from  1st Jan 2002 to 31st Jan 2018

Please list outcomes for

Consumer complaints

Trading Standards Service Requests

Trading Standards Enforcement Visits

Trading Standards Officer hours / cost to trading standards in managing
complaints of Fields Group Operations

Details to also include

Total Amount of the value of the claims from complainants and total
amounts

refunded

property seized and returned

actions / recommendations to prevent further deception / fraud against
consumers

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

Corporate Director, Operational and

Partnership Services and 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

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

Tel:  02920 678400

Fax:  02920 678399

E:mail : [1][email address]

Website:  [2]www.ico.org.uk

Yours sincerely

--

Freedom of Information Office

Bridgend County Borough Council

Level 2, Civic Offices

Angel Street

Bridgend

CF31 4WB

Tel: 01656 643565

Email: [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]

[3]Ewch i'n gwefan newydd a chofrestrwch a gyfer Fy Nghyfrif heddiw. Visit
our new website and sign up to My Account today.

Dilynwch ni ar [4]Facebook    [5]Twitter    [6]Instagram    [7]YouTube
Follow us on

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Butler

I write to acknowledge receipt of your email below.

If you have concerns about the companies trading in the Bridgend area, you are able to raise them with the Trading Standards department who are part of the Shared Regulatory Services.

I attach a link to their website which contains contact details to assist you.

http://www.srs.wales/en/Home.aspx

Please note they will not be able to correspond with you via the whatdotheyknow website as this is used for the Freedom of Information process only.

Yours sincerely

Y Swyddfa Rhyddid Gwybodaeth | Freedom of Information Office
Gwasanaethau Gweithredol a Phartneriaethol | Operational and Partnership Services
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-Y-Bont ar Ogwr | Bridgend County Borough Council
Ffon / Phone: (01656) 643473
Ffacs / Fax: (01656) 657899

E-bost / E-Mail [Bridgend County Borough Council request email]
Gwefan / Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk

show quoted sections