HBOS victims’ pleas ignored by City grandee

A COUPLE who exposed a bank fraud were rubbished by City grandee Sir Win Bischoff when he was Lloyds chairman, leaked documents reveal.

Bischoff told Paul and nikki Turner the bank was not to blame for their plight after their music publishing business failed. But seven years later, the couple were last month handed a multi-millionpound settlement as Lloyds admitted they had suffered ‘significant personal distress’.

Critics said it raised questions over Bischoff and his role as chairman of the Financial Reporting Council watchdog.

Treasury Select Committee member Labour MP Wes Streeting, said: ‘What remains unaddressed is that so many people who continue to occupy senior positions didn’t see a case for acting more responsibly early in the process, and sought to dismiss and undermine a serious complaint.’

The Turners’ firm was wrecked by criminal bankers at the Reading branch of Hbos, which was later bought by Lloyds. It set the couple on a decade-long path to uncover the truth. In 2010, soon after Bischoff became chairman, they sent him a list of allegations explaining how firms were ruined for a profit by the Reading bankers.

Many of these claims were proven earlier this year when the gang was jailed for a total of 50 years. But instead of apologising and compensating the Turners, Lloyds and Hbos sent in lawyers and tried to evict them from their home 22 times.

In a letter to Bischoff, the couple accused Lloyds of using ‘lies, threats and intimidation’. But Bischoff said: ‘your present financial difficulties are not directly attributable to the matters you have complained of.’

Lloyds said: ‘We are determined to get to the bottom of what went on, and a thorough investigation is being conducted.’ The FRC said it was a matter for Lloyds, and Bischoff declined to comment.