MP taking legal action over ‘untrue’ business complaints
A NEWLY-ELECTED Welsh Conservative MP says his company is taking legal action against a local authority over a disclosure under the Freedom of Information which said there had been more than 800 complaints to its trading standards department about his group of businesses.
Jamie Wallis became the MP for Bridgend last week, ousting Labour’s Madeleine Moon, who had held the seat since 2005.
Mr Wallis is the director of a data recovery company based at nearby Pencoed called the Fields Group.
A Freedom of Information request received by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) from an unnamed member of the public asked: “I wish to know the exact number of complaints, trading standard site visits, investigation and trading standards interventions recorded against Fields Group Ltd and its many trading names and subsidiaries across Europe – most operated by Fields Associates Ltd. In particular: 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, Endeavour Law Ltd.”
The council responded: “For the time period indicated – January 1, 2008 to February 17, 2017 – this section has received 829 complaints, 64 service requests, 20 enforcement visits in relation to the trading entities identified.
“The authority does not hold information in relation to subsidiary [sic] across Europe.”
Mr Wallis said: “The figures being quoted by Bridgend council are completely untrue.
“At no time in the last five years has anyone from trading standards visited my family business.
“My company has therefore commenced legal action against Bridgend council’s untrue claims; BCBC have asked for more time to consider the matter, and until the conclusion of this process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”
A spokesman for Bridgend County Borough Council said: “The council can confirm that it has received a letter before action from Fields Group Ltd.
“This relates to FOI responses previously provided by Bridgend County Borough Council.
“As there may be ongoing proceedings, the council cannot comment further at this stage.”
In 2011, as reported on our webiste WalesOnline, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) prevented another company of which Mr Wallis was a director at the time from taking on new clients to represent them in employment tribunal cases.
Action Direct (UK), also based at
Pencoed, agreed to the restrictions following an investigation carried out by the Claims Management Regulator, part of the MoJ.
The regulator’s ruling stated: “Action Direct (UK) Ltd must not, in relation to employment claims management services, advertise for, or otherwise seek out, persons who may have a cause of action. That includes removing all advertising, including websites; represent a claimant, whether in writing or orally, and regardless of the tribunal, body or person to or before which or whom the representation is made.”
Mr Wallis said: “There has been no change since the article published by WalesOnline in 2011.
“For the avoidance of doubt the company voluntarily requested the removal of certification from activities it no longer wished to pursue as part of a strategic review conducted by myself. I have not been a director of this company since February 2012.”