This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-29551227
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Dragons' Den man Danny Bamping sues council for £5m | Dragons' Den man Danny Bamping sues council for £5m |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A businessman made bankrupt over non-payment of council tax has begun legal action against the authority for millions of pounds in lost earnings. | A businessman made bankrupt over non-payment of council tax has begun legal action against the authority for millions of pounds in lost earnings. |
Danny Bamping, 40, appeared on Dragons' Den with his Bedlam Cube game in 2005. | Danny Bamping, 40, appeared on Dragons' Den with his Bedlam Cube game in 2005. |
But his business collapsed after Plymouth City Council issued a bankruptcy order in 2012. An ombudsman later said the council was at fault. | But his business collapsed after Plymouth City Council issued a bankruptcy order in 2012. An ombudsman later said the council was at fault. |
The council said it had worked "incredibly hard" to collect the tax in the "most efficient ways". | The council said it had worked "incredibly hard" to collect the tax in the "most efficient ways". |
Father-of-one Mr Bamping, of Hillside Avenue, Plymouth, appeared on the BBC Two TV show Dragons' Den with his game which involves fitting 13 shapes into a box. | Father-of-one Mr Bamping, of Hillside Avenue, Plymouth, appeared on the BBC Two TV show Dragons' Den with his game which involves fitting 13 shapes into a box. |
He refused £100,000 help from the Dragons, opting for a bank loan instead, but says his business which produced a number of games flourished. | He refused £100,000 help from the Dragons, opting for a bank loan instead, but says his business which produced a number of games flourished. |
He employed 15 people, selling his products "around the world", with a multi-million pound turnover. | He employed 15 people, selling his products "around the world", with a multi-million pound turnover. |
In 2006 his firm Bedlam Puzzles was named Plymouth Business of the Year. | In 2006 his firm Bedlam Puzzles was named Plymouth Business of the Year. |
But in a row with Plymouth City Council he stopped paying council tax in 2009, saying it was in protest at landlords of student-occupied properties being exempt. | But in a row with Plymouth City Council he stopped paying council tax in 2009, saying it was in protest at landlords of student-occupied properties being exempt. |
After a series of requests including sending in bailiffs failed, the authority issued a bankruptcy order against Mr Bamping. | After a series of requests including sending in bailiffs failed, the authority issued a bankruptcy order against Mr Bamping. |
Mr Bamping said his life had been "destroyed". As a result of being made bankrupt he had to resign his directorships and three companies were dissolved. | Mr Bamping said his life had been "destroyed". As a result of being made bankrupt he had to resign his directorships and three companies were dissolved. |
But he claims investors had already been "scared off" in 2011 when he received a statutory demand for the council tax from the council. | But he claims investors had already been "scared off" in 2011 when he received a statutory demand for the council tax from the council. |
He said: "Investors were just about to invest in my companies. I had just signed a licensing deal with Coca-Cola. | He said: "Investors were just about to invest in my companies. I had just signed a licensing deal with Coca-Cola. |
"I was doing really well and had big accounts with major retailers. That was just taken away from me. Everything was whipped from my feet." | "I was doing really well and had big accounts with major retailers. That was just taken away from me. Everything was whipped from my feet." |
The local government ombudsman ruled, referring to Mr Bamping as Mr C, that the council was at fault for not publishing a "formal published debt recovery policy" and its "decision-making process was not adequately documented". | The local government ombudsman ruled, referring to Mr Bamping as Mr C, that the council was at fault for not publishing a "formal published debt recovery policy" and its "decision-making process was not adequately documented". |
The ombudsman concluded: "I found that there was fault by the council in this case, but it did not lead to significant injustice for Mr C." | The ombudsman concluded: "I found that there was fault by the council in this case, but it did not lead to significant injustice for Mr C." |
Mr Bamping, who is now discharged from bankruptcy and is hoping to restart the business, has started legal action to recover what he claims is more than £5m in loss of earnings and damages. | Mr Bamping, who is now discharged from bankruptcy and is hoping to restart the business, has started legal action to recover what he claims is more than £5m in loss of earnings and damages. |
He maintains that he has suffered "significant injustice" and has issued a "letter of claim" to the authority, the first step in taking legal action. | He maintains that he has suffered "significant injustice" and has issued a "letter of claim" to the authority, the first step in taking legal action. |
He said: "I don't want to take anyone from the council to court but I want to find a financial remedy for damages because of what I suffered through their actions. | |
"There can never be an insignificant injustice. It had a massively devastating effect on my life." | "There can never be an insignificant injustice. It had a massively devastating effect on my life." |
The council said in a statement: "We encourage the simplest methods of payment for residents which are less likely to result in arrears, such as, payment through wages and direct debit. | The council said in a statement: "We encourage the simplest methods of payment for residents which are less likely to result in arrears, such as, payment through wages and direct debit. |
"We ensure that swift reminders are issued if payments are missed and we have a robust debt recovery process that results in the majority of arrears being paid." | "We ensure that swift reminders are issued if payments are missed and we have a robust debt recovery process that results in the majority of arrears being paid." |
Previous version
1
Next version