The 53-year-old tenant, who had lived in the property since 2019, made several complaints to her landlord about defective plastering, damp, and leaks in her kitchen, living room, and utility room. The damp throughout the property resulted in smells and cold temperatures, making it impossible for Paula to host friends and family.

A surveyor report found that multiple bedroom doors were missing inside Paula’s home, making the property excessively cold.

Paula’s landlord, Barnsley Council, failed to resolve the issues despite her filing numerous complaints throughout the years.

After feeling neglected by her landlord, Paula contacted CEL Solicitors, experts in housing disrepair claims.

CEL Solicitors ordered a surveyor to assess Paula’s property, who confirmed it was unsafe for habitation. Barnsley Council, therefore, agreed to carry out the necessary repairs on the tenant’s home and Paula was successfully awarded £1,500. The landlord also agreed to pay an additional £500 compensation in recognition of the delay and distress caused to their tenant.

Commenting on the case, John Lowry, director and head of housing disrepair at CEL Solicitors, said:

“We are delighted that we can help out tenants like Paula.

“For many, housing conditions are at unacceptable levels, and urgent support is needed.

“At CEL Solicitors we do not stop until all the required work is completed. We fight to get the repairs and compensation that our clients are due.”

If you are suffering from disrepair to your property, then you may be eligible to make a housing disrepair claim. Get in touch with our experts on 0808 273 0900 or apply online. CEL Solicitors offer free initial legal advice. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there are no upfront costs.

How the investment scam occurred

Concerned that his savings and pension policies would not be enough to support him through his retirement, Derrick sought investment opportunities and came across a company named 7XFX. He then contacted a representative who helped him create a trading account.

The opportunity seemed legitimate to Derrick as he would receive frequent communication via email and phone and would be transferred through different departments in the business. Unbeknownst to our client, this is a tactic employed by the scammers to enhance their credibility and make them appear as a legitimate company.

The fraudsters scheduled calls with Derrick to discuss the investment, explaining that artificial intelligence (AI) would be used to help him make a profit. As an inexperienced investor, this seemed credible to him. The scammers also advised Derrick to download AnyDesk, a remote access software that allows scammers to take control of his computer and guide him through the trading platform.

Read more: Screen Share Scams Warning

Derrick’s initial trades showed profits which prompted him to invest more. The scammers encouraged further investments by offering ‘credit’ or trading capital in return for deposits.

In early 2022, our client was told that his account had suffered a significant loss due to the Russian-Ukraine war. He was then asked to pay an additional 20% of his withdrawal amount as supposed tax, which he did, believing it would allow him to withdraw his investment. When no funds were received, Derrick sadly realised he had been scammed.

Recovering money from an investment scam

Upon realising that he had been defrauded, Derrick swiftly reported the scam to his bank, Revolut, who failed to assist in retrieving his lost funds.

Derrick then contacted CEL Solicitors, experts in fraud and scam recovery, who successfully awarded him £293,650.

Tell CEL

Unfortunately, investment scams like Derrick’s are not uncommon as fraudsters will exploit their victim’s trust and lack of bank intervention.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to an investment scam, steps can be taken to recover your money. Speak with a member of our team by calling 0808 273 0900 or enquire online.

UK landlords must protect their tenant’s deposits in a government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving the payment. If a landlord does not comply with their legal duty upon receiving a deposit, tenants can bring a claim for the return of the deposit with additional compensation.

Our client, Leanne (whose name has been changed for anonymity), began their tenancy in early 2023 and paid a deposit of £875. Sadly, Leanne’s landlord failed in their legal duty to protect her deposit.

To make matters worse, Leanne struggled to live in the property as it suffered from various defects including a broken toilet, damage to the walls from damp, and no running water.

Read more: £2,000 for Private Renter Whose Deposit Wasn’t Protected

Eventually, Leanne contacted CEL Solicitors who confirmed that her landlord had a scheme with MyDeposits yet failed to provide them with Leanne’s deposit.

Based on these factors, CEL’s tenancy deposit team presented a strong case to Leanne’s landlord and successfully awarded her £1,500.

Commenting on the case, Trainee Solicitor, Melissa Moulsdale said:

“Negligent landlords failing to protect their tenants’ deposits could be down to many reasons, such as financial constraints or a general lack of knowledge around home ownership. However, this does not make them exempt from meeting their legal requirements.

“At CEL Solicitors, we are committed to acting for tenants who have been wronged by ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve. We would urge any tenant who finds themselves in a similar situation to seek legal help from ourselves.”

If you believe that your landlord has failed to protect your tenancy deposit, as they are legally obliged to do, then Tell CEL. Speak to our tenancy deposit team on 0808 273 0900 or complete our online form.

CEL Solicitors made a full recovery, plus interest, for a client who fell victim to a sophisticated eBay purchase scam.

How the eBay purchase scam occurred

Matt, a 52-year-old Production Manager, was in the process of building a house for himself and his family when he came across a digger for sale on eBay. Eager to complete the work on his property, Matt contacted the seller over eBay, who then asked to communicate with Matt over email.

Scammers will often ask to communicate outside of the platform where they originally found their victim. This way, they can avoid the protections and safeguards offered by the platform, making it harder for victims to dispute transactions or seek financial recovery.

Our client assumed that eBay had a vetting process for their sellers, and since he had not run into any issues previously, he believed that the listing was legitimate. Furthermore, Matt was provided with plenty of information and images of the vehicle before deciding to make the purchase.

The scammer informed our client that he would be able to deliver the digger within five days. He then sent Matt an invoice and explained that he would be refunded if he was not pleased with the vehicle upon arrival.

Matt sent over a total of £3,990 and waited for the vehicle to arrive. After the fifth day, he attempted to contact the seller but was unable to reach him. At this point, Matt sadly realised that he had been scammed.

Getting money back from a purchase scam

After learning that he had fallen victim to an eBay scam, Matt contacted Santander, who informed him that they were unable to help recover his losses.

Devastated at the news, Matt made one last attempt to regain his money and contacted CEL Solicitors who are experts in fraud and scam recovery.

We were successful in recovering the full £3,990 lost, plus additional compensation, which came to £4,825 in total.

Are eBay purchase scams common?

James Crossley, the Fraud Paralegal who handled Matt’s case, said:

“Online public marketplaces are rife with these kinds of purchase scams, especially eBay – where it is much more difficult to view the items before you purchase them.

“When using eBay to purchase goods, it is essential to pay on the platform. Never make bank transfers or use external payment links. This gives you more protection should the worst happen.

“Using a card to purchase the item, rather than a faster payment or bank transfer also gives you more regulatory protection should you fall victim to a purchase scam online.”

If you have purchased goods online that you never received, you may have options for getting your money back. At CEL Solicitors, we have a dedicated Fraud department on hand to help victims recover their money. Call 0808 273 0900 or complete an online form and a member of our team will help you as soon as possible.

Our client, Vanessa, a 71-year-old retiree from Bolton, received a phone call from a scammer claiming to work at Santander’s fraud team. They advised Vanessa that somebody was trying to access her bank account and because it had been compromised, she would need to move her money to a safe account.

Initially, the scammer instructed our client to move £90 to a Halifax account named ‘Branch manager’. Vanessa questioned why she had to send the money to Halifax, to which the fraudster informed her that it was to cover an insurance indemnity payment.

As Vanessa hesitated to send the cash over, the fraudster encouraged her to verify the number they were calling from, assuring her that it would confirm their identity as a Santander representative. Vanessa’s friend searched the phone number on Google, which appeared to show that it was Santander’s fraud department. However, unbeknownst to Vanessa, this was false information. The scammer also quoted one of Vanessa’s bank security questions, her mother’s maiden name, further convincing Vanessa that the scammers were legitimate.

After transferring thousands over to the fraudsters, Vanessa became doubtful and called Santander’s official number. Sadly, her bank confirmed that she had fallen victim to a cruel impersonation scam and that it was too late to stop the transactions.

Tell CEL

Devastated upon realising that she had lost money from her savings, Vanessa contacted CEL Solicitors’ fraud and scam recovery experts. Our team were successful in recovering Vanessa’s funds, along with interest, totaling £5,209.

Fraud paralegal, Demi Thomas, who handled Vanessa’s case, said:

“It is unfortunate that Vanessa has fallen victim to a scam despite her best efforts to verify the caller’s identity. Scammers can be incredibly convincing, and it is not uncommon for them to use sophisticated tactics to deceive their victims.

“In cases like this, it is crucial to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving unsolicited calls, even if the caller appears to have legitimate information. Always verify the identity of the caller independently, and never disclose sensitive information or transfer money without confirming the authenticity of the request.”

If you have lost money to an impersonation scam, you may be able to recover your money. Tell CEL today by calling 0808 273 0900 or begin your claim online.