FORMER customers of a rogue Glasgow factor are being chased by a debt collection agency for outstanding fees supposedly owed to the failed business.
But the angry customers are reluctant to cough up, claiming the factor did not hold up their end of the bargain.
As revealed in the Evening Times last week, FSE (Scotland) Ltd was placed into liquidation in March, leaving a string of people out of pocket.
The liquidated firm's assets were bought by a newly-created firm called Apex Property Factor. Apex's sole director is Christine Davidson-Bakhshaee, a former FSE employee.
FSE did not pass on money paid to them by customers for buildings insurance premiums to a major UK insurance firm, meaning some customers were not insured for a period without their knowledge.
Now customers who are being asked to hand over outstanding fees to FSE's liquidators KPMG say it is a step too far.
The customers received letters from debt recovery firm Thornton Hope, working on behalf of KPMG.
A resident of Kelvinbridge, who asked not to be named but was a customer of FSE, said: "I got a letter from a debt recovery agency called Thornton Hope last week asking for outstanding fees owed to FSE to be paid to them.
"Considering everything that happened with FSE, I was outraged that this company had the cheek to ask me for money.
"I have since heard that the liquidators KPMG are legally obliged to ask for any money owed to FSE, but I will still not be paying."
Blair Nimmo, joint liquidator and head of restructuring for KPMG in Scotland, confirmed his firm was bound by law to try recover all debt when acting as liquidator.
Mr Nimmo said: "We are pursuing debts based on information provided to us by the company. We have since learned that certain of the company's information is not entirely accurate.
"Any customer in receipt of a letter from Thornton Hope who believes that the stated debt is not due or payable should contact Thornton Hope using the contact details on their letter to explain why the debt is not due, providing supporting information where possible."
stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk
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