Dear Mr XXXX
We have spoken to a neighbouring business who advised that your debtors shop has not been opened for a few months and he has had numerous people coming in about them. He said he is aware that they took a lot of deposits and then left. Seemed to think this was a scam.
Unfortunately the director of the business has used the same address as his registered office and we are therefore unable to locate any further information on this company.
We are unable to assist any further.
retro72: it was from a law firm i used for debt collection
I have a friend who lives in Stockport. I called him last night and asked him to look into Alpha for me.
I'm sorry to say, I just got off the phone with him and he corroborated everything in benjamin07's post. Alpha haven't been there for months. Apparently there was a flurry of early activity, lots of "shady characters" coming and going even a Ferrari turned up a few times, then a few months ago they shut up shop and haven't been back.
This is no longer a small claims matter, this is now a police matter. I would suggest you contact Action Fraud
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ And report Alpha to the local police
http://www.gmp.police.uk/Live/Nhoodv3.nsf/community.html?ReadForm&Division=South%20Manchester&Area=Longsight&Community=Rusholme.
Again I'm sorry to say this but I think your chances of recovering any funds are very low, all you can reasonably hope for at this point is a criminal prosecution.
Anyone still members of the Alpha forum needs to PM customers over there to alert them to this. I think this has moved from incompetent negligence to criminal intent to defraud and no one should part with any more money.