Internet landbanking scam exposed
1. Jane04/07/2007 09:30:21
We bought a plot from Townfield, they sounded very convincing and all the documentation was very professionally produced, it now looks like we were well and truly scammed, I think we now own a very expensive veggy plot in Southwold liable to flooding.... YIPPEE
2. Rik05/07/2007 12:58:37
I bought a very expensive piece of land from a company called property spy about 3-4 years ago in St Albans. Does anybody know of a group public or government who are trying to seek justice and if possible trying to get their money back. Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.
3. H06/07/2007 14:10:17
I also bought a plot of land from property spy 18 months ago.Can you contact me if you have bought land in ruislip.So that we can organise a group forum for that site and decide what action to take as a group.my email/nl004h8833@blueyonder.co.uk
4. kelly11/07/2007 20:09:49
So what happend to all the directors of these three companies. Surely they are now struck off?? or are they free to start up new companies????:-
5. comment posted by [removed]15/07/2007 13:57:08
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
6. ss19/07/2007 14:22:47
I have read all what is been published on this web site.
I ahve been a victim of the scam with a company called eglish land partenership.I recently gathered that the company is wound up now.How can I go about recovering my money? Can anyone advise?
7. Harish23/07/2007 16:15:06
I have also bought a plot of land in Ruslip from Property Spy. I would like to keep in touch with others who have bought Plot of Land in Ruslip from Property Spy
8. peter09/08/2007 21:20:35
has any one bought from consollidated land uk
9. Alan10/08/2007 07:53:32
Consollidated land uk, when they ring you and try to bull**** your ear ask them this , im very interested thankyou very much but 1st i would like to speak with the local planning office in that area and 2nd ill nead to discuss it with my wife as we have joint finance .
You see how fast they run away ! 
10. Elliot14/08/2007 11:06:39
I to bought through Townfield and it looks like it is money down the drain. This is so frustrating and I cannot believe I was conned. As Jane says, all the material was so professional. Additionally I did not buy online but personally spoke to agents and people involved. I don't think we can expect to recover anything as the liquidators fees will have to be paid. However it would be nice to know who we can actuall speak to?
As far as UKLi and other land companies go, I would advise people to stay well away from it all at this stage. I have spoken to UKLI a number of times and they do seem to still be in business though which has to be a good sign if you have actually bought.
11. carly18/08/2007 21:08:37
Consolidated land are trying to sell plots on agricultural land on Romney Marsh on kent to unsuspecting buyers. Beware, the entire plot (which they are splitting into dozens, has permission to convert the one existing building and that is only because the local planning department wanted to restore the radar station for historical reasons. There is absolutely no way you will get planning on this site as its virtually a nature reserve. BEWARE YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED - there is no way the plots are worth £15K, land near here goes for a maximum of £2K for a whole acre let alone a measly plot like the ones the are selling.
12. Manju20/08/2007 11:00:14
I bought two plots of land from property spy, one in Little Chalfont and the other in Stevenage, 18 months ago. I am devastated to know that these people have wound up from land business , I am stuck with the investment and require advice to off load it, can other people who bought from property spy come together to form a forum to see what can be done about it, my e mail is manjuporwal@yahoo.co.uk
13. Nico21/08/2007 22:24:37
I am very familiar with CLUK infact I work for them I had no idea that any of this was going on. 
14. G23/08/2007 16:36:05
hi, does anyone know anything more about Consolidated Land UK. They have contacted me to sell me some land on Trinity Square. Is this the same as the one mentionned in comment 11 above posted 18//2007.
Does anyone know of any genuine land for sale?
15. James Mugo26/08/2007 06:13:22
I bought a plot of land at Southwold from Townfield after carefully doing my research: lengthy talk with agents-casle oak, going in person to Townfield's office in Bournemouth and physically visiting the Southwold plot where the vendor met with me. Townfield looked very professional but it has turned out to be a scam!!! I can't believe it!
Townfield represented to me that they had a key figure working with the local authority for planning permission to be granted within the next 2-3 years. That was the "carrot" that had the greatest influence in my decision to buy the plot. In the absence of any other reason to claim damages from them, the latter is phenomenal. If anyone else is in my position, we can join forces assuming Townfield is solent.
16. I can help you!!!!!!!!28/08/2007 17:35:12
I am about to go in for a job in consolidated land and wil find out all i can about this scam i am only going in for the training to find out more........
17. Peter28/08/2007 22:55:18
I brought a plot from Consolidated Land UK in Kent. Everything looks good to me and my Financial Advisor. One happy camper here.
18. PropertySCAM29/08/2007 09:04:44
Peter - Would that plot be at "Trinity Square"?
This is actually a former radar station that has permission solely to convert the existing building and is in an area that would not receive planning permission for any new build at all. The local council only gave permission for the conversion because they wanted to preserve the historic nature of the building and planning was refused to convert a nearby smaller building (and refused again on appeal). A previous owner of the site has a restrictive covenant on it which prohibits anything other than a single residential dwelling on the site.
Who is your financial advisor? You may want to have a word with him about this.
Or could it just be that you are not who you say you are?
19. Ab29/08/2007 12:49:42
I have had an interesting exp with consolidated Lank UK. They called my home number and talked to my wife.. she said she was interested in having a look at the brochure and a very eager agent said, "we'd reserve one of the plots in Trinity square for you".. Subsequently I did some investigations and also had a look at the previous comments posted on this site. When the agent called up the net time I told him I was not interested and after a while he went ballistic and threatened me.. said that I have your address and you'll see what I can do.. you have wasted my time and blah blah.. I was considering making a formal police complaint because of the threat but eventually just talked to one of the other guys there who apologised and said my data will be deleted from their system and action would be taken against that guy.
I am actually not going to rest until I get a formal letter from them confirming that my data has been deleted under Data protection act. I am also considering going to Trading Services Agency to report this.
Any suggestions on what else I should do would be appreciated. But my advice - keep off them. I don't know whether that piece of land is worth the money or not but their sales is appalling.
20. Martin30/08/2007 16:21:29
I just took a call from Consolidated Land this afternoon trying to get me to part with my money even though I told him 4 times I wasn't buying. I was lucky to find this site last year when it helped me decide to get onto UKLI to get my money back on a plot. It only worked because I was lucky I hadn't signed the deeds yet.
21. Sue30/08/2007 17:20:04
Does anyone know anything about "thepropertypartnership.uk.com" ???
22. craig01/09/2007 22:27:07
i have bought a piece of land with consolidated land uk, (silly me), i would like to know if i can get my money back(16k), i have only signed he plot application form (is this the deeds?), can somebody please help me with my rights and how i would get my money back.
The annoying thing is that i explained my situaion to them (i have 4 children and the money i sent them was for them) i have read all the comments and contacted them but they said that it was all rubbish and not to worry because it was a safe investment.(i know that they would say that) but i am not happy about the sitution and would like some advise please.
By the way the land was Trinity square.
23. Shahid03/09/2007 00:30:50
I was thinking that the scammers are targeting only Asian community, who are hard working, money saving people but easily decieved as more greedy. UK LAND INVESTMENT , and now a day DREAMLAND INVESTMENT of DURANI Ltd are the scammer who are out there looking for Asian people. They are not only selling agricultural land but the lowest class, mostly water lodged.
They will procure a peice of land for example £10,000, they will devide it in 300 plots on the brochers and website, and will sell it for 10,000 each plot. UK Land investmend has sold water lodged land to my friends for 25,000 for 500 sq meters.
And all this is done under the nose of UK government watch dogs. 
24. Kit04/09/2007 19:39:56
I have been contacted by Consolidated land UK.
They are very persistent!
I was concidering thier offer of a plot in Cambridgeshire, Whitstable, Ellison Close.
I haven't yet contacted the planning department in Cambridge but after reading this forum I will do my best to find out about the current offer and assertain whether this is another scam.
25. mike G05/09/2007 00:22:59
a post for sue posted21 and G posted 14,
i myself have invested with thepropertypartnership.uk.com,
they have very good relations and are a well established company,
i recently saw healthy returns from a site i purchased with them 3years ago. give them a whirl, you'll be surprised at the reputable service they offer you.
ask 2 speak 2 a guy called Jeff, he was very helpful and proffessional
26. Anna05/09/2007 09:56:35
I have mixed feelings about Consolidated Land UK. I contacted them with a genuine interest in an investment. Initially they appeared to know their market and willing to give me advice. They sent out their introduction pack which consisted of little more than a flimsy marketing document. I paused. I was then contacted and discussed with them several sites. They sounded as though they knew their market so I welcomed the opportunity to see some information regarding one of the sites. It was at this point that the entire mood changed. They reserved a place and sent me out what I anticipated being a full description of the plot and potential. What received was another glossy brochure with a small picture of the plots, a description of the local area, a description of house price growth in the area and an invoice. I paused again. It didn't tell me anything that I wanted to know except that if I were to buy a house to do up, I could make a killing. When Consolidated called again, I told them that I was not interested, that I wanted to do some research - speak to some planning friends etc. They quoted me everything newspaper published that day to highlight the value of land. I said that I wanted to do my own research. They quoted me the thoughts and opinions of prominent market figures. What they were telling me sounded like a sales pitch so I politely told them that there was little that they could tell me that didn't come across as a sale pitch and that I wanted to do my own research. They quoted the guy that writes exams for Wall Street Traders. I told them that I wanted to do my own research. They asked me if I invested in stocks and then attempted to down cry the stock market. They tried to describe this as a revolution whereby the poor could finally invest in what has been confined to only the rich. They then asked what I would need to be confident enough to invest. I told them to that I wanted to do my own research. They stepped over the line at this point; they became rude on an aggressive selling tactic. At one point they even held back and apologised for being condescending.
45 minutes on the phone despite the fact we began the discussion on the basis that I would not buy today and I wanted to do further research. During the 45 minutes I considered that in the UK we have more confidence in doctors than clerics and barely any confidence in newspapers. That 0.04 of an acre was hardly a revolution... more the ownership of pre-enclosure strips. That a close friend who trades successfully on NYSE thinks very little of the exams on NYSE and actually invested in real estate and a v. expensive MBA with the aim of making his long-term earning potential greater. That I needed to read through my e-mails but you should never hang up on a sales person with your details.... yatta yatta yatta.
As I said at the beginning, I have mixed feelings. They could be a very good company with very poor, albeit normally polite and enthusiastic, marketing staff who have locked the people with any insight away in a stationary office. They could also be a very poor company with an agressive selling tactic that beings by telling you what they want you to know about the market and ends by telling you that if you do not buy with them, you are not buying against the best advice of every paper, against professional opinions, rejecting an opportunity that has never been afforded to the poor before... all because you are not adventurous enough to take a gamble on a few marketing documents and a sells agent.
27. Anna05/09/2007 10:01:17
Oh, I forgot to mention. Apparently the Tunbridge Wells site has a low purchase value because the buying agent managed to negotiate a low purchase price for the land on the basis that the seller, an elderly gentleman who inherited the land, didn't know it's true value.
28. PropertySCAM05/09/2007 12:15:07
Mike G (comment 25) - In the interest of balance, we'll allow your comment to stand for now, but will note here for the benefit of other readers that you have failed to substantiate your claim to have profited out of land banking - so far as we know, no-one but land banking companies themeselves ever has.
29. comment posted by [removed]05/09/2007 16:46:07
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
30. SL05/09/2007 20:27:14
I purchased 2plots at Southwold last year for £18,000. Received a letter from the Administrators stating it was highly unlikely I would get my investment back.
Also invested with Land Planning Group, anyone heard of them? This was for 2 plots in Tring.
31. Peter05/09/2007 23:41:52
Thanks for your comments PropertySCAM, I'm not defending Consolidated Land (although my dealings with them has so far been professoinal) I am however defending my decision to invest in land.
Like other people commenting here, I too have done my own research on land and without going into the details and sounding like a preacher I decided it was worth a punt! 3 Million new homes by 2020, relaxed planning laws etc... Sure, why not? None of my previous investments have come with a guarantee, nor do I expect one with this.
By the way - my FA is also my brother, so I tend to trust his judgement. Sure we've seen our share of up's and down's, but overall we've done very well together, thank you very much.
As a final note, looking at comments above there are a lot of first time investors who are being spooked by other first time investors (blind leading the blind?) I seek my advise from the professionals & independant 3rd parties (BBC, Financial Times, The Times & my FA) not from an internet forum (making this somewhat of a paradox).
My advise to anyone who reads this is to make your own mind up, just pick up a newspaper or watch the news. Know your market. If all the facts and figures that are being quoted are true (which I tend to believe are), then it sounds pretty good. & finally if you can't afford to invest, then don't!
32. PropertySCAM07/09/2007 15:46:08
Does your research extend as far as a credible exit strategy? How are you going to sell on one plot to a developer without also arranging for the sale of all other plots at the site to the same developer at the same time? If you can't do this, then you have no exit strategy.
Our advise to people considering this type of investment is not to make up their own minds, or to ask their brother, but to seek out (and if necessary pay for) the advice of an independent and reputable land planning professional.
33. Lesley C10/09/2007 13:55:10
Comment James Mugo posted 28.08.07
I too bought land at Southwold via Townsfield. You are abosulately right, they presented themselves as completely professional, I put my trust in them and now I am £9120 out of pocket. There must be something we can do.
34. romila10/09/2007 22:47:51
I have recently had dealings with Consolidated Land UK. They tried to sell me some land in Sedlescombe and Whitstable. After reading from this website, I realised I almost got carried away. So thanks to this site. They were sending me the invoices but lack of written information about the land itself, the stage by stage process or the terms I would be bound by.
I informed them that I was no longer interested but they would not let it go. When they called again trying to persuade me and expressed I wouldn't be buying, they became very rude and unprofessional on the phone. I couldn't quite believe the tone in which they spoke to me or what was said.
My advice to any sensible person is stay away from these people.
35. comment posted by [removed]11/09/2007 10:46:22
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
36. PropertySCAM11/09/2007 10:57:36
Which company are you dealing with?
37. khal11/09/2007 12:11:38
i am considering buying a piece of land in royal tunbridge wells from a company called Crownlandsecurities. Has anyone out there dealt with this company?
38. David Hardy11/09/2007 16:11:55
LAND PLANNING GROUP Plc, TRING.
Comment number 30. posted by SL - you mentioned investing with Land Planning Group in Tring. I'm really interested to know where this was. Do you have coordinates or a postcode. Was it next to Tring Corinthians Football Club? Any more info would be very much appreicated. Also if anyone else has had experiences with Land Planning Group.
39. TFG12/09/2007 07:39:09
There is no fool like an old fool.
I am trying to follow up on a company calkled England Land Investments. They used a serviced office on Knightsbridge but now look like they are about to be wound up.
40. Sinead17/09/2007 13:24:44
Hi There,
Thanks for all the info, Ive bought a plot in Worpelsdon, Surrey with sustainable land plc, any info on this I would much appreciate,
Thanks,
Sinead
41. john17/09/2007 21:32:12
just a msg for Peter
it is obvious that you would trust your brothers opinion but he is not giving you an opinion as an FA, now the reason i say this to you is because a finacial advisor can not give advice or suggest you invest in a product which is not regulated and if you ask your brother as a finacial advisor i am sure he will tell you this is true, i just hope it works out for you
42. Baza19/09/2007 09:39:41
Hi, i purchased land from Rubicon last year in an area called pilgrims vale. The company has since closed down and the liquidators are now activley trying to sell off the balance of the plots to current plot owners. Is there anyone out there that has also purchased plots from the same site that may have any additional infomation on my situation. The FSA has closed many of these companies down for illegal practice, if this is the case why don't the govenment step in to organise some sort of financial redress from these crooks, Yours Baza
43. comment posted by [removed]19/09/2007 11:07:57
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
44. Black Knight22/09/2007 15:33:36
Re Carlo, #29
You got a free plot? If that is true, don’t knock it mate.
As for your question why the government is allowing it, the obviously criminal ones have been shuttered. ELP, Townfield, ULH, P-Spy, Rubicon, H&G etc. Correct decisions but at the micro level a lot of people lose their money.
What next? the FSA obviously need to refine their rules on landbanking. But the rules can only be amended at cabinet level. It cannot be banned (land trading by itself is a legitmate business) but can be regulated. Then hopefully this land banking issues can be checked. Otherwise some unscrupulous people will continue using this loophole.
Meanwhile, UK still needs 3M+ new homes by 2021 according to the Barker report, which the government is embracing. Question is where will it be built? If the specific answers are not forthcoming then there will be a lot of speculations and the UK Landbanking saga will continue. I see a lot of transparencies at the govt sites when I check the landbanker's claims (most of which are BS) but the specifics are still not forthcoming.
My advise to you is, just like before venturing into a new business, do your due dilligince before you invest. If you see a high returns, find out where the risks are because that is it's shadow.
And don't put all your investment egg in one basket. Spread them out. Sure as night turns into day, some investment will succeed and some will fail. With a good spread, you should come out on top.
45. nbs24/09/2007 15:51:47
Hi,
I'm one of those unfortunate investors in Propertyspy. we bought some land in impington, cambridge from them about 2 yrs ago. i'm also trying to find a way to get my cash back. i've noticed a few posts from propertyspy investors. Can anyone help? thx N
46. Elmondy26/09/2007 16:22:11
Just been contacted by a Robert Green at Consolidated Land. I had previously been interested in UK Land Investment but backed out and told them to come back in 6 months time. I told him I was not interested and he said to me something along the lines of "Please do not waste our time again by asking for information".
What??! I can not understand the arrogance of the man.
Then I found this forum on here and fully understand. Glad I found you. I was just trying to find the number for CL so I could give them a load of grief.
47. Jono02/10/2007 12:09:20
Hi love the site, can anyone answer about Land planning group, looks like could be ok. Just want to hear from anyone who has dealt with them... thanks
48. steve05/10/2007 12:18:30
I am surprised no one has mentioned the most obvious thing about consolidated land uk. This company claims to be registered by the FSA and they are not. Why would you invest with them.
49. PropertySCAM05/10/2007 13:02:20
Steve, do you have evidence of that claim to be FSA registered?
50. steve05/10/2007 15:03:17
I have a recorded conversation with a gentleman called John Lewis from consolidated land uk. He comment several times that as he was regulated by the FSA he could not state anything that was not true. It would be interesting to know if there is such a thing as a legitimate land banking company, clearly there is a market for one.
51. PropertySCAM05/10/2007 15:31:02
We agree that there is a place for a land banking scheme operated as an FSA authorised CIS. We know of no such scheme, however.
52. steve05/10/2007 15:39:25
so lets set one up
53. PropertySCAM05/10/2007 15:56:59
No thanks.
54. steve05/10/2007 15:59:19
there at least 37 potential investors in this forum alone, with an investment of £11 each thats £407,000. A chance to balance your losses for some & a new opportunity for others. The companies mentioned above have already paved the way. The government has earmarked certain areas for development, we target these areas. We look out for viable land opportunities, investigate the sites, talk to the local council buy the land. seek planning permission planning etc. (the best opportunities are always on your doorstep) we just need to organise.
55. PropertySCAM05/10/2007 17:27:19
It isn't as simple as you seem to think and we thank you for the opportunity, but we will not be taking part.
Creating a business like this would require startup capital and a small number of very good (and hence very expensive) employees with expertise in land planning, finance and business management. You couldn't fund that with £407k, still less have any left to buy land. So you'd need to build a business case and seek funding from the usual sources - banks, venture capital, private equity.
You'd have to make a compelling case to interest them, and the case so far doesn't look that compelling.
56. steve06/10/2007 10:53:54
I'm glad you feel you can speak for everyone. The simplest way to achieve this would be to work with a reputable land agent or a competent property developer. An established solicitor holds all monies until called upon to release the funds. The land agent looks for an identifies suitable sites, calls down funds from the solicitors. An architect can then put together a plan or you call in a property developer.
There are several forums like this one on the net, the more buy in the greater the collective buying power.
57. comment posted by [removed]16/10/2007 22:41:09
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
58. Andy17/10/2007 13:20:04
Yes Steve, and then do we buy marsh land green belt or prime development land? This is the thing - if the land has/will get planning permission then we can go up against the might of Wimpey, Bovis et al and see how far your half mil gets you (probably one 3 bed flat in the new development built by Wimpy!)
59. Jimmy Neale03/11/2007 02:47:31
Thought i would put all this scam malarky to rest, i purchased a piece of land with The Property Partnership 3years and 1month ago, i paid 24,000 for the land. It recently came into fruition and was granted EPA and Rezoning.. (Any good land banking company will tell you this is where the majority of land is traded to developers)... I just recieved a cheque with a profit over what i expected of £61,000. Just reinvested with then 50k. BEST MOVE OF MY LIFE. Many thanks to Senior Portfolio Director Alexader Davis... He has always underpromised and over achived. A SURE THING IF YOU GET THE RIGHT COMPANY and the Property partnership are a professional service and keep in touch with me frequently and have held my hand every step of the way.. Cant say anything but good things, strongly advise you talk to Mr Alexander Davis. A true buisnessman. HOPE THAT HAS CLEARED UP ALL THE BAD MOUTH ABOUT THIS GREAT OPPITUNITY!!!!
60. PropertySCAM03/11/2007 09:00:37
Thanks for clearing that up Jimmy.
Clearly, all of the hundreds of people who have contacted us to say they have been cheated of their money were lying, whereas you have done very well with an unspecified investment, an anonymous comment posted from Sky broadband and A LOT OF CAPITAL LETTERS.
We believe you, will shortly be closing down this site and will sleep soundly in our beds from now on, knowing that land plots are such a great investment.
Just a few questions, if we may:
- Where exactly is your plot?
- What do you mean by EPA and Rezoning? These are not terms commonly used in the British planning system.
- There must be hundreds of others celebrating, having received large cheques. Why has this not had more publicity? We haven't heard about it anywhere else.
61. Jimmy Neale04/11/2007 14:21:56
EPA- Estate planing approval, and rezoning is where you take universal green field land and convert it into residential use. then the land is traded on to a developer to gain planning permission... no matter what you may think i have recieved a cheque with a substantial profit...im happy... Suppos i got the right company.. All comes down to the right company with the right knowledge of the market and the right land... What nutter would buy Greenbelt land??? ITS PROTECTED!!!!
62. PropertySCAM05/11/2007 08:59:28
Jimmy, we note that you have not answered the question "Where exactly is your plot?"
We'd also like to know which developer bought it and all of the others at that site and how the simultaneous sale of all plots was organised.
Answer privately be email if you wish but if you can't then, in the absence of any corroboration of your claim, we regret we are disinclined to believe it.
63. Mick05/11/2007 17:54:28
Has anyone got a site that does not rip people off then? and has made good profits ?
64. S06/11/2007 16:17:07
I have been contacted by Charles Banks from consolidated land. They keep pushing me for a plot of land on Ellison Close, Kent. He keeps saying that the council have built a road, ready for developers to move in. He is also saying that the government have started to ask the council who owns the land and they expect planning permission to be granted in around 12 months time.
I contacted Canterbury Council directly and passed on the brochure to them for investigation. They have said the following:
"The land in the prospectus you forwarded to us is allocated as "protected open space" within the Canterbury District Local Plan on which development would only be permitted in exceptional circumstances; part of the land is subject to a tree preservation order made in 1975 and part of the site is within flood risk zone 2 where new housing development would not be permitted. Part of the site is within a conservation area which is being 'protected' in order to ensure that its character and appearance is preserved or enhanced, new housing development would not meet that objective.
Housing developments of parts of this site were refused planning permission in 1987 and 1992 and the removal of trees was refused consent in 1990.
There have been no planning applications granted permission for development of this land and the Council certainly has no plans to put a road in or to encourage development of the land as shown on the prospectus. The Council has committed itself to meeting the district's housing need without developing green field sites that are not allocated for development.
It follows from the above that I must advise you that the chances of planning permission being granted for development of this land are negligible for the foreseeable future."
65. perry07/11/2007 19:10:49
i have been approached by a company called LAND STRATEGY they have a good web site and seem lagit, has anyone heard of them or better still bought from them, this is my first experience with land banking, any advise would be welcome..
66. Alison Price09/11/2007 10:11:33
I am thinking of investing 14,000.00 with UKLI Limited. Has anyone had any dealings with them unsuccesfully or succesfully. Would like any advice before I proceed as I haven't done anything like this before and have no experience. Any advice welcome.
67. Andy H21/11/2007 18:52:21
I have had several calls from the property partnership trying to sell me land in milton keynes they have been very persistant and try to lead you to believe you are missing out on a great deal. The Salesman? today was even more persistant saying 100 deposit would reserve the plot he tried every trick in the book to get me to say yes It felt like by the end, he was trying to trick me into saying yes. I had received their glossy brouchure and told them I needed to talk to some one, to which he implied that he knew best and if i didnt say yes i would miss out. He told me that the conversation was recorded and I felt as though if i had said 'yes' to any of the questions he was firing at me then they would take that as an agreement to purchase. Now i have found this site I believe my first suspisions, if it seems to good to be true it probably is. And my question was why dont the developers risk there money? It seems odd to me that multi million pound companies would by bits of land off lots of average people, Why wouldn't they buy it first for themselves, I am sure in the real world if the land is worth having they do!
68. Walter22/11/2007 01:49:42
Does anyone know of a company called "the property partnership " ?
69. Bill28/11/2007 11:53:34
Comment 68:
I got a call from property partnership yesterday I was told that I could make 100k-120k if I invested 20k in a plot of land in the next 2 or 3 years. I wasn't given of any particular site.
I have to say I did not like their persistence. I look at from the point they call me during my time trying to sell me something they cannot substantiate and ask me to invest in something that I don't even know will make a profit. I prefer to do my own research, but they sound really desperate which makes more questions why they want me to invest so bad.
70. comment posted by [removed]13/12/2007 18:45:32
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
71. comment posted by [removed]15/12/2007 23:30:46
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
72. gerry16/12/2007 22:56:25
also anybody any views on a company called holland banking please? Any views on international as opposed domestic landbanking?
thanks yall
gerry
73. BASHARAT ALI17/12/2007 00:18:36
Plot scam
Hi to all those in the same predicament as me,i bought a plot of PROPERTYSPY and i tried a few months ago to find out if ican resell this plot but after afew phone calls i was told they have stopped dealing in land sales and they bear no responsibility for what happens in the future and it was my responsiblity how to sell it and or do what ever.
Please if there is anybody who can advise what steps i can take to try and get my money back from these fraudsters them do email me.
The plot i bought was in REDHILL SURREY so if there is someone else who bought on the same site please get in touch.
email:basharat68@hotmail.co.uk
74. A.C19/12/2007 20:07:33
Property Partnership called me today as well; i told them i am not interested and the person i was talking to was not very happy! He tried getting £100; I also said "yes" to his questions... I hope This wont create any problems! He was trying to sell the land in Milton Keynes without me doing any research in the market!
75. Ruby24/12/2007 02:08:45
Hi
Has anyone had any dealings with The Land Planning Group - do you know if they are legit or just another scam. Sounds like a good ooportunity, but then they all do!
As no 74, i've had 4 calls from The Property Partnership (3 in 1 week), 2 of the sales people were ok when i said i needed to discuss with my partner , but 2 of them didn't want to take no for an answer, they wanted me to commit there and then on the phone by paying 100 deposit. One salesmen even laughed at me when I said 10K was a lot of money for me to just go ahead on his word and commit without doing any research or speaking to my partner.
76. PK03/01/2008 19:02:50
Hello All,
I am glad I have found this website which has really helped me in saving my hard earned money. I was initially contacted by UKLI who have explained about the whole land banking (ofcourse in their sales pitch) which I took without a question as I am looking in to this area for the first time. They were trying to sell me a plot in Buckden with a free plot in Borehamwood. With all their sales tactics, I was completely convinced to an extent where I have given my initial 1000 deposit as well.
In the next conversation, somehow we were speaking about my friends then he said he is happy for me to recommend them to him. The main trigger for me to think that this was too good to be true, is that he said for every friend I introduce he is going to give me 500 and after 5 friends he is going to give me 1000 for each introduction, which really made me think what are they up to and started doing my homework (which I should have done earlier) and finally found a lot of people's woes with these kind of companies.... I have called them next morning to ask them to refund my money, and they said they cannot and when I really went on them, they finally accepted to refund but after a month's time.. I have waited almost for a month and when I have called them they said there is a delay and they will pay me after 15 days.. which I was really annoyed with.
I had to escalate this to their director's level and made a big hue & cry. Also threatened them to go to Press and also leave information on the internet about these bloody people.. Finally this looks to have worked, got my money even before that 15 day period..
Another thing I am a bit suspicious is that only after I have dealt with UKLI, I have started getting calls from other land banking companies like Consolidate Land & Property partner ship, so I am not sure how these companies get hold of my phone numbers & addresses.. not sure if UKLI sells or shares all their customer details..
Thanks again for all the people to share their experiences and also special thanks for the administrator to come with such a good forum to help people..
77. superlusso07/01/2008 13:05:05
I just got another call from CONSOLIDATED LAND UK asking me to recall that I had reserved a plot and if the forms had arrived safely. When I said I had not bought anything the chap said 'were you on drugs?' PLEASE PLEASE stay away from these idiots. They are just cheap tricksters and their methods stink. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
78. Usha16/01/2008 14:57:22
hello peter, I have bought a few plots from Consolidated land as well. I have a feeling I have been conned. As soon as I paid them the money they seem to have disappeared and now are telling me to do what I want with the land and that they are not concerned with me at all now. When i asked them to return my money, they said that they will not return any money. I just don't know what to make of this. I still have not received any TP's from them so i don't actually have any proof of purchase. any advices??
79. frank23/01/2008 13:29:26
please do not invest your money into consolidated land uk. anybody who has already needs to realise that the sales person they spoke to is not based at the croydon address that is on the literature but in a completely different county altogether. the names of the salesmen are completely false. the 0800 number which you are given allows for calls to be filtered. the employees are not trained land brokers but smug salesmen; some with criminal convictions including freud!! (would a legitamate employer dealing with major financial matters allow a convicted freudster to work within them?) the "senior" brokers are not senior for their expertees to you but their ability to sell. there is virtually no paper trail and anyone who has invested in this company are going to have a hard time tracking them down for their returns.
the the trading standards agency are aware and i would urge people to contact them with their experiences whether you bought of not.
a question that i have is whether there is any actual proof that consolidated land actually own any of this land that they are selling at all!!! has anyone received any title deeds? did your solicitor have any input in the matter and confirm whether deeds are in fact authentic!!!!??? is there a way that you can confirm your ownership with the land registery???
80. JULI25/01/2008 12:51:48
hi
i hav been approached by consolidate land regarding land in hockley heath, west midlands.
any info on that please.
81. S25/01/2008 14:51:08
PLEASE READ COMMENT 64 ABOVE. YOU WILL FIND THAT MOST INTERESTING ABOUT CONSOLIDATED LAND
82. thebigredone29/01/2008 13:49:00
Had a call out of the blue from Consolidated Land last Wednesday (23/01) and they sent me their brochure...had the follow-up call today and Hockley Heath was the site mentioned. Only three plots available I was told. 9K each and I had to get the money to them by next Tuesday (05/02). Apparently there's an MP on board supporting the site as well now. In the end I had to hang up on the guy
83. JULI31/01/2008 13:13:51
about hockley heath i was told only one plot left, and the deadline for payments was today (31/01/08). the guys you talk to are very smooth talking, they can really suck you in. i'm glad i found this sight.:
84. comment posted by [removed]02/02/2008 00:10:15
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
85. Jono Greaves07/02/2008 09:52:41
My question is; are there any of these land companies who have actually received planning permission for the land they have sold? The theory sounds great but I dont know of anyone who hsa done it in practice.
86. PropertySCAM07/02/2008 10:30:18
No. We know of no-one who as successfully done this either.
87. Jono Greaves08/02/2008 11:16:35
So then how is the government planning to solve the so-called "housing shortage"? Because if they are looking to build all these millions of new dwellings over the next decade then surley there is a policy in place that dictates which land will be allowed for re-zoning. What happens if these land companies do actually get the planning permission they pitch - or will they be looked upon unfavourably based on the negative press this industry has received? Their pitch is good but it would be interesting to see what government policy is on the matter.
88. comment posted by [removed]13/02/2008 11:08:21
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
89. Richard Lockyer20/02/2008 12:32:38
I have recently received several calls regarding the land for sale at Trinity Square and Hockley Heath. Like others on this forum, I felt that the principle did make sense and the company appeared legite. This was endorsed with the coloured brochures that I received and by the virtue that they wanted verbal confirmation of affordability over the phone which was allegerly being recorded (apparently for legal reasons).
I was very close to committing myself to purchasing a plot at Trinity Square, but was hesitant due to the fact that it was quite a substantial investment with no legal comeback or responsible body for whom they must comply with.
Coupled with the aforementined facts, why would they want to sell land to 3rd parties when they are so convinced that the land will get subsequent ammendments to the planning permission which will result in a profit growth of approx 600%.
They have explained to me that they need 3rd party investments to free up capital for further purchase of indentified land, but if I was that sure of such a growth of return I would be looking at alternative forms of revenue through banks and building societies etc. I'm sure they would lend the company the desired amount if they could see such a rigid business case and growth of return.
I would strongly recommend to any potential investor to only invest if you are 100% sure that they are legit and their motives are to make you money as well as themselves and that you can afford to lose the invested amount if it all goes wrong. Thankfully I have discovered this forum which has done more than enough to coerce me from investing in CL UK. I think I'll be investing my money in something a bit more stable like N******* Rock. 
90. Usha sharma20/02/2008 13:41:28
Hi Craig, (comment35)
I had bought 3 plots of land with consolidated land in Trinity square. Lucky for me to have stumbled on this website I chased Stepehen Ronald Watkins (director) for my money. The hard part was getting in touch with him, but eventually when i did, He was very nice, understanding and agreed to return my money immediately. I would advise you to do the same. Do it before you get the TP's coz after you sign the tp's you will not get any money back. You can also look up the company address on the company house website and write to him on his SELLBOURNE, PARK HILL
EAST CROYDON address.
regards,
Usha
91. Sam25/02/2008 17:30:15
I have been getting phone calls from consolidated land uk for the past 7 months !! telling me that they have reserved the last 2 plots of land at ellison close and 2 plots at trinity square for me, and they keep telling me how much the value is going to appreciate.
facta are that they promised to sell me the land for 15k per plot 7 months ago , and the price is still the same!! if as they say .. the land is appreciating on a daily basis , why is the price still what they said was 7 months ago?? and if their land is so sought after ... why have they held it for me for 7 months !! inspite of knowing i might or might not buy !!(just had another call from them saying that I need to deposit 3k as deposit by tomorrow , and that this is a recorded conversation on a promise to buy .
I doubt that they can take me or anyone to court on the basis of a telephone conversation , even if i have said yes i'll buy. its not a legally binding contract, its just arm twisting on their part.
after reading this site .. i'll keep far away from them and get my number changed 
92. ray26/02/2008 09:07:52
i have just said yes to conslidated land to buy a plot ,have not singed anything am i bound to pay or do i just do nothing as i do not now want to buy after reading reports on your site
93. Nikki 27/02/2008 11:10:10
My boss has spoken to these people and has just received notofocation that he has reserved two plots at Tidworth, Salisbury. I have warned him to leave well alone. Does anyone have any confirmed info about these plots?
Cheers:-
94. comment posted by [removed]01/03/2008 04:55:48
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
95. Usha sharma02/03/2008 16:55:40
HI Sam,(comment91)
Do not put any money in with consolidated land, unless you can afford to lose it.
96. Nikki04/03/2008 12:53:36
Re: Consolidated Land - Plots at Tidworth Salisbury
Thought I'd warn potential investors that I have spoken to the local planning dept about these plots and surprise surprise they are greenbelt land with practically no chance of planning permission. This is the fourth such plot in the area to come under scrutiny and the council are routinely removing any permitted development rights from these plots to stop companies like CLUK moving in. I believe that CLUK are pushing the plots as guaranteed to sell for potential MOD accommodation. I have checked that as well, the MOD are bulding at Tidworth and have been for a few years. The MOD website mentions that the MOD has already bought all the land it needs and actaully has surplus which it wants to sell off. The actual sites they are selling of are currently in discussion and not in the public domain. BEWARE it looks like Tidworth is another no hoper!
97. Steve05/03/2008 09:23:14
Does anyone have a phone number for Consolidated Land.
I would like to keep ringing them with nuisance calls just like they ring me with them
98. kamal05/03/2008 15:16:36
hi all
perhapps each and everyone here shuld write a letter to 10 downing street telling the pm to do something about this. This is sheer negligence on part of the govt for not protecting british people from this kind of rip off especially in the 21st century UK!
99. usha07/03/2008 18:29:59
The number for consolidated land is:08003457717.
they only pick up the phone in the evenings around 5p.m afterwards.
100. Darius Currie13/03/2008 02:51:17
Hallo all
Now this has got me really worried. Me and my partner has purches 6 plots from Consolidated Land UK, 4 on ellison close and 2 on trinity square.
We have recieved all the legal paper work ie TP1 forms, for all the plots, signed them and sent them back to CL UK. I have had my solisitor look over it and the TP1 seems in order.
The problem is that we didnt actually do any of our own research into the planning side of things. Obvioiusely the TP1 makes the stransfer deal standing, but as you all, we have also been promissed returns since November last year. You guessed it - nothing. My question is this, if I now own this land, that is worth nothing, is there anyway for me to get rid of it, and at least get some money back? Im still in 2 minds about the whole thing, can anyone give me some insight as to what agency to contact, because if this is a scam, I want someone to check it out, and quickly. I think we need to get this down to wheter or not this is a scam, so we can get peace of mind.
Any and all comments / help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time
Darius Currie
101. craig20/03/2008 10:54:00
usha,thanks for your comments, how did you manage to speak to mr watkins, has he got another number?
thanks
craig
by the way i have received the tp1 for trinity (after waiting 8 months) but i have`nt signed them.
102. David Horne27/03/2008 14:46:16
The 'be all and end all' of Land Banking as an investment is...
You will make money, if you have the right location and of course have an honest and genuine time-frame of seeing a profit when the land comes to fruition.
The land banking companies may give you an average time-frame of holding the land for 3-5 years before seeing a profit, but realistically you will make money but not in a short or even medium term hold. Give a land investment at least 7-10 years, most likely even longer, but as i say the 'be all and end all' is you will make money but only if you are an investor who is prepared for a long term hold.
It really is as simple as that.
David Horne
103. PropertySCAM27/03/2008 15:17:37
David, you're in Canada, aren't you.
The focus of this site is UK land banks which operate somewhat differently. We are aware that people in Canada have made money from land banking. People in the UK have too, but never by buying a 0.1 acre plot in the middle of a green belt field.
104. David Horne31/03/2008 15:55:21
Yes, correct i am.
In relation to your comment above, i am somewhat inclined to agree on some terms however i feel just as the Canadian market picked up so do will the UK market in my firm opinion. As i have mentioned above it may just take a while longer to see a profit than investors have in Canada.
David Horne
105. john31/03/2008 20:52:26
Hi there to all,
I recently (Nov 07) bought a plot of land in "Towcester" Milton Keynes area for 10,000 through "Thepropertypartnership" and have recently been offered another....I decided to look a little further into the company and since then i have been diverted into reading about so many "SCAM" companies, which has obviously frightened me as noone wants to loose some of their childrens inheritence.....If anyone else has bought from these can you let me know your outcome if you have profited with this company or is it just another Dodgy company...i am also doing research into them myself and have spoke to the FSA and the council is next and also the Land registary.....i will keep you all updated...:-
106. Michael12/04/2008 21:39:27
Just to add another name to the scammers list: Countrywide Land Holdings. Companies House lists their accounts as being late and they have at least 1 recently acquired (and unsatisfied) County Court Judgement entered against them. Avoid. :-
107. john williams16/04/2008 14:09:47
just had lengthy conversations with "the propertypartnership" sent me a lovely brochure and seemed very professional, however every conversation we have had they got more and more information about myself eventually they wanted a deposit of one hundred pounds for property plots in birmingham. when i told them i would be checking the company out before handing over a penny the conversation changed to how urgent the sale needed to be. i then told them i did not like their attitude and would not do business with them. latest phone call to my wife was that they needed to contact me urgently because my grand daughter was ill" i have past on this information to the trading standards who advised never to deal with any company over the phone unless you have contacted them first.
108. usha18/04/2008 20:18:26
HI Craig and darius (comments 100 and 101),
I just kept ringing them and threatened to take them to court. eventually mr.watkins did call me.(lucky me)! I just caught on the scam just in time. The trinity square has planning permission for only one house and that too only because the council wants to resurrect the old world war radar station.
I explained to him what blatant lies his sales person had used to sell that land to me. I think he refunded my money on trinity because he did not want me to alert and disrupt the market. Unfortunatley for me i had already signed the ellison close tp1's so i am stuck with 2 worthless plots. they no longer answer calls and never respond to my messages anymore. I have also stopped calling as I am thankful to have received most of my money back. I don't know what to do with the ellison close sites. I think all of us should get together and do something about it.
109. comment posted by [removed]21/04/2008 14:56:08
[comment removed - see PropertySCAM comments policy]
110. vishal01/05/2008 19:23:28
"Property Partnership" i have also had a call from them. i firstly could not speak to them as i was at worked, they asked me to take my break and speak to them anyway he phoned back later on, and i was in the gym, they asked me to stop working out and get a pen and paper next day recieved another call, so i sat and listened, i said "yes" also to their 'would you not agree?' questions. after talking about birthdays and what food we liked, he basically asked for £100 to get the ball rolling, when i informed him i would like to discuss with my partner further he did not want to take no for an answer. Now if this was such a profitable system i don't understand why they would be so desperate for a 21 yr old guy to invest, surely big developer companies would jump at this oportunity???? Im expecting a call on monday now, so im just gonna do wotever i can to really piss them off!!! have a good day guys, invest wisely!
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