Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

http://www.itv.com/news/central/2012...million-fraud/

[Curlyben]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Blimey I wondered t'other day what had happened to "friend" Basil
Couldn't happen to a nicer couple..

There IS justice in the world after all..

[Sapphire]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Couldn't happen to a nicer couple

[enaid]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Basil and his wife Amanda Rankine amassed £1.8 million pounds from customers Photo: ITV CentralA couple have been sentenced for conning almost two million pounds from people, promising them they couldwrite off their debts with banks and credit card companies by finding loopholesin their loan agreements.
Basil and Amanda Rankine amassed £1.8million pounds from customers.
The couple, from Rugeley inStaffordshire, would buy a person's debt from them for £1 and then charge theman up front fee of £450 to find the loopholes or a technicality in their credit agreement.
The Rankines would then write to the banks and credit card companiesclaiming the loophole meant the debtors were no long liable to pay thedebt back.
But this was illegal. People can'tsell their debt to someone else without the agreement of the creditor.
The Rankines also told their customersthey were no longer liable for the debt and could not be chased by the creditors that because they had sold their debt to them for £1.
This was also illegal andsome customers were taken to court by the creditors who were owed money.
The couple were found guilty of ten counts of fraud at Birmingham Crown Court. They were arrested after numerous complaints to trading standards officers.
Basil Rankine said he intended toappeal the conviction.
He was jailed for four years. His wifewas given a 12 month suspended sentenc

[Bill-K]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

I guess Amanda will be carrying on the business, while Basil does a course in MS Excel and associated scamming tools - and hits the street again in 2 years. Aren't we so horrible to our fellow Earthlings here in the UK ?

[Curlyben]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Brum TS closed them down a while back.

Ps on a sentence of 4 years + you server 2/3 not the 1/2 or a shorter one

[Bill-K]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Brum TS closed them down a while back.
As if that would stop them....
Ps on a sentence of 4 years + you server 2/3 not the 1/2 or a shorter one
So, he gets to do Excel Macro's as well, then ? I almost sympathise !!!

....

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

If he had just ripped off the DCA's i would say give the man a medal

but as Joe and Jane public got ripped off too.... not so good!

[Bill-K]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

What I'm trying to say is that they got off b100dy lightly - and that I doubt if they will suffer as a result of what they have done to so many people.

[bluebottle]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Brum TS closed them down a while back.

Ps on a sentence of 4 years + you server 2/3 not the 1/2 or a shorter one

That depends on what the trial judge ruled when sentencing, CB. If the trial judge ruled Basil has to serve the full four years, that is what he serves. If not, then what you say applies.

[bluebottle]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

What I'm trying to say is that they got off b100dy lightly - and that I doubt if they will suffer as a result of what they have done to so many people.

The maximum penalty for Fraud, Bill, is 10 years' imprisonment. By the sound of it, Basil pleaded guilty to specimen charges and asked for other offences to be taken into consideration. Unfortunately, judges have their hands tied legally by Sentencing Guidelines, a set of rules decided by the Sentencing Advisory Panel, a quango made up of people who haven't a clue about criminal justice and is made up of businessmen and appointees. If it was made up of those who work in the Criminal Justice System, i.e. judiciary, police, probation officers, and representatives from Victim Support, NACRO and other third sector bodies, judges would not vent their frustration publicly and the public would not get so outraged when someone receives an inadequate sentence for the crime they have committed.

[teaboy2]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

Good to see those fraudster behind bars, the damage they caused effected alot of people. Though whom ever it was that wrote the article on ITV's site needs to learn what a spacebar looks likes. I got crosseyed reading it with all the spaces missing lol

[Bill-K]

Re: Rankines, 2 million fraud scam - gets prison sentence

...the Sentencing Advisory Panel, a quango made up of people who haven't a clue about criminal justice.

Thanks BB. Fair play to the judge, then - it's the system that fails us.