Checkaco Consumer News in Brief: warnings over private IVF clinics; actors warned over dodgy theatre companies; and the risk of taking a job in a building firm – and not getting paid

By Harry Mottram: The future we were promised is a con. No flying cars, robots serving us drinks and three-day working weeks – instead the internet has become a wild west for scammers. Add to that firms that go bust owing staff their wages and their customers their deposits lost and the world is a trickier place to negotiate. It is vital to do a credit check with Checkaco with any business before you spend hundreds or thousands of pounds as for a tenner you can save yourself the heartache of being ripped off.

Drama of lost cash

Checkaco has warned aspiring and established actors of signing up for a theatre or film company as they chase their dreams of earning a living in the spotlight. Kate Blanchet famously once said she wasn’t paid much for her role in Lord of the Rings – but we’re talking about actors not getting paid at all. This summer’s production by the long-standing touring troupe Chapterhouse Theatre Company (pictured) of Romeo and Juliet has been pulled after the company went bust leaving ticket holders trying to get refunds and the cast out of work. There are a lot of professional theatre companies so before parting with cash or accepting a job it is best to check they are viable first. The pantomime company 1702 Productions collapsed in 2022 leaving the cast and crew owed tens of thousands of pounds as well as theatres with a problem since tickets had been sold to the public and staff hired for the performances. And for actors it has become a common practice to charge for auditions – and even places in drama schools – with Equity currently campaining against how agents Spotlight have increased those fees to audition. And if you get the part having paid up front for the privilege of what is in effect a job interview, the theatre or film company could go bust – so always do a credit check.

Clinic went bust

The BBC have reported of Syreeta Sandhu who lost nearly £15,000 when her concierge clinic went bust. Journalist Emer Moreau reported that the 40-year-old mother-of-two contacted online firm Apricity Fertility after four failed rounds of IVF and five miscarriages, in the hope of having a third child. Moreau wrote: “She paid Apricity, which matched her with an egg donor and contracted established clinic King's Fertility. She was due to start treatment in December last year when her appointments were cancelled without explanation. Syreeta found out via the company's app that it was ceasing operations on 1 January.”

Checkaco’s spokesperson said just because a clinic or medical facility is private it doesn’t mean they are solvent. Private health and practice is a business like any other and when spending thousands of pounds it is essential to find out they are not about toe go bust or have a history of country court judgements for nonpayment of bills.

The BBC reported Syreeta Sandhu as saying: "When you're on this journey, every month counts. You'll do anything, and you do throw lots of money at it. It takes a long time to meet [medical staff] you can trust. I spent almost 12 months building that trust and it just dropped off."

Broke builders

Every month dozens of building firms and those in related trades like carpenters, glaziers and electricians go bust leaving their customers with unfinished extensions, half-built houses and ground works in a mess. Rodells went bust this summer in Hertfordshire leaving 15 sites incomplete the 37 workers out of job and creditors owed half a million pounds – including self employed contractors. If you are planning on engaging a building firm then before you accept their quote for the work do a £10 check with Checkaco it could save you thousands of pounds and countless sleepless nights. And if you do plan to take a job with a building firm – the workers of Rodells are owed their wages to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds. One check with Checkaco would have revealed potential problems.

Checkaco offers a credit check on a company for £10 or 3 for £20.

Get the low down on any firm at https://checkaco.com/

For details about Checkaco email info@checkaco.com or visit the website https://checkaco.com/ 

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