zorba_the_greek Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Hi All, I have today received an email from the organiser of the long established Kings Walk shoot in West Dean W.Sussex that the shoot has closed with immediate effect. Apparently it was through circumstances beyond his control. After paying for the peg 1 month ago (in full) i am expect little chance of getting any kind of refund. Also did not have the foresight to take out insurance on the day. I understand Guns on pegs have pulled the shoot from their list however i see the home page for the Kings Walk is still live. Really disappoint that its been handled like this and cant believe the organiser was unaware of the impending closure of the shoot yet still was happy to take peoples money in full. With our first child born only a few months ago this game shoot was the one and only i would be going on for the foreseeable future and a real treat that i was really looking forward to. Have any others that have booked on the 2016/2017 dates received a similar message? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Sorry to hear. But businesses dont tend to do this on purpose.. And without knowing to full story its hard to say how they have handled what may have happened.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Sorry to hear of your disappointment First ask the shoot for a refund!!!! That may offer a explanation Many reasons that this can happen a lot that are out of the control of the shoot Disease and organised poaching are two that spring to mind So without having the full story wouldn't like to judge Again sorry you've lost your day All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zorba_the_greek Posted December 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 What i received - I expect this to be a generic email "It is with deep regret that i am having to write to you and advise that through circumstances beyond my control I have been forced to close down The Kings Walk shoot with immediate effect. Without prior notice and in the middle of my shooting season, my main drives have been heavily cut down. This has resulted in the birds leaving due to the disruption of tractors and chain saws. As i'm sure you are aware these are wild animals and will not tolerate heavy disruption. They have since disappeared over the boundaries. After successfully running the Kings Walk shoot for 20 years and being involved in shooting for 45 years i am extremely sad and truly sorry for lettering my clients down to such a degree. With no birds on the ground and my ill health still troubling me, i can't keep the shoot going any longer and i am forced to cancel all days this season. I am seeking legal advice and filing for bankruptcy as i write to you as i have run out of money and can't honour the arranged dates. Th shoot is not a limited company and has very limited assets. All deposits and income have been invested into the shoot through birds, feed, game covers and rent. I will not be able to return clients money. For which i am hugely sorry. If you have cancellation insurance then i advise you contact your insurer to make a claim With deep regrets" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 A long list of excuses - I think you've been done up like a kipper, I'm afraid. The lesson I take away is to take out insurance and hope the policy pays out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Would the felling ( which seems to have caused the issue) have been pre-planned or would they have just turned up and started dropping trees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 It seems a little odd that the shoot runs into 2017, but he has already run out of money. I could be well wide of the mark, but main purpose of the e-mail appears to be to quash any hopes of a refund or suing him for fees paid. I would not be happy and would go via Small Claims Court, despite him considering bankruptcy. He may be genuine, but I am cynical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Does sound a bit of a tall story, work like this would be planned in advance. The other strange thing, where has all the money gone, what was getting planning on using to buy food, pay beaters and keepers with for the rest of the season? As Gordon suggested, I would take him to court Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Did you pay by credit card or at least pay a deposit by card? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 If he isn't a limited company then the debts lie with him personally? get in quick with the small claims as previously mentioned before he goes bankrupt and you can't get anything back, the email makes it sound like he was running a not for profit business if everything was invested in the shoot, I am quietly confident he didn't go to all.that trouble out of the goodness of his heart so where has all the intended profit ended up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 A long list of excuses - I think you've been done up like a kipper, I'm afraid. The lesson I take away is to take out insurance and hope the policy pays out. If he isn't a limited company then the debts lie with him personally? get in quick with the small claims as previously mentioned before he goes bankrupt and you can't get anything back, the email makes it sound like he was running a not for profit business if everything was invested in the shoot, I am quietly confident he didn't go to all.that trouble out of the goodness of his heart so where has all the intended profit ended up? I think he is taking the ****! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 If he isn't a limited company then the debts lie with him personally? get in quick with the small claims as previously mentioned before he goes bankrupt and you can't get anything back, the email makes it sound like he was running a not for profit business if everything was invested in the shoot, I am quietly confident he didn't go to all.that trouble out of the goodness of his heart so where has all the intended profit ended up? This. File a claim quick, he must have personal assets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 This. File a claim quick, he must have personal assets. Just accept his pair of Purdeys in full settlement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scutt Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 if I rented woodland for shooting and then it was felled I would expect to be compensated by the land owner so this bloke should have more than assets to draw from . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 If its filed Bankrupt or receivership then unfortunatly you will be the last in the que.There may be creditors nd these would be the priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zorba_the_greek Posted December 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Thank you all for your comments/feed back. This would have been the 3rd time returning to this particular shoot over the course of about 7 years. This kind of hobby/sport is built on an element of trust as the ground work has to be put in well before any guns turn up and the first shot is fired. Having things like this happen really does not help. I really cannot believe that the writing was not on the wall for some time now and the shoot continued to take bookings/payments. I just don't get people like this! I paid by electronic bank transfer. Checked with my bank and they cannot help. Called BASC and they could not help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 If the work had not driven away the birds, just how would he have continued? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Go to the "money claim online" website and start a claim straight away. It cost me £105 to put my claim in against the keeper of the Pen-Y-Llan shoot Wrexham, who took off with my £1875 deposit for the syndicate he was running. It takes a while for it to get going but it will get the keeper thinking. My claim has now been passed on to the official receiver and he has been declared insolvent. So there is little chance of me seeing my deposit again unless his circumstances change (they are very strict rules he has to keep to). Sorry to hear that you have suffered and lost your days shooting. Stick your claim in and have the last word. All the best Sabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Go to the "money claim online" website and start a claim straight away. It cost me £105 to put my claim in against the keeper of the Pen-Y-Llan shoot Wrexham, who took off with my £1875 deposit for the syndicate he was running. It takes a while for it to get going but it will get the keeper thinking. My claim has now been passed on to the official receiver and he has been declared insolvent. So there is little chance of me seeing my deposit again unless his circumstances change (they are very strict rules he has to keep to). Sorry to hear that you have suffered and lost your days shooting. Stick your claim in and have the last word. All the best Sabs ^^^^^^^^ This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospero Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Deffo persue this in the courts. He is taking the pi$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zorba_the_greek Posted December 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 If you read the reviews on Guns On pegs they are very positive about the shoot even upto mid October 2016. Recently (August 2016) you can see that the shoot Owner advised the health problems he is battling. Seem GOP are investigating him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Paper never refused ink,as they say ! Reviews mean nothing and put & take operations have little substance to them in reality. Once fast buck types start to lose money, they can disappear very quickly unfortunately . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblies Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Do the claim online as he's only taking advice on bankruptcy get in first. that might just be to throw you off making a claim. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 You could also report him to the police for fraud, along with any others who have also been taken (the more reports the police receive the stronger the case against him). Just another way of having the last word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted December 6, 2016 Report Share Posted December 6, 2016 Police won't do anything- it's a civil matter. I know this from experience after being fleeced for a lot of money. Action Fraud won't do anything either, nor will a court claim I don't think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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