INSIGHT

THE BOSS of a homeworking company accused of charging for information about non-existent work today claimed that greedy customers had raised their expectations by reading too much into his firm's advertisements.

Homeworker Services Bureau (HSB) left its office at Fairfield House, Fairfield Street, Accrington, leaving a three-month rent bill and a trail of disappointed customers.

But company boss Patrick Anderton, originally from Clitheroe, claimed "nit-picking" trading standards officers did not understand his aims and were determined to force him out of business.

A complaint against HSB was upheld by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) after the company failed to back up claims that genuine work existed and that workers could earn up to £250 a week.

The ASA was informed of the company's activities by Lancashire trading standards officers, who said the firm charged people for information on work that did not exist.

East Lancashire commerce chiefs have also distanced themselves from suggestions they endorsed HSB. Mr Anderton, who ran the firm from home when he lived in Main Street, Bolton-by-Bowland, said: "There wasn't a thing trading standards could touch us with. That is why they took the matter to the ASA. Trading standards drove us out of business because they did not like what we were doing. They were trying to nit-pick and took our business to be something that it was not." A Lancashire Evening Telegraph investigation has discovered that more than 100 customers nationwide claimed that cheques for between £10 and £25 had been cashed but they had not received anything.

But Mr Anderton said he had proof of posting for all customers and fewer than one in 100 people had complained. The firm had received more than 130,000 inquiries..

"I have nothing to hide. My business was totally legitimate. The complaints which were upheld were weeny points. Some people may find it hard to believe but I have documentary evidence to support every claim we made. The reason that this information was not provided to the ASA was because my solicitor was on holiday.

"We have never offered work. We simply provided people with a list of names and addresses for other organisations."

Mr Anderton said that people who had written to the firm hoping to earn money must have been confused. He said: "Confusion is often borne out of greed. We did not provide work. People had to generate their own work."

Mr Anderton said his firm had decided to "call it a day" because the ASA wanted more disclaimers and information included on the firm's advertisements. The company would not be able to afford advertising space in national newspapers if the extra information was added.

The firm began trading in Stainforth, near Settle, and was under investigation by North Yorkshire trading standards officers before when it moved to Lancashire in 1997. Until last summer the firm operated from Mr Anderton's cottage home in Main Street, Bolton-by-Bowland.

Staff at the village post office next to Mr Anderton's former home said a number of people had called into the shop to inquire about his business since last summer, but he had left no forwarding address.

One dissatisfied customer was Nicholas Johnson, of Brunshaw, Burnley, who sent the company £10. He said: "I kept writing but every time I got a letter back asking for more money. They did send me a booklet with lists of company names and addresses. But I found out some of the companies did not exist. In the end I just assumed the work did not exist and I gave it up as a bad job."

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Damms said the firm's promotional literature implied they had recommended the company. Mr Damms said that when people had called the Chamber to check the firm's credentials they had been warned that the firm was being investigated by trading standards.

The company's office in Accrington was rented from landlord Matt Singer. His staff said: "We wouldn't mind catching up with Mr Anderton. The firm seems to have left some time ago and the rent for the last three months, which is about £600, hasn't been paid."

Mr Anderton said the £600 rent bill had not been paid because of personal problems and promised it would be settled soon.

Mr Anderton refused to reveal his address, although he is believed to be living in West Lancashire. He said he hoped to set up a new company in a different line of business soon.

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