I Find it quite difficult to believe that a Government Officer can actually assume to be able to expect to Blackmail small Business by demanding up-front fees for a service to which is actually free, except to say after we posted a web site requesting others come forward with their stories (web site now closed). We had 4 other individuals come forward with their own story, and it appears that all is not as it first sold to you from the Business Link South Yorkshire Office. Our story was a simple one, we recently developed a piece of equipment for the packaging industry, of which we had tested and proven concept. Mr K. Smith was to offer advice and support of how we could manufacture the product in Barnsley/Rotherham location. Mr Smith charged myself 250 for the initial meeting which was held at the main entrance/reception of Holiday Inn Bawtry Rd. I was told to pay the fee in cash & handed to Mr Smith in an envelope placed in my Business Plan. Our web site interest showes that Mr Smith has performed this action on several occasions at different Hotels. I would say at this point that I refused to pay the money for his time to which was simplt to pay for this meeting and would also incur more costs as he assisted further. Kevin Smith became very arrogant and warned us that if we expected to progress, he would have to be paid, otherwise he would ensure we had no assistance or help at all. We placed a web site requesting others come forward, and 4 others did tell their story, all were similar to ours. One company had ceased trading because of the direct intervention of Mr Kevin Smith, One Business paid the fee and 6 months latter have received nothing but abuse from Business Link and Mr Smith.
I would like to offer my experience of Business Link and the intimidation by Mr Smith and hopefully this may warn others to take their business to some other location outside of the boudary of the South Yorkshire Office. Mr Smith still calls us (always from a public pay phone) and offers to provide a pathway to assistance when we pay 250, we simply refuse as do others. I have had subsequent meetings with other members of Business Link staff and found out the feeling of arrogance is not just restricted to ourselves, it also is common with the staff members. We also understand he intercepted our correspondence and made quite clear any written applications would also be vetterd by him first.
I was informed by a member of the BL staff that Mr Smith has no experience of Business, not documented history of success and worse still had a business which was Bankrupted and was left with may creditors.
I hope to warn as many as is possible that Mr Kevin Smith of Business Link South Yorkshire is a very corrupt person with little if any scrupels and certainly no integrity. His office is always Hotels and Cafe's and his methods are based on failure and no experience. "YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED".
James m
Doncaster
United Kingdom
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