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Writing it again because of one ugly word I used in the last one so not having got through. This company used to employ me for 2 months. Already so much have I written on them that I don't feel like repeating myself. To cut the story short, they use "vulnerable" people to make money for themselves (e.g. longterm unemployed or foreigners as me who apparently have lower rights) and not pay them the due wages and bully them.
They run an ongoing recruitment process which is a mockery at the word "recruitment". Then after a few days 90%resign not getting paid. The others cherish hope to earn good money and strive still on. They can use every excuse in order to avoid payment of the wages.
For example their T&C's state that after you had visited the property, you must prepare fully formatted blunder-free Excel version of the inventory in 24 hours, and also send it with the pictures. Which is in most case not physically possible when you are given a couple of estates to visit a day. So you travel round london 9am-9pm and then you are "obliged" to sit and work through the night on your reports (remember - any blunder as even small misspelling can exclude you from paying in 100% and so can also the lack of photos or photos being not ideal - at their discretion). Next day to work remember!
If you have submitted e.g. 79 reports for the month behind you and you still are behind with a single one, or you don't have a set of pics for any one of the 80 lets say jobs, you will not get paid for the whole month. You will never see a payslip whatsoever. They give you small advances (as they call them) for survival - 150 pounds a week or every two weeks.
By the way, "advances" are money that are not yet due to workers (if you were paid for the last month and before the end of another). After money's due (after 1st month) the cash pays cannot be called advances if the 1st month wages wasn't fully paid out, isn't it? They are installments of money that's already been due to you for some time. And I had to beg them for these "installments" because I said I had no money for tickets to get round to properties and for food and rent.
The issue is now investigated by the employment tribunal. They will probably issue a default payment order. This is not it. Andrew (boss) want to sue me and get back of all those "advances" which asa whole amount to 1290 pounds and he somehow figured out himself the sum of 2000!
This is not it. I was multiple times called on my mobile and intimidated including using swearwords.
Also, he has many times blackmailed me that my payslip will not be done unless I finish this report or the other (but eventually he did not keep his promise when i did those reports). Those behaviors when I reported them to Jobcentre lady were described by her simply as harassment and bullying at work. There are proper paragraphs for it in the law!
Of course the excuse that I shouldn't have been paid those advances he came up with now is that i did not submitted my jobs in 24 hours time (above) and several of the jobs lacked pictures (which delay and lack of pictures he didn't mind AT ALL ALTOGETHER WHATSOEVER before my struggle for my due money with him started thru the Empl.Trib.). I urge you not to try start working for him and if you are an estate agency, I leave it to your wisdom and consideration whether you want to place orders with them for inventory makes or not.
I would better not if I were you. I know the inventory clerk of theirs are very good (me for example) but remember - it's a sly-very based company!
Jean Baptiste, are you considering legal action?
wow I can see that the list of the wronged is gradually and continually increasing!
Darren Russell? Yes, it is definiately Andrew Carlton a few years ago on the picture.
Who would suspect they were employed by a crook and criminal.
And good news - Employment Tribunal issued me with a default judgemnt of late, let's see if he doesn't ignore even this one!
I only wanted to say that Mr. Carlton has finally paid Darnell (he wasn't procrastinating very much) but he is still avoiding to pay the ordered money from the Employment Tribunal to me.
As I said at the beginning I was born in Poland and as a non-English person I was and am treated by him in the same way the non-white British people are, ie. worse than all the white-English employees (I don't have anything against them, but I do hate Mr. Carlton as the only English person [if only he IS English as I heard rumours he is of foreign descent, Middle East, I suggest?])
I have called the ### several times. He obviously "went on holiday" to Seychelles. Well, yes, he eventually economised sme money by failure to pay me.
I am sending the enforcement to the Bow County Court tomorrow.
Remember - do not trade with this fraudster, do not start working for him, don't be involved with him in any way if you want to stay on the safe side, steer clear of Mr. Darren Russell (Mr. Andrew Carlton), Mr. Davidson, Property Concepts UK in 10-16 Tiller Road E14 8PX, and Apple Properties and Homes Direct.
I have also made an appeal that the discrimination and bullying case be proceeded with.
I have too strong and irrefutable proofs to let him go.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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Happy 38th Birthday Mr Russell ! from all the people you have swindled and not paid and who have paid for your continued expensive lifestyle.
I think he's 37 this year, but in any case he w ill be losing some money very soon!
He's in his 40s I believe
I doubt anyone other than him (& this Mr. Davidson) knows half of what is happening - or can do anything about it other than quit. We all have bills and rent to pay. A fraud is a fraud, I'm sure he makes no distinction between his in- and out- house staff.
Apple properties is a wild goose chase.
Moo & moo
Can you elaborate concerning Apple Properties? I have tried calling their number but no one ever answers and it just swallows up your money. The office i sdefinitely at the same address as pcuk but he denies all knowledge about it, which is weird.
well the in house staff get paid on time for a start so that is a fairly important distinction.
moo & moo we know that you still work for him who are you either kristina or karim?
You don't know [censored] to be honest, and please don't presume to either. My apologies, but I just get wound up reading some of the comments on here.
Office staff aren't all paid on time - though admittedly some are. You can choose to believe me or not, I really don't care, but please don't state it on here like it's fact and you know it all especially when you clearly don't even know half of it.
I know a number of you know the office staff on a personal level, and know full well they're not [censored]. I've been on the other end of the, 'oh, it's been paid into the wrong account (again)...', just as I presume many of you have. So can I ask you not lump everyone into the same box. Andrew & Co., don't even go there...
Thank you
Mo Moo/kristina maybe you should tone down your rhetoric a bit and actually read the comments that have been posted. I don't recall any comments that "lump all the office staff in with Andrew and co" no one has blamed the office staff for Mr Russells deceptions but to be frank you seem to know what goes on and you continue to work for him which in my book is just as bad, because if I knew that about him I would certainly have been looking for another job, not continue to see new people being taken on knowing that they would be defrauded at a later date - its dispecable. Irregardless of the current office staff what about all the innocent people from Mr Russells previous company Homes Direct that were ripped off - I guess that doesns't affect you directly right? so thats fine then.
Moo mo I do not presume anything I have been personally told that the office staff ARE paid on time I am not just hazarding a guess ok and I know from my own experience that that is the case.
kristina I actually recall an incident where Karim told an inventory clerk to f off because they were not going to get paid for no legitimate reason and you say not to lump everyone in the same box as andrew and co. So people on here do know what they are talking about, they are not just random comments so go away and get ###ed you silly ###.
Hi
I think we should get back on track with the real issue here - Mr Russell & Mr Davidson don't pay some of their staff as detailed in the start of this blog. Mr Russell should not be allowed to treat people the way he does and living off there hard work. He cheats on his staff, his clients and his partner, Mr Davidson, should do something about HIS company - we should all look at the constructive information that is detailed here.
If people do not get any joy going down the legal route with Mr Russell because he is hiding behind a false name you should address it direct to Mr Davidson at his address as detailed at Companies House.
I am sure Mr Russell and Mr Davidson enjoyed celebrating Mr Russell's birthday on all your money.
The more people focus on the real issues here and join together and go down the correct route hopefully something can be done ie send details to the press, local newspapers ie The Wharf as they are already familiar with Mr Russell's history.
I have worked for Mr Russle.
Here is one to raise your eyebrows, Mr Russle and Mr Davidson are having a personal relationship. Mr Davidson must know what is going on, they have been together for years.
I would not be to hasty in blaming any of his staff as although they know he is an ###, they do not know 100% of the story, he is a blagger and lies to them.
So there really is no need to be rude to Kristina or Karim or any of the others as they are all overworked and underpaid. but i can say for sure Liz the Office Manager (Who alot of you may have met)always get paid on time and with a very cushy salary to boot, lying to new recruits and knowing fully what Mr Russle has done. Shame on her
Also a thing I forgot to mention about Mr Russle, by word of mouth i was informed that he tells his office staff that he has not taken a salary since property concepts had started up, this is one of the many ways he keeps them subserivant to the company. I was also informed by another ex worker that most if not all of the office staff are leaving and most have already left.
As already stated I am myself aware of at least Karim telling a clerk who he obviously felt that he could take the piss out of that they were not going to get paid for several months work and for no legitimate reason whatsoever. This clerk has still not been paid, so again I state that whilst Darren is the main perpertrator there are others in the office (including Liz) that seem to be copying Mr Russells ways in full knowledge which in my eyes makes them just as much a ### as Mr Russell and Davidson. Who cares if Darren has taken a salary he made millions from his previous company STEALING other peoples money. As for Kristina I have spoken to her myself on numerous occassions and she is just as bad as the rest of them, a really horrible and evil person.
Thank you Sid M - well it looks like you have now confirmed why Mr Davidson does not do anything regarding the antics of Mr Russell - they are both as bad as each other.
They are the only 2 people that are responsible for all that has happened to previous staff and clients. I cannot believe why this company is still operational but then again I am sure Mr Russell has secured money probably from the estate agency that is running out of his office to let him carry on his expensive lifestyle.
To the remaining staff - what he and Mr Davidson doesn't pay you it pays for their lifestyle - you will be drip fed money to keep you happy as previously mentioned in this blog. I understand the company does cleaning where do you think the cash jobs go ?
To all of you leaving comments on this website please take the time to back it up by sending them to the newspapers / VAT / PAYE / Watchdog only to raise more awareness against people like this operating companies in this manner.
Hi Robert,
I remember the incedent with Karim and your Sister quite well, his was a reaction in anger to the abuse he was getting on the phone from your sister, when there was nothing he could do about her not being paid. I am not saying his response was the correct one and your sister giving the office staff abuse was not correct either, but we can not blame either your Sister or Karim or Kristina as the only person who holds power of payment in the office was Andrew/Darren. The incedent however did seem to wake up the whole office to what Andrew/Darren is capable of. But please dont put Kristina, Karim or any of the office staff into the same box as Darren as he is the one who is at fault.
Charlie are you definitely confirming that Apple properties is run by Russell - do you know this for a fact? as Kristina seem sto claim that it is a shell company.
If employees are not getting paid (and they were not) on a regular and consistent basis then they have every right to voice that, in whatever way they have to. If you and the others are so against darren, you wouldn't even sit in the same room as him let alone work for him. There are many reputable inventory companies and estate agents about and there is plenty of work. If you found out your boss was a murderer or a rapist would you continue to work for him - I doubt it. Well Mr Russell is no better in my eyes - ROBBING people of their livelihood DELIBERATELY and consistently with no care for there circumstance or situation.
Hi Charlie,
I am unaware of any estate agency running out of Darrens office, I doubt the office staff are aware too as in the time i worked there I saw no evidence of such, I do however think there may have been one in his name before Property Concepts started up. But it may be that only the Managers where aware of this estate agents.
It is purely a very strong coincidence.
Mr Russell ran Homes Direct an estate agent many years ago made alot of people bankrupt by withholding rent as per the link previously mentioned in this blog.
Apple Properties is an estate agent and its website is http://www.appleproperties.net/ and clearly states it is running from the same address as Property Concepts UK - it has many properties on its website so it being a 'shell' company seems untrue. It is also being run by a previous Homes Direct member of staff - enough said really.
I also agree with Sid M comments regarding its staff yes it is wrong to abuse customers/clients/ex staff but they were only acting on Mr Russell's orders as it is very unlikely you would actually speak to the man himself as he hides behind his staff very well and lets them take the full brunt of any hassle which he and Mr Davidson has caused.
Robert,
Almost all of the staff have left Property Concepts now, the only remaining of the bunch are still looking for work, You know yourself how hard it is to find work in London now. Give them a break they have done no wrong. and for the record Andrew/darren makes a point of paying them a day or two late (sometmes up to a week) so they wont leave, because they know if they do just leave they will lose at least a weeks wages, and who can afford to do that ? That man has so many tactics for keeping people at his mercy.
Peace yeah
Charlie I would normally agree with you concerning not blaming the staff for their bosses actions but In this incidence I know for FACT not hearsay that Liz, Karim and Kristina are WELL aware of Darrens antics and indeed they themselves have contributed to others downfall/losss of wages by there own actions, they are not forced to do anything they don't wish to do are they? I don't think Carina was aware of anything until after she left and she struck me as an upfront person but the others are all creepy individuals.
Excuse me did I just read who can afford to lose a weeks pay? What about the workers that were like 3 months pay behind? and still continued to be lied to, I don't recall Kristina for example telling/informing me that the whole thing was one big scam despite having full knowledge and ample opportunity to do so in the time I was working. In fact she made every excuse except for telling me that Darren was a con man, I thought I was working for a legit company she could have saved me a whole lot of stress by letting me know the situation but she decided against doing that.
Come off it Sid M take a look at Apple Properties website it has numerous similarities to the pcuk website, the address is the same and then we have Darren Russell located there - this s no coincidence.
Deano
I'm sorry I am not aware of some of the things you are so stand corrected.
The one thing is FACT that Mr Russell is up to his old tricks playing with peoples lifes and it is these people that will suffer ! And it looks Mr Davidson totally accepts the way he is treating these people as HE IS the Director of the Company so HE is overall responsible.
Remember you are dealing with a man who Bankrupted his brother, his sister and his mother through no fault of there own accept for allowing Mr Russell to handle there affairs. He may also be classified as bankrupt but does this man look like he cares ? as he hides behind partners, doesn't even use his real name etc etc.
I really wish everyone luck and hopefully they can move on to better and easier things.
Hello Deano and charlie,
I was only a temp but I remember Carina well, Andrew/darren had her running around at least 6 days a week, before i left she looked drawn and gaunt, she tried to keep everthing together. Her and Karim used to work untill all hours, I turned up one morning and Karim was still there. I dont think either of them where aware. and Karim was just as upfront as she was, it seemed they used to look out for each other alot. I am shocked to hear Carina has left as she and Andrew/Darren seemed to have a bit of a thing going on. I do know of alot of other people who have left the office, and I am sure Karim and Kristina are decent enough people and will follow suit.
I have forwarded my thoughts to The Wharf newspaper - I strongly suggest everyone else follows newsdesk@wharf.co.uk
Sid M have you seen the apple properties website and if so what are your thoughts on it?
I'm still a temp so I gusse a weeks worth is alot to me. I am very sorry for those people who where ripped of by him. If i where not paid directly by office Angels for my work done, then i would not have been paid either. Andrew/Darren did not pay his office Angels bill and had to be taken to court. I do not know the outcome of this case as I no longer work under Office angels
I will do that charlie.
I will do that too, no I have not seen the Apple Properties website, best thing to do is call Docklands business centre to see if they are still running. The girl who works on the reception desk is very helpfull and knows every company ever run from that building.
well if you get a chance have a look, just google apple properties it is the first one that comes up. You'll see that it is very similar to pcuks bt don't ring the number as no one ever answers.
Yes it does, but do you know that Docklands Bussiness Center houses many companies, apple properties will have its own number not connected to the main reception as does Property Concepts . I can not call the centre myself, the reception staff may remember me, but it will be good for one of you guys to check it out.
Yes I will but do you know the Docklands main reception number as I don't and i'm trying to google it with no luck so far?
Hi - just spoken to the lovely lady on reception and she said that they left 3 months ago maybe they have moved around the corner to:
APPLE PROPERTIES (LONDON) LIMITED Number [protected]
Address 35 BEAUFORT COURT ADMIRALS WAY,
SOUTH QUAY WATERSIDE,
LONDON,
E14 9XL Company Status Active
and RYAN who is director of the above also owns Wilson & Co Property Management Ltd who is registered to Tiller Road which was incorporated in April 2008
Interesting stuff,
I have sent an e-mail to the wharf as well concerning Mr Russell
So charlie are you saying that apple properties is not connected to Darren or that we don't know?
Regardless of whether there is a connection between Darren and Apple Properties his actions with Property concepts are bad enough and he will very shortly be paying for those actions at upcoming tribunal hearings (thats if he turns up). Its strange that his solicitors are based in Manchester, even though he is based in London, yet he still denies that he and Andrew Carlton are one and the same person and if I am correct Homes Direct were based in Manchester - funny that!.
Totally agree with you Darnell but you MUST make sure you get Mr Craig Davidson there at the tribunal aswell as he is the director of the comany and in theroy his responsibility aswell as Mr Russell's.