Anti-bullying publishers closed down for 'misleading' tactics

Two companies in Manchester have been closed down for using misleading sales practices to solicit sponsorship from businesses for anti-bullying books.

The companies, Garrett Tate Partnership Ltd and Achieve Media Ltd, stated that the books were for distribution to schools in the locality of the sponsors. They also falsely claimed that they were operating for a charitable purpose and that the books had Local Education Authority support when no such support had either been sought or obtained.

The misleading sales tactics were followed by persistent debt collection methods making a number of sponsors feel bullied into making payments for something they had not agreed to.

The companies printed and distributed to schools only a small proportion of the books for which they had sold sponsorship. The High Court in Manchester found that each of the companies had been used as a personal 'piggy bank' by the director to such an extent that substantial funds had been removed to buy property in Bulgaria and by a number of ATM cash withdrawals.