Cozza

In addition, very few of Unilever's Directors actually live in Pudding Island. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00041424/officers . No HMRC coming after their salaries !

People seem to be forgetting that Unilever has not one HQs but two, one in Rotterdam (Unilever N.V), the main operation, and in London (Unilever Plc) its sidekick. It is dual registered with two separate legal entities, . https://www.unilever.com/contact/unilever-registered-offices/ Unilever has simply decided, for the time being, not to abandon the London operation, I suppose because it already has a foot in Europe with Unilever NV so it is not too exposed to the Brexit north winds. If the UK operation proves too troublesome and costly after Brexit, there's no reason why it won't later just absorb the London entity into its main Dutch company.

Now now, no need to resort to a slanging match.

I can find nothing online with regards this...yet. Generally though,once the UK leaves the EU, the EU passporting system which enables UK FSA regulated companies to trade freely within Europe will no longer apply. BBA says that in principle, "this will mean that UK banks wil lose their ability to sell their services to Europe" (page 6 of linked doc) https://www.bba.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/webversion-BQB-3-1.pdf You can see why the banks would want to move their HQ to Europe before the door closes. Back to AMEX, I have done some scratching around and, interestingly, I see that all is not rosy in the garden of American Express UK. American Express lists the following relevant UK Companies on its UK website: https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/information.html?inav=gb_sitefooter_aboutamex -American Express Payment Services Limited -American Express Services Europe Limited -American Express Insurance Services Europe Limited -American Express Holdings Limited On 17 May 2018, the FSA placed restrictions on the financial services American Express Payment Services Limited can provide. It can now only carry out "payment services activities" https://register.fca.org.uk/ShPo_FirmDetailsPage?id=001b000000Mg7QrAAJ On 14 June 2018, the FSA placed restrictions, albeit more generous ones, on the financial services American Express Services Europe Limited can provide. For eg, it is no longer entitled to "hold Client money" although it can "control client money if it has the necessary requirements". This and the other restrictions are set out on the FSA website: https://register.fca.org.uk/ShPo_FirmDetailsPage?id=001b000000i8U6VAAU On 10 July 2018, the FSA completely removed American Express Insurance Services Europe Limited's authorisation to carry out financial services. https://register.fca.org.uk/ShPo_FirmDetailsPage?id=001b000000MfQ7zAAF This was presumably undertaken following a Directors' motion on 6 July 2018 to liquidate the Company https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05048826. The Company is now under the control of liquidators, KMPG. I know you'll commend the Directors for having paid themselves £22 000 000 in shares in December 2016. On 30 June 2016, American Express Holdings Limited, became 75% or more owned by New York based US Company, American Express Company. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05163695/filing-history It does not have FSA regulation. I shall send a few of my storm crows over to their London address in Belgravia.

I heard through the grapevine that American Express headquarters in Brighton had recently left Brighton for Spain, although this doesn't appear to have been picked up by any of the newspapers. Another casualty of Brexit !

I heard through the grapevine that American Express headquarters in Brighton had recently left Brighton for Spain, although this doesn't appear to have been picked up by any of the newspapers. Another casualty of Brexit !

I agree !

I'm wondering why...does anyone know whether the banks have stopped lending silly money or are in the process of doing so?

What a pleasant chap you are ?

Watch out Kent, Operation 'Brock' - a 13 mile long lorry park is in the pipeline. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-dover-trade-operation-stack-department-for-transport-no-deal-a8471276.html

? He may be one of those dual nationality types (I have applied to become French you know) ?

I think the taste for Pudding Island has somewhat been soured by recent events.

Just a brief missive to ask you to support the Independent's petition for a Final Vote on Brexit: https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-give-people-a-final-say-on-brexit-deal?signed=true You never know what might happen if enough people sign it. ☺️

This isn't really about non-payment as the s.8 Notice (unaffected by these changes) still allows eviction for rent arrears, anti-social behaviour etc. I think the main risk for landlords is that it's unclear what repair and maintenance standards the council would require. The changes allow tenants to complain about the state of the property to the landlord, and if no response is forthcoming in 14 days, approach the local authority. If they, in turn, apply anything like the standards that a tenant in social housing would expect, then a good percentage of private sector landlords may have some issues. During my time in the UK I never lived in a rental property that met the Decent Homes Standard.

http://thesheriffsoffice.com/articles/assured-shorthold-tenancies-and-the-deregulation-act-2015 'Revenge' evictions (i.e. avoiding basic maintenance by evicting the complaining tenant and moving in a more compliant specimen) just became that bit harder. Legal grey areas over securing deposits have also been cleared up. Now more in the tenant's favour. Good job BTL landlords can always depend on capital appreciation.