ScaredEitherWay Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 TV property guru Phil Spencer’s homefinding firm has started laying off staff amid fears it could go bust.The Location, Location, Location presenter is founder and director of Garrington Home Finders, an upmarket property search company used by stars including Kylie Minogue and Keira Knightley. Yesterday one laid-off employee said the firm could not afford wage arrears or payoffs. The ex-staffer was told to claim state redundancy cash. The Daily Mirror understands Garrington is in talks with accountants Menzies Corporate Restructuring, which handled the collapse of MFI. A buyer is being sought but if one is not found Garrington could go under. It is feared all eight staff at its office in Chelsea, West London, could lose their jobs with no payout. The property slump forced Garrington to close its Cheshire office in November. Spencer, who co-presents his Channel 4 show with Kirstie Allsopp, is working on another Channel 4 series called Phil Down Under. His agent said Phil was unable to respond to questions because he is filming in Australia. Spencer, 39, and wife Fiona, 40, founded the firm in 1996 and are sole directors. The company helps rich buyers find a home and helps them through the buying process – just like Spencer and Allsopp do for the public in their TV show. Other celebrities to have used the company include footballers Jonathan Woodgate and Dean Ashton and the late Anita Roddick, who founded Body Shop. Yesterday one member of staff said Paul Tabor, Garrington’s managing director, told him his job had been made redundant and no money owed would be paid. Garrington’s head of client services, Tim Johnston, said: “There is the distinct possibility of an investor coming in and the business will continue. That’s the latest and we are waiting on final confirmation.” He said he was not aware of anyone being made redundant but added: “I know there’s some letters due to go out but I don’t know the content of each individual one.” http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/0...15875-21092861/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skomer Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Oh dear.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1929crash Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Spencer, who co-presents his Channel 4 show with Kirstie Allsopp, is working on another Channel 4 series called Phil Down Under. His agent said Phil was unable to respond to questions because he is filming in Australia. Ha! Is he fleeing abroad? Funny, we used to send our convicts to Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_renting Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Spencer, who co-presents his Channel 4 show with Kirstie Allsopp, is working on another Channel 4 series called Phil Down Under. How about 'Phil Gone Under'? The company helps rich buyers find a home and helps them through the buying process So they weren't selling properties. How did he (allegedly) go bust when it is now a buyer's market? So much for being a 'property expert'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 How about 'Phil Gone Under'? So they weren't selling properties. How did he (allegedly) go bust when it is now a buyer's market? So much for being a 'property expert'. its easy, he spent profits yet to materialise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone_Twin Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I love the way they think an investor would come in and no doubt "snap up" a low asset business (assuming they don't own their office or a fleet of minis etc...) which is losing money. . What would you buy it for? What could you do with it? . ST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spivT Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I love the way they think an investor would come in and no doubt "snap up" a low asset business (assuming they don't own their office or a fleet of minis etc...) which is losing money.. What would you buy it for? What could you do with it? . ST Make a documentary out of it's bid to stay afloat, as per my suggestion in the other thread. C4 loves doing that fly onthe wall crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPeregrination Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 What a *****. Runs the company into the ground to such a point that it can't pay out it's employees properly. I bet he wont be worried about paying the mortgage once the company goes tits up. Unlike his former staff. Scum like this should have their houses sold from under them to pay their staff. They expect to roll in the profits if things go well - they should bloody well be put through the ringer to pay the workers when things fail. Telling them to go get government redundancy is not acceptable - have you looked at the max govt payout recently? A hundred and something a week max. One week per year worked. It's nowhere near enough to live on if you were expecting to get paid and your pay doesn't materialise. It takes time to drop to survival levels financially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey shark Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Wonder who Krusty Allslut's gonna blame it on .....anything but the fact that house prices were to high no doubt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strompy Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 @ the bitters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Lad Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I wonder how much they charged to find a pwoperty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reck B Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 G'day - I am sitting in our £2.5 million Villa overlooking the Woolla Woolla Wollongong. I will sue anyone who says that Garrington Home Finders is in financial difficulty. We have huge profits that have yet to materialise, so rack off ya flaming galaaaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country solicitor Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 How about 'Phil Gone Under'? So they weren't selling properties. How did he (allegedly) go bust when it is now a buyer's market? So much for being a 'property expert'. Or "Phil Down and Out" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Forthehills Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 'His agent said Phil was unable to respond to questions because he is filming in Australia.' If only someone could invent some sort of device, perhaps a telling-box, or a phon-o-speaker which would enable people to talk to each other remotely in distant places Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravity always wins Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 'His agent said Phil was unable to respond to questions because he is filming in Australia.'If only someone could invent some sort of device, perhaps a telling-box, or a phon-o-speaker which would enable people to talk to each other remotely in distant places I think you might be on to something there but I'm not sure it will catch on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougless Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I thought he only had one employee, in which case he has made his entire staff redundant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXLONDONMAN Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Oh dear.... yes indeed oh dear,oh dear !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirge Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Location location location special - UK's top ten council house lists to be on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Democorruptcy Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 No need to worry about Phil as he will be OK. You have to look at the positives. Now could be a good time for someone to buy a firm like his. There are a lot of firms at bargain prices out there. The value of firms increases long term and there is only a limited amount of space for firms in the UK. If he wanted to sell the firm but couldn't find a buyer he could always rent his firm out while he buys another firm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Madam Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 What a coward, conveniently out of the country whilst he 'lets his staff go' - sounds like he has headed to Australia to chase the market down there too, at this rate he will be internationally associated with getting folk into negative equity and how not to time the housing market.... Don't worry it's only the biggest purchase of your life, am sure the old adage 'buy low, sell high' has no relevance. Are these two clowns trying to make themselves internationally loathed? *waves at Fil and Krusty in case they are still looking for advertising space* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hev Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Well, he may be down under and out but there is no need for him to be homeless, he can make a superb tent from one of Krusty's ever expanding and rather generous skirts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrB@work Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 /cheer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinking Feeling Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 How about 'Phil Gone Under'? Or 'Phil Down and Out'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 Men In A Boat Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 No need to worry about Phil as he will be OK. You have to look at the positives.Now could be a good time for someone to buy a firm like his. There are a lot of firms at bargain prices out there. The value of firms increases long term and there is only a limited amount of space for firms in the UK. If he wanted to sell the firm but couldn't find a buyer he could always rent his firm out while he buys another firm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valedarius Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Make's this thread look somewhat prophetic, even if it was tongue in cheek at the time .... http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/ind...showtopic=72570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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