Debt management boss disqualified for 12 years

In the beginning

Delroy Anthony Roberts (50), from Birmingham, was a director of three debt management companies: Haydon Associates Debt Management Consultants Limited, Sterling Financial Security Limited and Clear View Finance Limited.

He was appointed a director of each of the companies, between January 2012 and March 2013. However, during this time the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) received several complaints.

Nothing but complaints

Delroy’s customers had a range of grievances, including not receiving updates about changes to their debt plans and despite making regular payments, the money they owed to their creditors didn’t go down. At the same time, creditors were not paid the full amount and on occasions, they were not paid at all.

The majority of these complaints were upheld and as a result, the three companies were ordered by the FOS to refund the customers. But while some were refunded, other customers were not.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also issued warnings to Delroy Roberts but he failed to ensure the three companies adhered to regulated guidance, the companies did not provide written statements to customers setting out their debt positions and they also failed to provide information about customers to the FCA.

The final straw

The three companies entered into liquidation in December 2015 following the issues with the FCA, as well as experiencing financial difficulties. Not only did existing customers leave the three companies but Delroy Roberts had also agreed with the FCA that the debt management companies would not enter into any new contractual arrangements and as a result, had not generated any new income.

In July 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Delroy Roberts after he did not dispute that he had failed to ensure that the three debt management companies complied with requirements by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Effective from 6 August 2018, Delroy Roberts is now banned for 12 years from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

Comments

Anthea Simpson, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

People who turn to debt management companies are often in need of urgent help with no-where else to turn to but Delroy Roberts failed to provide an adequate service to his customers.

Delroy Roberts is banned from running companies for over a decade and this should send a clear warning to other directors that if they run a business in a way that is detrimental to either its customers or its creditors then we will take strong action against them.