Topic: Sunday Times feature on Bulgarian Dreams

[dario]

Wow, that was fast!

A pretty general article, but I suppose more negative press on BD is no bad thing.  It sort of dilutes our problems in the grand mix of things though. 

Nothing ground-breaking in that report though.  Seems they didn't want to focus solely on BD afterall!

[thetravelbug]

I have constantly been contacting these journalists that want stories but they never respond. Or if they do they never put anything in print. When I had all my trouble with BD back in 2004/2005 I contacted loads of papers, including The Times and nothing - probably because BD were spending thousands on advertising with them. Imagine how many people may have been saved money and stress and heart ache if they had just taken on my story and published it. Even now I have contacted all these journalists posting for stories and none have got back to me. If they have they just say to post a comment on the website under the story - tried this, never published.

[mike]

Makes me sick to See ILP getting free advertising in the Sunday Times article. I think I will have to write to Anna and tell her about my expensive experience that have resulted in nothign with this Law firm too. Mike

[dario]

I've not had direct experience with ILP, but they know how to work the PR machine...

[preston]

Cedar Heights Owners Group met in Manchester yesterday for their AGM, the meeting was well attended with owners travelling from as far a field as Ireland, the agenda called for the election of a team of directors and a chairman, this was achieved other items were discussed and agreed amicably,
The group recently held a proxy vote with a majority in favour of ousting the management company Interlink part of Robert Jenkins or his family’s companies, We have now elected Holiday Homes Bulgaria owned by Stephen Dainty to manage us with the directors overseeing their operation, A fair service charge has been set and will be set implemented when act 16 is issued, The BBC, s watchdog program sent a camera crew to televise the meeting which will be shown on Monday the 18th May, Watchdog has eventually tracked down Jenkins and interviewed him on camera over many irregular issues regarding developments he has been involved with including Cedar Heights, we are in talks with Interlink where we hope to negotiate a deal to take over full ownership of Cedar Heights 1 and 2 where we hope that we eventually sever all ties with this man his companies and family,  we then hope we can fully enhance our complex.

George Wannop     

[bond]

Hi George,

May i wish all of those people in cedar heights the very best with their situation that they currently find themselves in and that you find a solution quickly to Act 16.

I am an owner in WTP who is trying to get our dream completed.  We are in daily contact with Robert Jenkin to get us out of the situation we find ourselves in so drastically at this time.

I appeared on watchdog in February as we did not know where we were in relation to our dream.  Since March a few active owners and myself have been in daily contact with Robert Jenkin trying to find a way forward.  In WTP InterlinkBG have a mortgage over the development and for some people like myself who are fully paid have a 'security' by the bank from Interlink's loan.  As you can imagine this is a very stressful time for us all especially when you can not even get your title deeds because of the loan outstanding by Interlink!! 

Unfortunately watchdog did not 'track down' Jenkin, I approached watchdog and informed them that we were making headway with Jenkin, albeit late i know, and a number of WTP owners wanted Robert Jenkin to appear on watchdog to present his proposal to get us out of the severe situation we find ourselves in today.  This is the reason why the program is on tonight.

We are actively working with RJ and every owner who has voted to his proposal has voted for it.  I agree that we should have never been in this situation in the first place but we are were we are....  I have personally drawn a line in the sand, i cannot change the past but hopefully with the assistance of RJ and the other owners in WTP we can make a difference going forward.

Good luck and best regards

Chris Dale

[dario]

Chris,

Good luck in getting everything sorted out with your development.  I really do hope you can all resolve the problems.  Please make sure any agreement is done with an independent lawyer though - personally, I'd ensure a separate building company legal entity is set up to manage the completion.  Paying money to a building company that is on the brink of administration is HIGHLY RISKY.  For Cedar Lodge I and II, we now have an official owners group with an appointed lawyer.  Our law firm have provided us with a 12 page document listing everything from the mortgage history on the buildings, through to all the steps required for Act 16 to be completed.  It's really quite a comprehensive document and is only the first stage of our legal process.

I've just watched the programme and feel that Jenkin was given a pretty easy time there.  How did things get left when the interview ended?  What was said other than what was edited together and aired?

I'm pretty disappointed in how Watchdog have wrapped this up.  I hope they continue with the case, but from the way this was all presented, it looks as if they wanted to conclude the whole story there and then.  It's probably too complex for them to fully take on, which I guess is why they've focused on only one main development.  I'd love there to be a Panorama on this.  It's still a posibility, but I suspect the programme wouldn't have a wide enough appeal....

Remember - even Jenkins could not give a 100% guarantee on getting the developments completed!

All the best to everyone involved in these problems.

Darren

[Missizippi]

I think Jenkins should go into politics - he was so good at side stepping questions and only focusing on 'the way forward' rather than answering the unanswered questions. Still - gotta admire him for hanging in there and trying to dig himself out of the hole. It would probably have been easier for him to flee the country and to go into hiding.