Book World Ltd and Hardback Printer Ltd were wound up “in the public interest” at the Business & Property Court in Manchester on 23 September.
The court heard a familiar tale regarding the mode of operation of Book World, which attracted customers – often self publishers – by offering cheap prices and then outsourced the printing, mainly to printers based in Eastern Europe.
The registered addresses of the two firms were in London, but the Insolvency Service found they were in reality virtual office providers and the companies actually operated from Barry, in south Wales.
“In many cases, the books were printed neither to the specified quantity or quality. Customers also reported that the books were delivered late or not at all and if customers made complaints, Book World would become aggressive,” the Insolvency Service stated.
It conducted confidential enquiries into the Book World business after receiving complaints.
“Investigators were able to establish that the accounts that received the clients’ money were not always held in the name of the company and sometimes held by the former director – Neill Stuart Malcolm John.”
When interviewed as part of the investigation into his previous ventures, John had admitted that Hardback Printer was incorporated as a new corporate vehicle to continue his schemes.
Although there was no evidence that Hardback Printer had actually traded, the Insolvency Service petitioned to the court to wind the company up on the basis that it was closely connected to the two other rogue print farming companies.
The court agreed to wind-up Book World Ltd and Hardback Printer Ltd on the grounds that they operated “with a lack of transparency and commercial probity, while also failing to maintain and/or deliver accounting records or co-operate with the investigation”.
In a statement, Insolvency Service chief investigator Helen Cosgrove said: “Many of the companies’ victims were everyday consumers looking for a good price to get their work published as they didn’t have the support of a big publishing house behind them.
“However, investigations clearly proved Book World had no interest in serving their clients and provided shoddy levels of output, while Hardback Printer was all set-up to do exactly the same.
“We are pleased the courts recognised this and have shut down their activities to prevent further people from becoming victims.”
The Official Receiver has now been appointed as the liquidator.
Last month Printweek reported on yet another customer left out of pocket by a print farming operation using a remarkably similar style of website to John’s previous incarnations.
John was disqualified from being a director for eight years in May. His former business partner Clair Rosina Hunnisett received a six-year ban.
Public enquiries concerning the affairs of Book World or Hardback Printer should be made to: The Official Receiver, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester M1 3BN; email: PIU.OR@insolvency.gov.uk.
The print farming firms related to this case are in no way connected to: Hampshire-based The Printing Press Ltd; specialist letterpress printer and bindery Book Printers Ltd of Finedon, Northamptonshire; Crewe-based The Printing House Ltd; UKPrint.biz, which is a trading name of Ruby Giraffe Ltd of Manchester; www.bookprintinguk.com which is run by Bonacia Ltd in Peterborough, or www.magprint.co.uk which is part of Stephens & George Print Group.
