European Mediation

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone dealt with a UK company named European Mediation? They contacted a friend of mine who had purchased off-plan in Spain. They guaranteed him over the phone they would be able to recover in less than 30 weeks 100% of the deposits he had paid to the developer! They said they worked alongside with Spanish lawyers. Do any of you think this is possible? I looked up their website and it has just been created in August 2008. I would really appreciate any feedback on them if they deliver as promised.

[Lawbird Lawyer]

Dear Sir,

Regarding your surprising post it is simply not possible nor is it serious from a professional point of view to guarantee a full refund, much less of 100% of the deposits paid meaning their is no risk whatsoever.

Besides being unprofessional, it is simply impossible to obtain refunds litigating in less than 30 weeks as you post. Because I assume it's through litigation or how else are they obtaining these refunds? Another matter would be executing a bank guarantee.

I've never heard the company you mention before. And I really must query how a UK company can possibly be making such outrageous claims on Spanish law and Spanish legal procedures if it's exactly as you have posted. To back up such strong claims they would need an excellent track record. I'm sorry but we are specialised in litigation and this just simply sounds too good to be true. It sounds more like very aggressive sales pitch.

If you investigate their domain it was created on the 9th August 2008 by Mr Fabio Bratto, hardly a company with a long track record:

Domain name:
european-mediation.co.uk

Registrant:
Fabio Bratto

Registrant type:
Unknown

Registrant's address:
6 Pearson Close, Milnrow, Rochdale, Lancashire
Rochdale
Lancashire
OL16 3UL
GB

Registrar:
TUCOWS Inc [Tag = TUCOWS-CA]
URL: http://www.opensrs.org

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 09-Aug-2008
Renewal date: 09-Aug-2010
Last updated: 07-Oct-2008

If you want to discuss this matter further privately you can always PM us:

http://www.lawbird.com/services/contact

[ifv]

Is this not regarded as 'ambulance-chasing' and strictly forbidden by the Law Society Rules?

I was contacted by this company,offering to act on my behalf to retrieve money lost to Fortuna estates/Oanna who operated a "land banking" scam from offices in Fuengirola Spain.They say they will pursue the case through the Spanish courts and ultimately the European court and will seek compensation from The European Compensation Fund. This ( they say) is a special fund set up for the victims of fraud. They will represent you for 10% of your investment(read loss) and will return said amount if unsuccessful. I'm very sceptical, and asked for a "no win no fee" deal which they declined. The complexity of the scam operated by Fortuna (involving bonafide Spanish lawyers) was so complex I doubt if there is any chance of anyone getting anything back, so please, do your homework, before throwing good money after bad in an attempt to retrieve something. In my opinion this scam was so large and involved so many Spanish professionals,that something should be done about it in Spain.

[Lawbird Lawyer]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

...They say they will pursue the case through the Spanish courts and ultimately the European court and will seek compensation from The European Compensation Fund. This ( they say) is a special fund set up for the victims of fraud.

Dear Sir/Madame,

There is no such thing as "The European Compensation Fund" as per your post, I regret to inform you.

I was also contacted by these people. They claim to be able to recoup money which I lost in a land investment called Bella Fortuna, near Malaga.

I also noted that it's a newly-registered company.

I'm not sure what to do. If I pay their fee by credit card then I presume I will be able to recover it from the card company if European Mediation do a runner.

[Simon]

I have also been contacted by them. I was an Instant Access Property member, and E. Mediation have contacted me about a development in San Pedro del Pinetar, Murcia. Completion date was 31-12-08, but this has now slipped to Summer 2010. They have told me that providng I have the approriate paperwork, and deposit is in an "ESCRO" account then this should be a pretty straight forward claim for 100% refund including legal expense. They have not guaranteed anything, but they have said things would be wrapped up in 6 months!? They did say they could not offer a "no win no fee" policy, but they would accept 5% payment, rather than 10% up front, and then invoice a larger % of regained funds, as a premium for this. They also said they would refund all 5% if they found not in "Escro" account. Although I may be a cynic, and also very concerned about throwing "good money after bad" Lawbird cannot be seen as independant view with their comments on another solicitors, can they? Having said this if they are offering "no win no fee" I would consider their services, as I suspect would many other IAPS members! The solicitor mentioned on the European Mediation website is below. I am not sure whether anyone has come across this guy, who is suppose to be a litigation specialist. In fact Lawbird, you may know him?

J C Bufete.
C/. San Rafael 32-A
Edificio Juan Pablo II
2a Piso, Oficina 5-6

[Lawbird Lawyer]

Originally Posted by Simon

Although I may be a cynic, and also very concerned about throwing "good money after bad" Lawbird cannot be seen as independant view with their comments on another solicitors, can they? J C Bufete.

Dear Sir,

In view of your unwarranted attack on our law firm I will reply to your post.

If you reread our posts above, at no time have we criticized any fellow lawyer or law firm as you surprisingly post. That is something you have taken out of the blue. Please quote us criticizing the lawyer or law firm you mention.

European Mediation is not a solicitor's company, unlike us, at least to the best of our knowledge. Perhaps you can prove me wrong. In fact the law firm you quote has only been mentioned by yourself on this thread, no one else other than yourself has mentioned it. In fact it's the first time we've seen it posted. Fact.

We have replied to posters queries, that's all. If they have made a mistake (?) or have misunderstood what they'be been told over the phone by European Mediation representatives we have no control over that and cannot be held accountable. We just reply to the legal queries raised on this thread.


We have been factual:

1. You cannot guarantee the recovery of deposits 100% to a client meaning there is no risk. It is unprofessional. Fact.

If this company, European Mediation, are so confident in its abilities to recover 100% guaranteeing it as others post, then it stands to logic they should follow a no-win, no-fee basis instead of charging 10% of the deposits up front, wouldn't you agree Simon?

2. You cannot obtain deposits in 6 months through litigation in Spain. Fact.

The only exception would be if they had bank guarantees as we highlighted in our first post on this thead.

3. There is no European Compensation Fund which is where the deposits will be refunded from as they seem to claim. Fact.

4. This company's website, European Mediation, is lesss than 4 months old. Fact.

5. The company itself, European Mediation Limited, is less than 4 months old (see post below). Fact.

6. Said company can have no track record recovering deposits, at least in Spain, in such a short span of time (4 months). Fact.

7. Deposits paid to developers are hardly ever held in escrow accounts albeit in special accounts, so they will find none. Fact.

8. We've never heard the law firm you mention (JC) before which does not mean it doesn't exist. In Málaga region alone, where we are located, there are more than 4.000 colleged lawyers not to mention the rest of Spain, can't know them all.

Doesn't anyone query from where they're getting all your personal contact details by which they phone you out of the blue? Whose sold them -or copied- the databases with all your personal details and financial details of your failed investments in Fortuna Land, Oanna Ltd etc.?

Simon I would kindly ask you to be factual likewise on your posts, not to invent things -as you've done-, not to raise false accusations and not to go astray keeping on this thread's topic.

Thank you.

We've also been contacted by European Mediation with a view to being compensated for money we invested in Fortunaland. The guy who rang me out of the blue, said they want 10% of the amount we have invested up front to cover their costs, this would then be added to the amount of the claim from the (so called) European Compensation Fund. When (if) we receive our compensation they would then invoice us for a further 8% of the original amount.

If this organisation is not on the level, does anyone out there know of an organisation that would be able to help. Any advice on how to proceed would be very welcome.

[Lawbird Lawyer]

EUROPEAN MEDIATION LIMITED

Running a search on this company not only is their website less than 4 months old (dating from 9th August 2008), the company itself has only been incorporated the 11th of August 2008.

Details from Companies House below:-

Name & Registered Office:
EUROPEAN MEDIATION LIMITED
JAGUAR HOUSE 6 HARTHILL STREET
MANCHESTER
M8 8AG
Company No. 06669400

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 11/08/2008

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied

Accounting Reference Date: 31/08
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 11/05/2010
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 08/09/2009