Boss of second-hand tractor business based in East Riding of Yorkshire banned for six years after breaching agreements to stop publishing misleading adverts
Alan Farrow (34) will be joined on the disqualified directors register by his wife, Marina Farrow (34), who has been banned for 5 years.
Husband and wife, both from Shiptonthorpe, East Riding of Yorkshire, saw their disqualifications come into effect on 7 May 2020 and they are now banned from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.
Alan and Marina Farrow were directors of East Yorkshire Machinery Limited. Incorporated in October 2013, the company was based in Shiptonthorpe and bought and sold second-hand tractors, agricultural machinery and plant equipment.
Following complaints to Trading Standards, Alan Farrow signed an undertaking in January 2016 agreeing that he would cease publishing sales adverts that were misleading about the condition of tractors and other products.
Alan Farrow, however, continued to breach the undertaking and following court action brought against him by Trading Standards, he signed a further agreement in November 2017.
By April 2018, East Yorkshire Machinery was placed into liquidation and a subsequent investigation by the Insolvency Service into the conduct of Alan and Marina Farrow found several complaints had been made to Trading Standards about the company.
Investigators uncovered that between January 2016 and October 2017, at least 11 customers purchased tractors and other goods advertised for sale from East Yorkshire Machinery worth more than £88,000.
East Yorkshire Machinery, however, didn’t supply or deliver the goods and failed to refund several customers. In one case, a customer only received a refund after they obtained a court judgment against the company.
Further enquiries uncovered that between April 2016 and May 2017, at least 7 customers bought goods from the company worth close to £35,000. However, customers received goods that were either mis-described or not in the same condition as advertised. Three customers managed to secure refunds after obtaining court judgments, while the others remain as creditors in the liquidation.
On 16 April 2020, both Alan and Marina Farrow had their disqualification undertakings accepted by the Secretary of State after husband and wife did not dispute that they had caused or allowed East Yorkshire Machinery Ltd to continue to breach the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations.
John Bryan, senior trading standards officer at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
Rob Clarke, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:
Notes to Editors
Alan Farrow is of Shiptonthorpe, and his date of birth is August 1986.
Marina Farrow is of Shiptonthorpe and her date of birth is May 1986.
East Yorkshire Machinery Ltd (Company Reg no. 08238692).
Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.