Ford forces Keydata victims' website offline

I am pleased Mr Ford can contribute so much to a worthy charity. How much?

Meanwhile, some 25,000 investors in his company stand to lose their pension and, in many cases their life savings. And how much is it costing to close down the Keydata Victims website. Freedom of the press, in this case, is a joke.

Nice to see he has some fancy friends, can afford to support a charity, and a lawyer to ward off some website or other.

Meantime my 86 year old mother is drawing down her meagre savings to pay the bills and is having sleepless nights as they dwindle. Mr Ford is obviously a scumbag in a suit and a tie. Don't come round here unless you have the cash Mr Ford.

Why are we tolerating this sort of behaviour?

Neil Harland

As far as we are concerned we did not read anything that would not be considered in the public interest. What has happened to the freedon of the press too in not reporting the details of this fraud. What are the SFO doing to protect the Keydata victims? The youngest victims (av. 70 years) are having to dig for information because the adminstrators will not provide it and they pass it on to their fellow victims. Meantime, Ford & Co are allowed to travel back and forth to Geneva without being questioned or his assets frozen.

So they silence our protest by bringing down our communication thread.

Shame on you, JI.

Keydata Victim

The correct thing to do is to request the 'libellous statements' be identified, then the statements themselves can be removed. This is standard practice.

If however, Mr Ford and his advisors took the US Patent Troll type approach - which is 'You've done something we can litigate against, but we aren't going to tell you what or where it is,,,' then under our stupid libel laws it might bear consideration and would need to be investigated..

But my inclination is to hold my nerve, strengthened by the fact that if Ford and his lawyers did move against the website owners, there would be a firestorm of bad PR that they would immediately run into, and every other company that has tried such mugging practices, quite a number now, both in the UK, and the USA, have been forced to quit, always with public humiliation.

A source of good advice to the Web administrators, if they are reading this, would be the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who can give some pretty good advice.

Mr. Ford is indeed fortunate to have the cash (some of mine) to pay lawyers to act against the ‘Keydatavictims’ website. I did not see anything that was illegal on the site, only information concerning Mr. Ford’s commitment to a charity that most of us had not heard of. If it wasn’t for the victims website most of us would be completely in the dark as to what is going on- the FSA says nothing to help us, our MP’s by and large are unable to get a statement from the Treasury- and in the meantime we pensioners struggle to pay the bills while other parties involved in this debacle live in luxury. If I had the technical knowledge to set up another web site for the victims of this scandal, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

Let Mr Ford state which comments he considers libellous. Nobody else can find them. Maybe he doesnt want to because he knows the alleged comments are true and he would be found out. In any case it probably states that comments do not represent the opinions of the web page , but only that of the writer, so why let this nonsense affect the website?

Mr Ford obviously cannot stand the spotlight of scrutiny on his activities. It is high time he was brought to account for the actions of his company.

All the foolish people (myself included) who bought into Keydata are now suffering acute anxiety about their Keydata investment. Since the administrators and the FSA are treating us like mushrooms the only light in a dark world was the 'keydatavictims' website which at least provided moral support and a sense of unity of purpose. For Mr Ford and his friends and advisors to make this one crumb of comfort vanish is, indeed, a step too far.

It is good to know Mr Ford can do his charitable work.

I used to give to charity as well. But I seem to have lost a large slice of my income and probably capital so I can't afford to give to charity any more!

So pleased Keydata was recommended to me.

Like Coral if I knew how to set up a new web site for 'The Victims' of this disgraceful scandle I wouldn't hesitate. As the FSA and all the rest just want to sit on thier hands and tell us nothing.

I think that we were getting a bit too close to the truth for Ford's comfort. It is a pity that the guilty with all their off-shore companies and smoke and mirrors tactics prevail whilst we pensioners live with the anxiety that this man has our money. We victims need to rise up against this disgrace and it would be good if the FSA would take some action to freeze his assets as they should have done long before now.

As a Keydata victim, I most certainly agree with most of the above comments. I am concerned, however, that Mr Ford's lawyers may ask you to delete Ian Martin's story and all the comments. I guess it goes to show what money - our money - can buy.

Thank you Ian for keeping this scandal in the public eye. Now there 24,000 investors without a forum. Perhaps Citywire will be a temporary home until we re-form. Hundreds of pages of advice,hours of research, documents & evidence will have disappeared if the site does not come back on line.

MEDIA HOUSE INTERNATIONAL LTD

WWW.MEDIAHOUSE.CO.UK

PRESS STATEMENT:

Issued on behalf of Mr Stewart Ford

1. Mr Ford has not commenced any legal proceedings to close down the Keydata Victims website.

2. Instead, he has once again brought to the attention of the ISP of that website and its moderator the many and repeated defamations of his character and false allegations about his motivations over the last few months. The publication of such false and defamatory material on the website has persisted despite several formal complaints made on Mr Ford’s behalf by his lawyers.

3. Whilst Mr Ford has broad shoulders and is constrained about what he can say in public because of the rules of confidentiality that are supposed to apply to an ongoing FSA investigation, the fact is that he has been the target of a constant stream of personal abuse on this website over the last few months and the final straw came last Friday when contributors to the website made deeply personal and highly offensive allegations about the health of his young daughter, the motivations of his partner (who is the mother of his new born child) and the motivations/integrity of Mr Ford in supporting certain charities.

4. Mr Ford and his family have yet to receive an apology from the moderator of the website or any of those responsible for posting this offensive material.

5. Mr Ford is in no way seeking to stifle debate about why the investors of Keydata are in their current predicament and how that might be best alleviated.

6. Indeed, Mr Ford has an important contribution to make to the debate about how the current predicament of the investors of Keydata (at least those who invested in Lifemark SA) could be alleviated and would be able to do so with greater effect if he was not simply ignored and castigated by both the public authorities and certain affected investors (assuming that those who made the comments are indeed affected investors).

7. However, Mr Ford does object most strongly to deeply personal and offensive comments being directed against members of his family and himself that serve no useful purpose and will do nothing to advance the cause of investors.

8. The actions of the ISP in taking down the website to remove those deeply personal and offensive comments would suggest that they at least agree with Mr Ford’s position in this regard.

Jack Irvine

Executive Chairman

Media House International

www.mediahouse.co.uk

I find myself in agreement with Mr. Irvine - at least in regard to what triggered these unfortunate events.

I am (or was) a regular contributor the Victims' website.

Last Friday I contacted the "webmaster" (pedro) and reported to him some distasteful, and I thought irrelevant, postings which had just appeared. He removed them within minutes. but apparently the legal machine had already been set in motion - which now leaves we genuine VICTIMS with no forum and no means of discussion and debate.

I hope that Mr. Ford's legal team will remove this stranglehold as soon as suitable assurances have been given as to the future role of the VFictims' website - which in my view is primarily to help us recover our savings.

It should not operate as a Kangaroo Court. (I am not innocent in this myself)

I agree, Peter. The website is a really important forum for communication for invstors and other affected parties, but it should not be used as a shop window for personal abuse - especially when the offensive material concerns members of Mr Ford's family.

People like "Anonymous 5" above seem to want to hold a Kangaroo court over the internet, but what good would that do?

Time is of the essence here, so can we all please just focus on what matters most to the Keydata/Lifemark bondholders - getting our income back on stream and then getting our investment back!

Peter,

As victim of the Keydata debacle I know what a huge and valuable input you had on the victims website and am devastated to find it offline. I do hope Pedro can get it up and running again and that postings can be kept to the relevant topic. We know that many people are scouring the internet and spend many hours trawling through long reams of FSA and FSCS rules etc to try and give a clearer indication on their interpretation and others are prepared to attend meetings to try to glean a beter insight into the circumstances. All of these things are then posted on to the website for further investigation by it's Members, and to let the "laymen" investors know that people are working on their behalf. After all the Lifemark investment (although we didn't know it was Lifemark when we invested) was aimed at seniors and unless a senior was a seasoned investor Keydata sounded exactly what seniors needed to help pay their bills when their income became "fixed" on a pension.

Maybe with the help of Citywire some of their reporters can get our plight really highlighted in the Press, as I am sure there are still some Keydata investors out there who have no idea about the ongoing debacle. When the Maxwell debacle happened it was splashed all over the headlines - so why can't the same be done for Keydata Victims.

Please, please ning.com let Pedro reinstate our lifeline.

I have been compensated by the FSCS for my investment in Keydata. For this to happen I had to demonstrate & the FSCS had to believe, Keydata had done something wrong. There are still many useful avenues to explore for Lifemark investors to also receive compensation. Discussions were in in full swing when the victim site went off line.However I would not dare start a new site in case what happened to Pedro happened to me. The Keydata establishment still do not accept they did anything wrong with their marketing of Secure Income Bond 1-3.

can anyone shed any light on what the comments are that are so offensive???

I assume that this is one individual that has made these unacceptable remarks.These have now been removed as I understand it.The vast majority of people using the victims site use it because we have no other way of monitoring if we have any chance of getting back our capital money invested .We are talking about tens of thousands of pounds that we have put into sipps etc that we need to get through the latter years of our lives.

I doubt if the vast majority of people on this website agrees with whatever was said in such a personal way about Ford by one individual.

To close this website leaves thousands of us in the dark because we get little or no info from the people that sold us these "safe" investments.

Mr Ford may indeed feel aggrieved by these comments[i have no idea what they are ] but I tell you this Mr FORD I am also deeply aggrieved that I may be looking at tens of thousands of pounds lost that will affect my life and that of my wife for years to come

re Press Statement posted on this blog.

P1. Refer last line of Point 2.'...several formal complaints ...by his lawyers'.

P.2.This was a website for VICTIMS only. Not for interlopers just waiting for a ripe opportunity.

3.Can't understand why Mr. Ford should have been so worried? This was good publicity not bad. What about all those sick and disabled pensioners who have been deprived of their life savings and income?

4. The victims of Keydata are still awaiting an apology from Mr. Ford, 18 months down the line.

5. Infiltrators were placed on the site, who stirred up emotions so that Mr. Ford could reach the stage of complaint.

6. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Victims invested in a UK regulated company (his). He did not consider us worthy of advice informing the changes being made with our savings.

7. Given the circumstances, there was a lot of empathy being expressed on the site for the plight of Mr. Ford and his family.

Comment: This latest spin is an attempt at reverse psychology by adopting the mantle of victim, diverting attention away from the actual sorry state of the true victims of the Keydata saga by inventing a reason to close a social media site. Once again making pensioners pay the price.

Signed Keydata victim

A new & very serious chapter of this saga has opened. The Finanacial Ombudsman Service has awarded a Norwich & Peterborough couple £28,000 for mis-selling. Surely all the flood gates are open now for all N&P customers to be compensated, even if their claims exceed £50,000. Furthermore all IFAs involved with Keydata must be shuddering whether they sold SLS or Lifemark products.

So a couple of comments on an invaluable social media website were deemed distasteful by Mr Ford. In good faith, the site administrator removed them almost immediately, even before being contacted my Mr Ford or his hired hands, Mr Irvine and Withers. In return for such prompt action, instead of a thank you from Mr Ford, he somehow manages to have the power to have the site closed immediately and indefinitely. And now he demands an apology

from many thousands of people who entrusted Mr Ford with much of their pension and, in some cases, their life savings. Just as a minor issue, where did the millions go? It would seem that me and all the Keydata victims are due an apology and their pensions.

I would not be surprised if the closing down of the Keydata Victims website has been engineered by people who were not happy with the achievements being made by the site.

Not least the FSA, FSCS and of course Keydata ex directors.

We now do not have a common voice to share information which is most worrying.

Will the site ever return, is the big question?

Anonymous 1 you need to check your "facts" if you want to make a meaningful contribution to any debate.

"Distasteful" is not the same as "false and defamatory" and, in the case of postings about the alleged medical condition of a minor, "highly offensive" statements.

Ning Inc closed down the site because it was not being run in accordance with their terms and conditions of use.

Its now up to the site administrator - "Pedro" - to satisfy Ning Inc that the site will be monitored properly in future, both in accordance with Ning's terms and conditions and the rights of individuals not to be defamed in public.

The victims website should go back up as soon as possible but as Peter and Sheila say, the purpose of the site should be respected and it should not be used as the forum for a long-running kangaroo court. Let's continue to share information, have an open and wide-ranging debate and air all the issues, since this can only be good for investors - and if anyone is guilty of wrongdoing, let's leave the auithorities to do their job and bring them to book.

I am a victim, and when i first joined the keydata website it was victims, who were mainly members, and the site was used for posting any new information that people had accessed on lifemarks site, pwc site, fscs site , to keep the victims up to date. as the months rolled on there often appeared to be other people , who because of what they where posting on the site made you wonder where they really victims!!!!.

All i want is our money back, which my blind husband and I entrusted to Mr Fords Company Keydata, through our financial advisor to be a secure income plan in a Maxi ISA for 5 years in April 2006, to top up our state pension . Since this all happened my husband health has worsened. So an end to this mess is really needed and the FSA , the Treasurary,& SFO, need to come to a decision soon

Does anyone know the whereabouts of the elusive Mr Ford ?

He should be made accountable for the Key Data scenario, Setting up SLS Capital, Hometrak, and Lifemark was a clear scam by Mr Ford.

Our investment was a Key Data income Plan No 9 Maxi Isa 5 Year Term, the Key Data brochure stated that our investment would have no more than a 10%

exposure to any one insurance company. Why then was our total investment exposed 100% to one type of vehicle, ie:- Lifemark, surely this is a case for mis-selling.We shall be contacting the FOS, in the meantime nothing would give me and my wife greater pleasure than to see Mr Ford stand trial on fraud charges.Maybe one day !

Speaking as an IFA of almost 20 yrs experience who distrusted the KD products and never recommended them, I would like to understand why the UK Treasury ever considered US life settlements to be eligible for UK tax relief as ISA products.US life settlements trade on the desperation of terminally ill policyholders who sell their insurance at a discount to get enough money to live on until they die. The buyer (Lifemark) has to pay premiums until the death before it can get the money back with a profit. Although the existence of this type of market must be a blessing for the desperate, and indeed exists in the UK as 'viatical settlements', this whole set-up appears to be little more than money just washing around. So, exactly how does this qualify for tax relief for ISAs please?

call me cynical, but the comments whatever they were ( i have not personally seen them) have probably achieved the desired effect. ie the removal of the website and therefore the lack of ability by us victims to effectively communicate with each other. perhaps its a job well done by someone

At least we [Keydata victims] still have Citywire to give us some information and a forum for comment. I note that this site has a system of reporting back any comments that might be considered inappropriate/offensive/defamatory. I don't think the "ning" site had a similar system but it was obviously closely monitored as this item was quickly picked up.

The internet provides a medium by which anyone may make their uncensored opinions available to any other users who care to access it. This is obviously a 2-edged weapon. It broadens democracy but risks broadcasting false, defamatory or offensive material. My impression is that the Web is fairly good at self policing.

Many people, understandably , feel very strongly about the Keydata saga as they have potentially lost very significant amounts of money. Those relying on regular income have had none for over 6 months. Many are desperate for a forum through which they can receive up-to-date information, ask questions, contact other "victims" etc. The victims site performed this function not only for investors but also IFAs. Being a completely open site it was open to abuse. I hope it can be re-instated soon.

There is a good deal of information on non-victims internet sites to suggest that Mr Ford has a case to answer. Let us hope the authorities sort this matter out soon.

One way to get the site back would be to close it to new members [ not many are joining now ? ]. Existing members could be warned they will be removed if it is considered they have posted defamatory or offensive material. Without closing the site they could rejoin under another name.

This site needs to be for victim’s only, policyholders who have lost money in SLS or Lifemark.

There as been more and more proper gander posted on the site in favour of Stewart Ford.

If we cannot stop infiltration from outside parties, we cannot be sure that the same people who are complaining about the abuse are not posting it.

John - Several of those heavily involved in the running of the victims website are themselves IFAs, so making it only investors leaves oiut those working oin behalf of their clients to try and resolve this issue.

I have posted many times on the Victims website myeself, using my real name and hope my comments have been relevant.

What many of us want is the TRUTH. Once we get the thruth, then our clients can look (with our help), to get justice. I do not want to see a kagaroo court as too often teh wrong person is put in the dock or only the main culprit, when many different parties may have an element of responsibility. That may include "victims" themselves" and some loss may be appropriate to accept as nothing has NO RISK".

As Peter, Sheila and Arlo have said (and others, the victims website should go back up as soon as possible . The purpose of the site should be respected and it should not be used as the forum for a long-running kangaroo court. Let's continue to share information, have an open and wide-ranging debate and air all the issues, since this can only be good for investors (that INCLUDES some we might not like or want to hear. There is no point hearing only one side of a story, whetehr that be Mr Ford's via Mr Irving or the FSA/FSCSs lack of story.......) - and if anyone is guilty of wrongdoing, (once we have the facts in the public domain) let's leave the auithorities to do their job and bring them to book. Notice I said once we have teh facts as I don't think we can leave them to do anything without getting more info in to the public domain as I have my suspicions about regulatory failures which could be overlooked as they may affect peoples future careers when teh FSA is replaced by the CPA......

Whilst I agree that the individual who put out allegations against Mr Ford’s family was wrong, the offending comment was, I believe, deleted very quickly by the moderator of the Victims Web Site. I however, find the Press Statement put out by Mr Ford’s expensive PR image Consultant offensive. If as we are lead to believe, Mr Ford has such ‘broad shoulders’ then the closure of the site was over kill as it supplied the only life line for the true investors in Keydata who have suffered from incompetent management, lies in market materials and possible fraud. The FSA took action against Keydata for inappropriate behaviour (which is now subject to an SFO investigation) so to make out in the Press Statement that Mr Ford is the innocent and would like an apology is disgraceful.

I like the other 2300 clients of Keydata would like an apology from Mr Ford for mishandling our savings. Nice that he can still afford lawyers and PR Consultants to help his ‘broad shoulders’ carry the burden. As the FSA has already stated, he is a man of dubious integrity and now, thanks to him, we are left without the support and advice the website gave us. One wonders if the individual responsible for the statements acted alone in this! If he had run his business according to the rules he and we would not have been in this situation, so if Mr Irvine , hopes that his PR spin on the ‘innocent’ Mr Ford has worked he should think again. Thankfully not all the press are swayed by the power of Mr Irvine's vast organisation. Thank you Citywire for keeping the Keydata saga in the press.