Name: BEN CHAMBERS

Name: CHAMBERS MEDIA LTD

Date of Birth: 2 / 10 / 1980

Date Order Starts: 29 / 1 / 2024

Disqualification Length: 12 Years 0 Month(s)

CRO Number: 08989449

Last Known Address: 29 ACACIA CRESCENT, , , , WEST SUSSEX, BN16 4QA

Conduct: In May 2020 Ben Chambers (‘Mr Chambers’) provided false information in an application that he made for a government-backed Bounce Back Loan (‘BBL’) of £50,000 on behalf of Chambers Media Ltd (‘Chambers’), and caused Chambers to obtain a BBL that it was not entitled to, in that: • The BBL application, dated 11 May 2020, states that the business was not insolvent at 31 December 2019, and that it was engaged in trading or commercial activity at the date of the application. • Mr Chambers knew, by 22 November 2019 at the latest, that Chambers was insolvent. • Chambers sold its business and assets, and ceased to trade, on 2 March 2020. Mr Chambers caused Chambers to obtain a government backed BBL of £50,000, which was paid into its bank account 14 May 2020. The loan was not used for the economic benefit of the business, contrary to the terms of the BBL. In that: • An application for a BBL of £50,000 was submitted in May 2020. • The balance on the account was £3,974.52 the day before the BBL was credited, on 14 May 2020. • On 14 May 2020, the director paid himself £15,000, paid £9,500 to the other directors and £25,000 was transferred to a connected company. • By 19 May 2020, the balance on the account was £833.40. Mr Chambers failed to ensure that Chambers met its financial commitments as regards Corporation Tax ('CT'), PAYE/NIC and VAT and caused Chambers to trade to the detriment of HM Revenue & Customs ('HMRC') and to his own benefit from at least 7 January 2018 when VAT for the quarter to November 2017 fell due, to its cessation in March 2021. Consequently, HMRC have submitted a claim in the liquidation for £188,501.95. In that: • VAT returns were paid to February 2017 • VAT returns were submitted (slightly late) for May to November 2017, which were not paid when due • A TTP was agreed 08 March 2018 for £2,702 over 11 months covering the March to November 2017 VAT returns • Only 4 payments were made, but in any event the TTP was breached when the February 2018 VAT return was not submitted or paid when due (07 April 2018) • The VAT return for May 2017 was not settled until 26 April 2018 • No payments for VAT were made between 26 June 2018 and 01 February 2019 when the first payment was made under another TTP, for £5,132 per month, which was allocated to settle August 2017, plus surcharges and in part payment of November 2017 • Only one further payment was made to VAT, of £5,133, on 19 June 2019, also allocated to November 2017 • For 2019/2020 a total of £40,491 PAYE/NIC became due and £3,000 employment allowance was given. The Company was therefore due to pay £37,491. Two payments were allocated to the 2019/20 year, totaling £4,052.34. The last payment made to PAYE was on 5 June 2019 • CT for the year ending February 2019 totaling £17,100 (plus a penalty of £3,620) was due 01 December 2019. The Claim shows a further penalty of £100 for the year ending February 2020. The Company has not made any payments towards these sums • HMRC’s proof of debt stands at: Preferential £178,276.74 and Non-Preferential £10,225.21 • Most payments to HMRC ceased around mid-2019 Analysis of the accounts for 2018 and 2019 and the subsequent Statement of Affairs shows that whilst other creditors have been paid off, and trade creditors are owed a (comparatively) very low amount, the HMRC liability has continued to increase significantly over time. The only other substantial liability at liquidation was the BBL. 

This information is correct as at 9 / 1 / 2024

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