ZX Vega +

[levi]

That's why debt collection agencies have their uses, I think.

 

[ZXDunny]

Only if there's a physical somebody (with a known address) for them to go to - if the internet rumours are to be believed, this is not the first time that this has happened for some of the current RCL staff, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that collection agencies have been used before. I really don't think IGG are going to be able to actually do much in this case, collection agency or no.

 

[Ian J]

Do we think the guilty parties will get what's coming to them?

Or that any of the crowd-funding sites will change their T&C's to protect backers?

 

[ZXDunny]

Do we think the guilty parties will get what's coming to them?

Or that any of the crowd-funding sites will change their T&C's to protect backers?

No and No. Persons running a business that runs out of money very rarely suffer any consequences - the business folds, they move on to something else. As long as money wasn't misappropriated (and define "misappropriated" because even spending company money on lunches can be classed as expenses) illegally then they can just close up shop. Terribly sorry to all involved, lessons learned, etc etc. So that's unlikely.

As for the crowd funders - again, no. If they make it hard for these businesses to operate, then they'll eat into their own profits. Ventures that fail are their meat and drink, making up a huge portion of their customers.

 

[vcoleiro1]

Well if we are talking about the guys that tried to find a one S Martin, then that story ended up with them finding her

IMO, if the Vega+ is not delivered - and lets be frank here, it most likely wont. Then I think the backers should do a class action against the directors Martin and Levy. Maybe a pro bono job, based on the leaked bank account statements that showed they drained the accounts. There are rules on how to conduct a business etc, I'm pretty sure a lawyer would be able to work out an angle

 

[levi]

I'd worry that the directors will just go bankrupt either before or just after the court claim comes in. It's why I'd advise trying to get a refund as soon as.

 

[WizardStan]

Persons running a business that runs out of money very rarely suffer any consequences

Sometimes they're elected president of the USA.

 

[Ian J]

IMO, if the Vega+ is not delivered - and lets be frank here, it most likely wont

I still think backers will get a Vega+ but it will be much lower quality than the campaign promised.

 

[darkborn]

I still think backers will get a Vega+ but it will be much lower quality than the campaign promised.

By "much lower quality", you mean "invisible"?

Vega+ Shipping Dates

• End of September 2016
• October 2016
• In time for Xmas 2016
• February 2017
• A "few weeks" from March 10th 2017
• Summer 2017
• 8 weeks from August 9th (October 4th, 2017)
• Mid October 2017

(current is April 2018)

 

[Ian J]

By "much lower quality", you mean "invisible"?

Vega+ Shipping Dates

• End of September 2016
• October 2016
• In time for Xmas 2016
• February 2017
• A "few weeks" from March 10th 2017
• Summer 2017
• 8 weeks from August 9th (October 4th, 2017)
• Mid October 2017

(current is April 2018)

2 months™ to go then

 

[vcoleiro1]

Looks like Levy's cock was safe in the eyes of the Judge. And yes, it seems Levy's defense of not showing up to court in fear of his cock beiong chopped off, was what he actually said.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/12/rcl_appeal_adverse_court_judgment_dismissed/

"Your manhood is safe, judge tells ZX Spectrum reboot boss"

 

[pmprog]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/23/zx_spectrum_firm_money_claims_mount/

Lee Fogarty is now looking to sue RCL apparently

 

[Ian J]

Not bad for someone who claimed to not be working for RCL

 

[Wrath Of Khan]

In an ironic twist there might be enough material from this debacle to justify a book. Maybe someone could kickstart it

 

[vcoleiro1]

RCL are stating that delivery of the Vega plus will begin May 8th. And with that, the ex directors of RCL (Paul Andrews / Chris Smith) plus Sinclair’s company have demanded a shareholder meeting to remove all of the current directors of RCL including: Martin, David Levy and Janko . Janko is also the ceo of planet computers behind the Gemini PDA

Looks like it will happen as Andrews, Smith and Sinclair have 75 percent shareholding in RCL. There is nothing the current directors can do about it. This all coming with Indiegogo’s deadline looming , they gave RCL until the end of May to deliver before they appoint a debt collector to retrieve funds

A right mess

 

[pmprog]

I still don't really understand that Andrews/Smith situation, where they'd resign as directors, but still retain shareholdings. If they had this much swing in the company anyway (in terms of who stays and who goes), why did they need to branch off to make the THEC64, and not just handle it whilst they were directors?

 

[levi]

I think by now the whole Vega product is toxic to a large extent. Janko's off making something as 'Planet Computers', and TheC64 seems to be purely an RCL product IIRC.

I think they key here is them managing to convince Sir Clive to vote the directors out. He actually has the money and the controlling stake here. I'm slightly surprised to see Levy and Sinclair on opposing sides of this - I thought Levy had something to do with the old Psion Software releases on the ZX spectrum, but wiki doesn't back me up on that.

 

[Ian J]

So Sinclair, Andrews and Smith will have total control of RCL, what does that gain them though if the money is all gone?

I see no point to this now.

 

[ZXDunny]

Levy and Sinclair go way back and are very good friends. That may have changed though, given the circumstances... I've heard tell that the root of the all the problems is more Suzanne Martin than Levy.

But yeah, RCL needs fixing. I wonder if there will be a replacement of the current directors, or if they'll quietly wind the company up?

 

[levi]

It'd be hard to wind it up completely silently; lots of media inches have been written about this saga. They'd need to spill all the beans pretty much in a neat fashion to be able to get out of this with any grace I suggest.