James BryceEXCLUSIVE By Wendy Williams
A BRITISH businesswoman has vanished after allegedly taking thousands from an English couple to furnish their home.
Margaret Corley, who lived in Marbella, was contracted by property developers Peninsula to furnish apartments at a golf resort in Atarfe, near Granada.
But after being handed thousands of euros for furniture at the Medina Elvira golf scheme she disappeared, leaving a string of victims out of pocket.
One victim Lesley Howard, 55, who lives near Manchester, ended up losing 16,200 euros.
She told the Olive Press: “My husband Frank and I transferred 16,200 euros to her company Royal Peninsula Vacations in 2008 as Corley was setting up and running the rentals.”
But after chasing Corley and the company for updates for nearly a year they eventually discovered that neither she nor her company worked for the developers any longer.
“It was only in March 2010 that they told us Corte Ingles had only received 3,800 euros for our furniture package.
“They said the rest had gone missing with Margaret.”
The couple, who have since filed a report with police, are desperately trying to track down Corley, who they insist has left ‘numerous other victims’.
They have since had to shell out a further 7,700 euros to get their apartment furnished.
The Olive Press tried repeatedly to speak to director Gaspar Lino at the developers Peninsula, but were unable to get an answer.
Its current sales and marketing manager Steve Hindley said: “I can’t comment on this, you have to speak to the director.”
A former sales director of Peninsula Sharon Hitchcock however, confirmed that Corley had disappeared with a lot of money.
She said: “We tried very hard to find her but were unsuccessful. I am not sure if she is even still in Spain.
“We did our best to get the furniture but a lot of people simply had to pay again, it was terrible.”
This story cannot be true , I have known margaret for many years all her family live in the costa del sol and she is a very hardworking woman .
I can assure you this is true, Lesley Howard is not the only person who purchased on this development who suffered financial loss as a result of the activities of Margaret Corley and Royal Peninsula, myself included. I this is not true, perhaps Margaret should come forward and provide information about where the money really went, and how apartments were used without the owner’s consent.
Hi Jan , I am sure that if margaret corley is given the opportunity she will clarify everything, as stated previously I have known margaret many years and remember when she started this business peninsula I belive it was a rental scheme where owners handed their properties over completly to holidays companies so I fail to see your point “APARTMENTS WHERE USED WITHOUT OWNERS CONSENT” if you contract your property for rent you dont need to give consent every time its rented or am I missing something here ..
I do however recall she had problems with delays on build and lack of facilities on site .
I would be very surprised if this lady did as you stated .
Yes well when it was Royal Executive she lived in clinets apartments and told them she was having problems in finding rental clients.
Louie Lou, I have no problem with anyone sticking up for a friend who they have never had any problems with, but in this case you don’t know the facts.
The “something you are missing” is that our apartment was used BEFORE we signed any rental contract and we certainly never received a cent in rental income to explain the fact that our kitchen had been well used and damage caused to the fridge freezer which had clearly been used for storing food. As Ms Corley was the only person in possession of our keys at the time, she was either using our apartment herself or allowing someone else to use it – without our knowledge or consent.
Also if people such as Lesley pay money in good faith only to find it has disappeared – I think it is right that they should be aggrieved, and seek to find out where their money has gone. All of this was done through Margaret Corley and it was she who was insistant that her company was entirely separate from the developer’s, although time will tell on that one.
I would be very interested to have contact from Colin Fish.
Louie Lou is there anyone you DON’T know? You seem to have intimate knowledge of everyone involved in every story on this site and an opinion on everything.
I guess you must have a lot of time on your hands or your just a general busy-body and trouble maker.
This woman has stolen peoples money and you are insinuating that they are “mistaken” and the story isn’t true??? Do you have any feelings?
I think you better go out and get a life rather than just sitting around and sticking your nose into other peoples business.
Brimster – I do know margaret personally and in the civilised world she would be allowed to be innocent untill proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.
I have stated that I find the story hard to belive because I always found her to be an honest decent woman ,I also said that I think its best she comes forward to give her side of the story which Im sure she will do .
My opinions have the right to be expressed as yours do , I find some people just want to hurt and attack here on this site when they clearly have no knowledge of the situation I am not one of them .
suggest you find a more adult way of communicating other than personal attacks…….
Hi Jan it certainly sounds like something untoward has happened here ,normally on a new build there are 5 sets of keys so if as you say only Margaret had them then she certainly does need to give you an explanation and compensation for the damage .
Of course if money has gone missing a refund and an explanation are necessary as soon as possible .
please understand that this woman has been a friend of mine since the living in the canary islands 16 years ago and I am very worried about this story …its so unlike her
Hi Louielou
I am just one of many agrieved owners on Medina Elvira 23. I have only just been able to reply as I have been in Granada at our apartment until this evening.
last week I personally met 3 other owners that have had over 50,000 Euros stolen between them, I also know of others – so Ms Corley should come forward and explain that if she has not got the furniture money who has?
agreed lhs reds … I am absolutley horrified about this . I will be trying to contact mags over the next 24 hours as soon as I can get an up to date number from her brother as the one i have is off
Hi Louie Lou
Is this her brother Miles? If you do see him, please ask him to get his sister to contact me…….urgently
Thank You
Her borthers are Alex who worked with her and barry I dont know of a miles.
Hi There,
perhaps you can ask alexs and barry where she is for me and the other poor sods who are thosands of euros out of pocket now!!
I’m having the same problem and don’t know what to do anymore.
And I’m sorry but I don’t care if Margaret is a nice person or not Louie Lou, she’s got my money and I’m sick of chasing it.
I’m so lost about all this. Everyone one I ask just passes me from pillar to post and I’m getting nowhere.
I guess I’m just glad I’m not alone.
Hiya, Sally!
It’d be a long comment to explain here, but cutting to the chase: I did a bit of digging about this Margaret Corley character and have a reason to believe that I know where she is, tho’, I need to have you – and others, maybe – confirming her identity. Please drop me a line so we can chat. You can find me on facebook [Pomy Collingwood] too, that’d be better, really, but I’ll check back here in a day or two. Once I am positive that we are talking about the same woman, I’ll be happy to look into the matter as I’ve reason to believe that a friend of mine is being scammed as I am writing this. Get in touch, let’s hope the best,
Pomy Collingwood
Sally you are not alone, how can we make contact?
Hi… as I commented on Sally’s post, I think I know where she is. If you wanna get in touch with me, let’s compare notes here or on facebook!
Pomy Collingwood
Hi Sally
please call me 0161 436 944 i can get you in touch with a group of other owners at medina elvira
Lesley
Hi Sally
telephone should read 0161 436 9444
Lesley
Found a website today and left a message on their forum. They said they’re dealing with people like Corley every day. I posted on their forum and a lovely lady called Sam asked me to give them my phone number, I thought why not… It’s not like I’ve got anything to lose. She rang me straight back and I’ve just got off the phone! She explained that these things happen all over and they can get people moeny back!
I’m so excited that I just had to post it up on here cos they do sound like they know what they’re doing and the best part is unlike other companies, they didnt mention money up front. I dont have to pay them anything if they dont get me a penny.
The company are called CPC Holding and they’re based in Durham of all places… Really friendly and I think tonight I’ll finally be a bit more relaxed.
I’m not sure if I’ll get in trouble for posting the website, it’s http://www.cpcholding.co.uk But if they can help anyone else then it’s surely good! (And if they don’t help me at least Margaret Corley isnt costing me anymore of my hard earned money.!)
I dont know Jan! cant give you an email address on here… :(
I am another victim of this furniture scam – I admit at the time of sending over my 11,000 euro I thought the funds were being transferred into part of the Peninsula group. It was only 15 months later that I had a conversation with Steve Hindly advising that Margaret had ‘run off’ with all of my money, that she was never anything legally connected to Peninsual and please send us more or we can’t rent your property. We have put your name in a file with all the others and given them to the solicitors Martinez Echevarria Perez and Ferrero Abogados who are looking into it. Since that time I have heard nothing back from either solicitors or Peninsula on the lost finance.
I am all happy to work on the premise innocent until proven guilty – however why run – why hide – why avoid all contact from multiple parties who have all suffered here?
Willing to be proven wrong here – need some action and clarity
Hi lesley mind if I pass your number onto CPC Holding?? I told them you knew more people and they might be able to help.
M&S P and Sally You can contact me on 023 9252 0389, LHS-Reds and I know each other and a larger group of owners – strength in numbers. We’ll look into CPC holding.
Sally – Please speak to us before you think about using a company which to us doesn’t look that good. There are a lot of people around glad to take your money, who won’t necessarily be able to help you. Jan & LHS-REDS
Hi Jan,
I guess I dont have much else to lose! They’ve assured me it’s not going to cost me anything if they dont win and I have it in black and white too.
I’ve learnt to be a lot more careful since this mess!
Sally please contact us, there are a lot of issues we are trying to deal with apart from the missing furniture money. You have nothing to lose by doing this too, Jan & LHS-REDS
Hi Sally
can you tell us are you still an owner on Medina 23, or are you now just trying to get your furniture money back?
If you are still an owner – please contact Jan or Myself, we have a large group of owners now working together to help each other out.
Even if you have decided to use CPC still please get in touch.
Take Care
Lesley
Hi Colin Fish
Are you an owner on Medina 23?
We are trying to make contact with as many owners as possible to work together for the benefit of all.
Do please let us know if you are an owner.
Lesley
Hi Jan and LHS-REDS,
I’m not an owner anymore I’m just chasing the furniture money.
Thanks for all your help, I’m going with CPC at the minute as it’s nice to not have to do anything, they’ve got all my paperwork so we’ll see what happens. I’m just exhausted with the mental mess of it all!
Thanks again, I’ll let you know how it goes…
Sal
BRIMSTER – AT YOUR REQUEST I RESPOND (PLEASE NOTE ON THE CORRECT STORY NOT ON A ONE WITH NO RELEVANCE )
I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT MARGARET AS HER NUMBER IS NOT WORKING AND SHE HAS MOVED . I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR HER BROTHER BUT HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE.HOWEVER I AM BACK IN SPAIN ON MONDAY NIGHT AND WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD WITH NEWS AS I HAVE IT .
Hello Sally Booth, can you let us know how you are getting on with CPC holding? I’m sure there are a number of people apart from me, who has just come across this, who would like to know if CPC have been able to help get their money back?
thanks
Hi Dotty,
Things are going quite well thanks, didn’t check on here for ages so I’m sorry about not replying.
I know they’re dealing with me and a group of people together now as well.
I can’t say what’s happening on here, but the main thing is i thinkit’s moving forwards.
what’s happening for you dotty? I’m just enjoying the fact i can sleep again!
Sally
Hi Dotty,
You’re more than welcome to give me a bell on 07767239811 if you’d like a chat. :D
Thanks,
Sam
I perhaps should’ve mentioned Dotty that I’m with CPC. ;)
Thanks
Samantha
ESTOY TRATANDO DE BUSCAR A MARGARET CORLEY PORQUE TAMBIÉN SOY UN AFECTADO DE ENTREGA DE FIANZA PARA MUEBLES NO ENTREGADOS Y COMPRADOR DE UN APARTAMENTO EN BENATALAYA MALAGA QUERRIA LOCALIZAR A ESTA SEÑORA PARA HABLAR CON ELLA PUES ESTA EN PARADERO DESAPARECIDO Y ELLA Y CIRY FINANCE O PEDRO SANCHEZ BELMAR PUDIERON COMETER UNA ESTAFA QUE ESTÁ EN EL JUZGADO DE ESTEPONA MI TELEFONO ES 686 928946
I was also ripped around 9000 EURO by Margaret Corley. What low life that woman is. She is the worst kind of weed that exists on this planet. People like her should be thrown into prison, the key thrown away and no food and water. I just pray that I run into her one day somewhere.
Michael
are you an owner in Granada too. let us know if you are we have a strong but small community of owners, we may be able to give you some support.
Hi
I own an apartment in Alcaucin. This development had all sorts of problems and Margaret and this other clown called Gary came along to “help”. It seems that Gary and Margaret were just there to scam people, as neither of them are to be seen anymore. We are pretty lucky now. We have some real enthusiastic people in our community of owners and things are progressing slowly but surely. How are things with your development ?
I hear Margaret Corley has been found alive and well in Fuengirola .
Hi Green Day
Any more detail as to where she may be ?