Left click on the underlined words "Private Messages" just before the "2"......

Sorry, just realised you only joined today. As was previously said, you need at least 3 posts and a few days membership before you can use the PM system,
.

Hi Moppy
You need to pm Dreadsoc or Lewis Belworth.

Ok it's let me read my messages now I have voted on the Poll. Ill have a think about if I should PM my story,Ill sleep on it
Thanks for the help

If we can't trust our own, who can we trust
Poll been on 76 for some time now.

The magic number is 100 for our behind the scenes people to go any further, please support them.

One would think that this would be the case but Iv'e had lots of bad experiences trusting one's own, also got my digits burnt

This poll and the gathering of peoples' stories is being done by people who are also having problems having purchased property in Goa. For obvious reasons the plans cannot be broadcast on open site as stealth is the key.
It is only by joining together that we have any chance of fighting this injustice and getting some fair play. Every story counts in that it adds weight to the evidence showing the corruption and deception levels involved in this fiasco, so please people don't sit on the fence. Help us help you.

Dread - talking sense
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Hi all,

returned to Goa from exile and finally back on line. On CNN IBN a couple of days ago it mentioned that the UK PM is visiting India I don't know when though.

Assuming he has not been and gone I was thinking now would be a good time to keep up and step up the pressure on the UK govt. Perhaps it would be useful to co ordinate sending a lot of summaries of our situations to the UK cabinet office all on the same day or over two days so that the they are aware of the large numbers effected. Just a thought.

hi to all and congrats to Dread.

Ruskin

Hi Ruskin

Thanks for the congrats.
There are a few people e mailing William Hague and David Cameron from here. The e mail addresses are on the contacts thread. Approaches have also been made to the BHC for a meeting to discuss the poll findings and present a sanitised outline of the information gathered through the poll.

I think your idea is a good one so anyone out there please send these ministers e mails regarding the property scandal in Goa.

Keep the fight for fair play going

Dread - pushing it
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hi

i had a quick look through the history of threads on this and my 2 bits:

- i think u guys need good legal advice which you dont seem to be taking. find a renowned lawyer in the property space - preferably a goan lawyer given that property law in goa can be different - it will cost but im sure its the best hope you will yield results. i saw the name of 1 lawyer mentioned in teh threads and i notice from the kind of cases he's been handling recently that he's been able to connect with the various causes of the british community in goa but pls evaluate whether you are getting the advice of an expert in this field and whether his name is the legal clout you need in GOA. if one of you goto th high court im sure any of the junior lawyers will pop you a list of names of the 'senior counsels' (equiv to a solicitor in the UK) and then its easy enough for you to do your own due dilligence to select. though i would normally avoid this - if somone wants to PM me i will be happy to give you a few names - but you would need to do your own research to ensure you are getting the best. your lAWYER is not the place to cut costs or take friends - it may be the reason some of you are in the place you are - you didnt get the right advice cos you were not with the right person. you also needed to ensure your lawyer works on a fee (win or loose the same) and not a % based commission so that theres no vested interest in closing the deal and that your lawyer and broker are not hand-in-glove.

- i noticed a few people wanting to combine with the russians. given the reputation of the russians in goa (and im not making any judgements if its fact or not). i think you guys would only do this to your detriment. best staying independent of them and maybe at the most sharing info behind the scenes. strategically it may be also happen that you are benefited AT THEIR COST - meaning that eventually to make a political point some one probably would have to loose - the russians could be the ones.

if i were the government on the indian side i sure would not like cameron telling me how to frame policy on immigration / investment. any intervention they make needs to done sensitively - esp after david milliband's foot-in the mouth episode on his last state visit as foreign secretary & given that vice-versa probably would not be appreciated either

most goan people know that there is something going on.... but may not intervene ... maybe use your individual contats connect with some citizens groups for support / voice - pls note that you need to be very cautious on this - many citizen groups are equally suspect as the government themselves

lastly it would be intersting to know WHAT IS THE REDRESSAL YOU GUYS ARE SEEKING?? if you have got wrong advice or been misguided (AS YOUR POLL SEEMS TO INDICATE) it dosent change the fact that you have broken the law (if indeed you have); for ex. FEMA regulations where the state govt has no say other than implementing the law or not. for those of you have been setting up companies and such like - i dont mean to sound insensitive - but im sure you knew this was a way to get round existing laws and you were entering into a fundamentally risky transaction. maybe what you should be asking is for a window to sell any purchases made if not legitimate and to be able to repariate the proceeds???

a year ago i met a british couple who have been visiting goa for decades through a firend and they had a a similar problem - i enquired with a few acquaintances in legal circles who told me the best option they had was to sell out - i later got to know this is what they did (without any advice from me). may-be thats not what you want but its the best solution to secure your capital - find a buyer who is willing to pay a fair price and exit - its so much easier to lease and it probably makes more sense given that purchase prices are through the roof but rentals are so inexpensive. and if there is a legal way to purchase you can always consider buying again - this time with much more wisdom and reliable + accurate advice

Hi Equality, tu kosso assa?

Thanks for bringing some constructive life to the forum, albeit not all will agree with your comments but hey thats what the forum is about
One particular point with ref to lawyers in Goa who deal with property issues is that the British FCO sometime ago issued a list of recommended Indian lawyers to contact in case of any problems or issues... guess what ? not one Goan lawyer appeared on that list
A couple of years ago a question was asked if we had our chance again to "buy" in Goa would we ? the answer was a resounding NO
Yes we were seduced by Goa years ago and then further seduced with the chance of buying in the sun with the aid of nice friendly builders, agents, lawyers etc and now that seduction has resulted in expensive eggs on our faces and resentment of many things to do with Goa

K-C

... and resentment rightly so ... which is why i suggest to seek closure by going in for a SALE ( of course that assuming you have the option to do so!!!) .. and you still have the option to lease - an appartment that costs 60 lakh to a crore in rupees is easily available on lease for 20 thou a month - given the political rish would this be WAY easier?

.... maybe the whole reason why you are all in this situation is that FCO didnt direct you to the right lawyers and that's where the wrong advice began.

I can comment on why there were no goan lawyesr in the list you are lookig for - on one hand corruption exists everywhere , sometimes the offender may not know the consequences; otherwise it could be pure laziness; either way i am sure fco MUST have suggested some big bombay or delhi names - the good names on this list must have been TOO EXPENSIVE - and the other must have been names of the street smart good networkers who were able to connect with fco and are out to make a easy buck ; but whose names have little legal clout in goa at least; who POSSIBLY have little understanding of local realities / goa specific property laws ; and even less connect in the political system to understand its dynamics.

*when i say legal clout i mean they are known & respected in the community, therefore by the govenment; by other lawyers and their presence / word holds a lot of weight even with the judges on the goa bench of the HC ; based on the integrity and/or success achieved over several years of practice which has been ONLY in GOA. and many of these SURVIVE on taking on the state government -so they know how it is to be done & possibly makes the govenment more cautious/dilligent in their response.

do you not think you could complete your own due dilligence with a trip to the high court - & that its possible for your FCO to not have the BEST information to your situation.

again that u were "seduced with the chance of buying in the sun with the aid of nice friendly builders, agents, lawyers etc " - shame on the goans involved... if its any consolation - they would do it to their own family if they could make money of it.,,,,,..

finally my question remains - do you know what is the redressal you are seeking- if a purchase has been interpreted as not legitimate (& that laws for foreign nationals only keep getting more stringent with time) i suppose you have only 3 options:
- prove through diplomacy / in a court of law that the interpretation being made is incorrect; and have a plan to achieve this + secure your rights
- do a quick sell & repatriate
- find a way to get permission to do the above if not in a position to (as in the case of those unable to register the deed)

also, i know of people unable to register a deed who have then found a buyer sold the property and had the property registered directly in the buyers name from the builder - i assume most of you know this. prob. a bit more complicated transaction but possible a good option.

Also on BHI thread received to-day by a BE member.

Dear

Thank you for your email regarding property issues in Goa.We would welcome extra information from you and other British expats and have noted your request for a meeting with FCO representatives in the UK.We will inform you when this meeting is confirmed.

Whilst we take on board your concerns, you will be aware that the issues are complicated and progress can only be achieved through working with the Government of Goa. The proforma will aid you in presenting your case accurately and help us in finding a resolution with the Government of Goa.A FCO representative will always be present when the Government of Goa reviews cases.

We would encourage you to use the proforma so that the Government of Goa can hopefully find a way forward on your particular case.


Regards,
Lotika

Lotika Mehta |Bilateral Projects Officer |Political Section

British High Commission |Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 1100021

Equality

I am sure much of your advice is well meaning, however you appear to be somewhat negligent of some of the situations people are in.
Firstly - many who are under investigation by the DOE cannot sell and repatriate. Also repatriation of moneies from India is not a straightforward process.
Secondly, most people here who purchased properties went to Goan Lawyers, and were given appallingly wrong advice, and in the case of some lawyers, deliberately incorrect advice. In any democracy, these lawyers would be held acountable, and the victims of their misappropriation would be compensated or treated with fair play. However in Goa it seems the bent lawyers and the property dealers and government ministers are in league by their web of combined corruption and criminality.
Thirdly, the details of what is being sought as redress are not being placed on open site for specific reasons. Those in the situation have been appraised, and those will be the only people appraised.

Please beware - you could start to upset a number of members here as, whether intentionally or not, you are starting to sound like you are touting for a Goan lawyer. Those in the need are in good legal hands and have support but again this is a private matter between members and their representatives.

That said, I do appreciate some of the supportive comments you have made. These are pleasing to hear from a Goan chap and does give some faith back to us, so thank you for those.

Dread - setting straight
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[QUOTE=dreadsoc;8692457]Equality
"Firstly - many who are under investigation by the DOE cannot sell and repatriate. Also repatriation of moneies from India is not a straightforward process."
I AGREE - AND ON THIS I DID SAY - "IF YOU CAN" - as i know of 1 british family who did
"Secondly, most people here who purchased properties went to Goan Lawyers, and were given appallingly wrong advice, and in the case of some lawyers, deliberately incorrect advice. "

THAT IS WHY I MADE A MENTION OF DILLIGENCE TO FIND A RELIABLE LAWYER.

"In any democracy, these lawyers would be held acountable, and the victims of their misappropriation would be compensated or treated with fair play. However in Goa it seems the bent lawyers and the property dealers and government ministers are in league by their web of combined corruption and criminality."

I AGREE - ITS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM - SOMECASES EVEN JUDGES INTERITY HAS BEEN QUESTIONED IN OtheR PARTS OF INDIA - THIS IS PART OF THE POLITICAL RISK AND THEREFORE ITS IMPORTANT TO RESEARCH AND FIND A RELIABLE LAWYER

"Thirdly, the details of what is being sought as redress are not being placed on open site for specific reasons. Those in the situation have been appraised, and those will be the only people appraised."

I CAN APPRECIaTE THIS - IT WAS MORE OF RHETORICAL QUESTION OR MORE A QUESTION TO PROVOKE SOME THOUGHT BASED ON WHAT I WAS THINKING - BUT I UNDERTAND ITS ONE THAT I SHOULDNT ASK AND MUSTN'T BE RESPONDED TO ON THIS FORUM ANYWAY

"Please beware - you could start to upset a number of members here as, whether intentionally or not, you are starting to sound like you are touting for a Goan lawyer. Those in the need are in good legal hands and have support but again this is a private matter between members and their representatives."

though i find the inference strange given that my on goan lawyers was to suggest caution and the the high court could be a good place to start - I APPRECIATE THE ADVICE AND CAN UNDERSTAND SOME MAY FEEL THAT WAY. === I CERTaiNLY DoNT WISH TO upSET anYONE AND THIS IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS ANYWAY - IM NOT AN AFFECTED PARTY. THIS IS ALL FROM ME ON THIS CETAINLY ON THIS POST

"That said, I do appreciate some of the supportive comments you have made. These are pleasing to hear from a Goan chap and does give some faith back to us, so thank you for those."

I DID REALLY ENTER THIS FORUM ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT -to retort to thread "More Goans heading for the UK" -AND WAS DIRECTED TO THIS BY ONE OF thE RESPONSES ON THAT ThreAD. YOU FIND FIND ME INTRUDING AGAIN!.. thanks for setting this straight & cheers