Creditors seek legal advice

Cherie Gourlay is fighting on behalf of her mother and deceased father to recover money from the Ilich family

Creditors have banded together to seek legal advice about how they can get their money from a Northland farmer who they claim owes them thousands of dollars.

Their decision to approach Community Law in Whangarei comes just as an Auckland-based debt collection company also offered its services to those wanting help to get the debts paid. Tanekaha Ilich Farms, on Hukerenui Rd, was due to go under the hammer last Friday at a mortgagee auction. Creditors of members of the Ilich family turned up only to discover the auction had been postponed.

Land agent John Barnett, of Mackys Real Estate Ltd Bayleys, confirmed the auction did not go ahead because the company had been instructed by their client that the property had been sold. He was unable to reveal who had purchased the farm. News of the sale has not deterred the creditors who are to meet on December 16 to get legal advice.

The Northern Advocate revealed last week a string of creditors were owed tens of thousands of dollars by those involved with the 185ha dairy farm.

Claims have been made including non-payment of bills for grazing, farm machinery and rural contractors, and are against Jack Ilich and his son Andrew.

Whangarei woman Cherie Gourlay, who is battling to have a grazing bill of more than $28,000 paid to her late father Norm Blackwell, said a number of creditors had approached Community Law individually but now it was time to take group action.

"Hopefully it will empower us and make people feel not so isolated. Up until now we have all felt like we have been struggling alone," Mrs Gourlay said. "There will be a lot of paper work to be done but we are hoping to have it filed before Christmas."

Shane Crawford, managing director for Auckland-based debt-collection agency Specialist Collections and Consultants Ltd, said he had previous dealings with Andrew Ilich on behalf of a Whangarei company that was owed money last year.

"The news article was brought to my attention and having dealt with Andrew before I'm happy to help those owed money," Mr Crawford said.

He was successful in getting payment for his Whangarei client last year.

The Ilichs have declined to comment on the claims.