Licensees targeted in dry-cleaning scam

Tricksters are attempting to con cash from licensees using a spilled drinks dry-cleaning scam. Hosts are being asked to pay cleaning bills sent through the post following "accidental spillage" incidents in their pubs.

Licensee Geoff Holland, of the Holly Bush, Salt, Staffordshire, was surprised to receive a claim for £19.30 from a customer who said a waitress had spilled drinks over his jacket and tie.

A letter from the aggrieved customer, based at Vivid Entertainment UK, Preston, Lancashire, referred to an earlier telephone conversation with a staff member and was accompanied by a receipt from a dry-cleaning company.

"We are certain this incident never took place," said Holland. "We have two assistant managers here so there is someone in charge at all times who would be aware of anything like this happening. The same trick was doing the rounds about 10 years ago."

"Because the amount claimed is relatively small some licensees might be minded to pay up and I know some actually did so at the time," he said. "I tried to contact the company but there was no record of them at the address printed on the letter," he added.