The Media Alliance has been contacted by a number of freelance members advising they have unpaid invoices from Pol Publishing. As you are already aware, Pol Publishing has closed its doors and is no longer trading.  Though it is only early stages, it is safe to say that the prospects for having those invoices paid are fairly bleak. However, it is important that all freelancers who are owed money take all reasonable steps to recover unpaid invoices.

To explain the process, when a company is in placed into administration you lose the ability to pursue that company directly for money. The administrators assess if the company can trade out of its predicament or if the assets must be sold (if there are any).

Following the sale of assets, proceeds flow, in the first instance, to secure creditors – including permanent employees. If anything is left over, it then goes to unsecured creditors.

All contractors/freelancers are unsecured creditors. Each individual creditor must be listed with the administrator to receive information as to the progress of the situation.

There are a number of companies associated with POL Publishing and some of the companies are either in external administration or liquidation. There are two organisations you will need to contact if you are owed money.

First, a number of freelancers have received a letter from Grant Thornton Recovery & Reorganisation labeled 'To the creditor Addressed'.

If you have received this letter it is because you have been listed as a creditor for one of the following companies:

• Mandarine Duck ACN 11 107 165;

• Pol Contract Publications ACN 11 106 837;

• Pol Equipment ACN 052 360 068;

• Pol Interactive ACN 050 108 195; and

• Hovea Holdings ACN 058 713 778.
  

These companies are in external administration overseen by Grant Thornton.

People who have received the letter should follow the instructions proved by Grant Thornton as to how you can put in a claim for a debt owed by one of the companies. If you have any questions it is best to contact them directly to discuss your situation.

Second, the Alliance has been informed that another company: ACN 058 713 705 Pty Limited, formerly known as Pol Corporate Publications Pty Limited, has gone into liquidation. The Official liquidator is Stephen Brennan of SBR Insolvency + Reconstruction.

If you did not receive a letter from Grant Thornton and think you have been affected by the circumstances surrounding Pol Publishing we advise you contact both organisations, Grant Thornton and SBR Insolvency + Reconstruction to discuss your situation and assist you if you need to declare yourself as a creditor.

Contact details are as follows:

Grant Thornton Recovery & Reorganisation: (02) 8297 2400
Stephen Brennan at SBR: (02) 9290 3124

Ask to speak to the person assisting with the administration of Pol Publications.

This situation also highlights how important it is to include the full company name and ACN (Australian Company Number) on every invoice you send to an organisation – it means that you are able to identify which company owes you money should your invoice go unpaid.

 The Alliance will be monitoring this situation and providing updates as they come to hand. For any queries please contact Capri Clark, The Alliance’s National Claims Officer capri.clark@alliance.org.au or 02 9333 0978.