Noble minder has stopped trading grab your stuff while you can!

[mumo3g]

We can't get in at all. We were due for a renewal this last Sunday and we tried using all of our cards available only for them to be rejected.

So Monday we phoned them. The lady on the phone told us there was a problem with the website, took our name and number and said we would get a call back.

We have been waiting for that call and haven't got it so we phoned the number on the website only to discover it has been cut off.

DH did some digging and found this

Fortunatly we have records of our incomings but we have lost all our diary's/obs etc.

Mr Anchovy, why did you feel it was necessary to setup a Limited company called "NM (Noble Minder) Users Limited" - this all looks a bit suspect to me!

We have got our stuff off the Noble minder website now. I'm a bit confused about the whole situation really but we have been advised we have done the right thing about warning people. We have got a responce back from NCMA who said "thank you for getting in touch with us, we will look into it". I just hope nobody is able to sign up to it anymore or direct debits are not taken. I'm a bit surprised that there is still no indication on the website anywhere though. I will assume those who don't know about it will at least find out in September when the EYFS update isn't reflected on it.

Still as for us we are still using an online package but we are going to back up everything. I guess it has taught us a valuable lesson. Hopefully it's one that others have learnt too.

"Mr Anchovy, why did you feel it was necessary to setup a Limited company called "NM (Noble Minder) Users Limited" - this all looks a bit suspect to me!"

Because I don't mind spending some time on this, but I'm not going to put my home or my business on the line as well. The company is actually called NM Users Limited. You may not know that NobleMinder is a Registered Trade Mark (there is a whole other story there of course...)

@mumo3g

I'm a bit surprised that there is still no indication on the website anywhere though.
I believe the website is still under the control of the former director and owner of Noble Minder Limited so it appears that she wants to portray that everything is OK.

Still as for us we are still using an online package but we are going to back up everything. I guess it has taught us a valuable lesson. Hopefully it's one that others have learnt too.
You may be interested in this which is included in the newsletter I sent out yesterday:
Q. Is there any way that this could have been prevented or are online systems inherently risky?
No-one can prevent a commercial enterprise from failing, but there are a number of things that can be done to reduce the impact. We will make some more information available later, but two key things to think about are (i) make sure that any system you use will provide you with a backup of all your data in an open format on demand and (ii) keep an eye out for signs of business problems and take action straight away.

Because I don't mind spending some time on this, but I'm not going to put my home or my business on the line as well. The company is actually called NM Users Limited. You may not know that NobleMinder is a Registered Trade Mark (there is a whole other story there of course...)

You may not recall that it was myself that bought the trademark issue to light, having been passed over to an unknown 3rd party just before the company went belly up.

I still don't see why you would need to start a Ltd company, what exactly are you planning to do - take over Noble Minder and continue to offer the software package to their customers!?

but two key things to think about are (i) make sure that any system you use will provide you with a backup of all your data in an open format on demand and (ii) keep an eye out for signs of business problems and take action straight away.

(i) I can only assume you do not have a great deal of understanding how internet systems and offline systems work (no disrespect meant) - they are completely different and the company to be able to offer an open format backup on demand is not as easy as you may think. What the company should do is allow the user to take their own backups in a suitable format.

(ii) This statement is a little cass in my opinion, companies close down every day of the week and no one had any idea they were going bust until the morning that they close and lock the doors.

(i) I can only assume you do not have a great deal of understanding how internet systems and offline systems work (no disrespect meant)

Wow, that's some assumption.

- they are completely different and the company to be able to offer an open format backup on demand is not as easy as you may think.

Yes it is. Avoiding user lock-in is a key factor for intelligent purchasers of SaaS and many services that handle much more data per user than NobleMinder do this: here's an accounting system example, here and here are two project management/collaboration examples, and here's a CRM example.

(ii) This statement is a little cass in my opinion, companies close down every day of the week and no one had any idea they were going bust until the morning that they close and lock the doors.

Yes but in this case Companies House posted the first winding-up notice on 10 January 2012, and searching back through the childmindinghelp.co.uk forum I see that people were reporting problems with getting any response to support enquires since at least February. The transfer of the domain name and trade marks that you tracked down were further alarm bells in the public domain. Even once the company was wound up, none of the customers were aware until last week, or if they were then nobody seems to have asked a friendly lawyer or accountant to do a bit of sniffing.

I agree that often there are no external warning signs, but you don't stop keeping a good lookout just because sometimes icebergs are difficult to spot.

Unfortunately life doesn't quite work like this, hindsight is a fantastic tool. What you are saying is that we should do a company search before we shop anywhere or buy anything, I was thinking of buying a new TV, does this mean I should do a search on all the companies I might possibly buy it from just in case they wind up and close within the 1 year warranty period. - Don't tell me, I don't need to worry because the manufacturer will honour the warranty - But what happens if the manufacturer goes bust, I will need to do a search on them too, just to cover all bases.

Anyway back to my original question:
I still don't see why you would need to start a Ltd company, what exactly are you planning to do - take over Noble Minder and continue to offer the software package to their customers!?

I think you have a hidden agenda ;-) Your secrets safe with us, you call tell us, we wont tell anyone :-)

Can I ask what your interest is in all this, Hannahb1?

MrAnchovy is already known on these boards for giving good advice to childminders and others.

I don't think we've seen you here before, though?

What you are saying is that we should do a company search before we shop anywhere or buy anything,

No, I am saying that if you rely on something to support part of your business (or in this case, three parts, accounting, time recording/billing and Ofsted regulation) on an ongoing basis, you should (i) look out for warning signs and follow up when they appear, and (ii) make sure you can get your data out so you can have a "plan B".

I have already explained why I have formed a Limited Company, you can read more about the concept of limited liability here.

What do you think would be the best outcome for the users of NobleMinder, and how would you go about achieving that?

Thanks Tanith

I was thinking of buying a new TV, does this mean I should do a search on all the companies I might possibly buy it from just in case they wind up and close within the 1 year warranty period.

Interesting that you mention buying a TV as that is what I did and then the manufacturer announced a week later that they were stopping production and closing their factory. According to tech-news reports there were some rumblings about it happening a few months before the announcement but as a consumer I didn't know about that. Maybe I should have done more research before buying a £400 product. Warranty isn't actually an issue, as in the UK the product can be returned to the retailer for a partial or full repair for up to 6 years after purchase (see this article from Which regarding Sales of Goods Act).

My TV holds no personal data about me. That is a major difference I feel. Online storage systems do hold personal data and the loss of that data is something that should be avoided. Thus the user having a way of backing up that data is important - it is then up to the user how often they back up their data.

hannahb1 - you have posted 7 times, all on this topic. So who are you?
If you are connected with Noble Minder you have a right to reply... but I feel you should be making it clear who you are, such as by having a username which identifies you as being connected. You can change your username if you like via My Mumsnet.

Hannah I think you have the motive mr anchovy is always on here giving advice. It's not as though he's popped up from nowhere like you have. Mr A and nick know their stuff.

interesting that hannahb1 has not come back to enlighten us

I don't have to explain myself to anyone, but thanks for the offer.

I haven't been back because I got bored of this conversation and most of what was being posted here, nothing has been achieved by the oh so mighty "Mr A", they are clearly still trading illegally and a good friend of mine was ripped of by them to the tune of £100.00 which I am sure she won't be seeing again.

When you have achieved something "Mr A" do enlighten us all won't you, I will probably pop back in a few months to see an update! So please don't expect any replies to your tedious and boring posts about me any time soon.

Hi new to this site. Just wanted to thank you for alerting me to the Noble Minder issue.I found it by chance and had no idea there was a problem.
I have managed to grab most of the information I stored on it. I have loved using this site, and use it on a daily basis.
Just to let you know that I have emailed NCMA and asked if they have any further updates on what is happening, as I understand someone has contacted them and was told they would check it out.
The reply I received tells me that if worried I should take my information off the site. ( don't think I needed telling that lol). They do not investigate exterior companies.
I have emailed back to tell them of my disappointment in this reply.
It took me many hours to upload profiles policies proceeders etc , in addition many members of NCMA will be storing accounts tax info etc. If the website closes then they loose everything.
It seems NCMA are happy to take payment for advertising companies but want no responsibility towards the impact it has on PAYING members.
The site is still working and I can use everything, except my CHildren's icons have disappeared today along with old diaries. Have emailed but, having sent around 10 emails I don't expect a reply. Is this the beginning of the end.
If anyone can recommend another online site similar to Noble Minder that they like would you let me know. I know, glut ten for punishment, but all my parents love this way of receiving info, and I love having everything to hand.

I like you was on Noble minder and loved it at the time.Took my info off when this happened. I now use babydays and love that even more. I'll let you decide what you think of it.

Hi, I have only just discovered this thread about Noble Minder. I've not used it recently as I was having a few problems. I called, emailed requested callbacks and got nothing so gave up.
I tried again yesterday to re-activate my account and got nowhere. After trying to call the now non-existent phone number I thought I should research further. So know I know what's happening and I know I will have lost all my data (trying to stay calm as my inspection is imminent!!!) is there anything similar I can use that anyone is happy to recommend? I only know of babydays is it any good?
Just hope the inspector believes me
Thanks

I use orbit and its excellent and free. Google orbit so.

Thank you. I've googled it but can't find anything. Can you give me the address or post a link? Thank you!

orbit.so/

There you are, I use the iPhone app hth

Thank you, I will have a look at that!

I love 2simple app which has a websuite and emails parents as and when you want their websuite has a sample on 2buildaprofile.com