Decorator banned and ordered to pay more than £100,000 in compensation after obtaining three Covid loans
Director disqualification and compensation order for Bounce Back Loan abuse
- Ruxanda Guja broke the rules of a Covid support scheme designed to help small businesses through the pandemic by applying for three Bounce Back Loans
- Guja secured a total of £145,000 for her company, Roxy Contracts Limited, when businesses were only entitled to a single loan of £50,000 at most, depending on their turnover
- Insolvency Service investigations have resulted in Guja being banned as a director until December 2037 and having to pay more than £100,000 in compensation and costs
A former Romford decorator who secured three Covid Bounce Back Loans worth a combined £145,000 has been banned as a company director and ordered to pay compensation.
Ruxanda Guja claimed £100,000 more than she was entitled to for her company, Roxy Contracts Limited, which she said dealt with “specialised construction activities”.
Guja applied to three separate banks for Bounce Back Loans during the course of 2020, obtaining one worth £45,000 and two maximum-value ones of £50,000 each.
The 40-year-old was banned as a director for 13 years at a hearing of the High Court in London on Tuesday 3 December.
Her ban begins on Tuesday 24 December.
Guja, formerly of Bell Avenue, Romford, must also pay compensation of £107,038 and costs of £7,592.
Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said:
The rules of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme were extremely clear. Businesses were only entitled to a single loan of a maximum of £50,000, depending on their turnover.
Ruxanda Guja clearly breached the scheme by securing three loans for her company, receiving significantly more than she was entitled to in the process.
This was taxpayers’ money and Guja now faces a director ban for the next 13 years in addition to repaying two of the loans back with interest.
Guja was the sole director of Roxy Contracts since the company was established in June 2017.
She first applied for a £45,000 Bounce Back Loan in early May 2020, claiming the turnover for Roxy Contracts was £500,000.
Just one week later, Guja breached the rules of the scheme by requesting a £50,000 loan from a second bank, this time stating her annual turnover was £350,000.
Guja’s third application on behalf of Roxy Contracts was in October 2020, when she obtained a £50,000 loan by claiming an annual turnover of £250,000.
Compensation orders were made for the two £50,000 loans, which include interest at the rate in the loan agreements.
The disqualification order prevents her from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
Liquidators were appointed for Roxy Contracts in June 2021.
Further information
- Ruxanda Guja was formerly of Bell Avenue, Romford. Her date of birth is 7 October 1984
- Roxy Contracts Limited (company number 10827660)
- Individuals subject to a disqualification order or undertaking are bound by a range of restrictions
- Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.