Witness Name: Mr Victor Price
Statement No.: WITN0O225_01
Exhibits: None
pated. Zhi 2 pases
THE POST OFFICE HORIZON INQUIRY
FIRST WITNESS STATEMENT OF MR VICTOR PRICE
1, MR VICTOR PRICE WILL SAY as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1.
I am grateful to the Chair to be invited to provide a “human impact” statement,
concerning the physical, psychological, emotional, reputational, and _ financial
consequences to me and my family of being held responsible for shortfalls shown by
the Horizon IT system and Post Office Limited’s actions toward me and my family. The
initial paragraphs below provide a brief summary of my background and provide
context to the detail of the human impact of the Horizon scandal on me and my
family. This statement does not reflect a full account of my experiences or those of my
family and if necessary or required I will provide further witness statement evidence.
BACKGROUND
I was born in November 1958. I am married to!
and am currently working as a
self-employed Taxi driver. We live in Colyton, Devon. I began a career in retail on
leaving college and rose to the position of area manager within the Spar company.
However, due my negative experiences with the Post Office I have been compelled to
find an alternative career.
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3. After leaving school I worked in the local Spar shop in Redditch, Worcestershire. In
1992, through the company, I was able to purchase the leasehold of a Spar store in
Redditch, Worcestershire. The shop was in a row of 9 other independent businesses
ona council estate.
4. The shop was very successful. It was the largest convenience store in the area.
Rapidly expanded sales growth in my store helped the other retailers. Business was
very good. We were a tight, close-knit community.
5. Our row of shops also had a General Post Office. In 1995, there was talk in the area
that this was going to be closed. This would have devastated the community. The
closest Post Office was approximately 2 miles away. It would have been a huge
inconvenience for many, particularly the elderly who relied on the loca! Post Office. I
therefore decided to buy the store.
6. In 1997 I went on to buy a further Spar store in Stourbridge, and then in 1998 Quarry
Bank, which also had an in-store Post Office. I refitted the business, and all 3 stores
were initially very successful. I employed 4 assistants which were already in-post
when I took over the branches.
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
7. After the Horizon system was implemented, I undertook 2-day training sessions in
Birmingham.
8. The sessions covered starting up the system and basic transactions such as pensions,
stamps, and licensing. There was a lot of information to take in all in a very short
period. It was very intense.
9. We were taken through how to do transactions by being shown pictures in a flip
book rather than on an actual working terminal. We were not given any hands-on
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10.
experience. Balancing was covered but I do not remember going through it in much
detail. How to deal with shortfalls was not mentioned at all.
Following this training, the Post Office sent trainers in to the store. They were there
for approximately 2 weeks. The trainers would arrive at 10 am and it was apparent
early on that they were keen to leave as soon as possible. More often than not they
would be gone by 3pm.
HELPLINE
il.
12.
Shortfalls started to appear from very early on. I always noted these and made sure I
made the Post Office aware. I was calling the Helpline approximately twice a week.
Describing them as a ‘helpline’ was a joke, as ! was never given any useful advice.
I was repeatedly told that the system would right itself, to ‘let it run till next week
and the missing funds would appear’, and so on. The regularity of contacting the
helpline with issues relating to shortfalls far outweighed having to call them for any
other issues, such as the equipment or hardware issues.
SHORTFALLS
13.
14,
In this section, I set out in very brief detail my experience of shortfalls arising from
deficiencies in the Horizon IT System, and Post Office Limited’s actions as a result.
This is only a brief introduction to those matters, in order to provide necessary
context for the explanation of the human impact which follows.
Shortfalls were appearing in both of the branches I ran. I was at a loss to understand
how or why this was happening. I asked if this was a usual issue, or if it was this
happening to other subpostmasters. I was repeatedly told that the problem was
unique to me, and I was the only one it was happening to.
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15.1 was constantly on edge and feeling increasingly isolated. The stress was becoming
unbearable. I did, however, contact other subpostmasters and they were also having
the same issues, but i could never get any resolution. My calls to the Helpline were
of no use. I was not told that this was an issue in other stores or that there was a
potential problem with the system.
16. I was made to feel that I must be an idiot or a thief.
17. Despite my being aware of others having the same problems, I was not taken
seriously. I began to question my staff. I knew I was not at fault, so it made me
naturally suspicious.
18. also felt embarrassed and ashamed that this was happening. Nearly every week
there would be shortfalls. if ever there was an over ridge it would never be as much
as the shortages and was always minimal in comparison. The systems in each branch
were routinely down each week.
19.1 would spend hours going through the transactions over and over again without
success. I reported the shortfalls but the advice was always that I was liable. I
estimate that I settled in excess of £7,000 in this way.
AUDIT AND INVESTIGATION
20. It was very clear from the Post Office that it was my responsibility for the
discrepancy, and I was liable. I had to make up the shortfall. The only shop out of the
three I owned that was making a profit was the one that did not have an in-store
Post Office. It was only because of this that I was able to make up the difference. I
used the profits from my one sustainable shop to finance the others. It was a no-win
situation.
21. I therefore made the decision in 2007/2008 to sell the shop in Quarry Bank.
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22.
6 months after I sold the store, I received a letter demanding the sum of £3,000 that
remained owing from the shortfall. The letter was very threatening. I was led to
believe that criminal charges would proceed if I did not pay. I was not shown any
documents relating to this shortfall. I paid the outstanding amount on a credit card,
increasing the debt I was already in.
HUMAN IMPACT
23.
24.
25.
26.
1 had substantial losses. I lost my business investment, my business, then and future
income from the Post Office and future profits from the retail business. Nobody can
compensate me for my loss of dignity and pride and the depression that came with
that.lt is hard to describe the effect this has had on me. I lost my livelihood, my
career, my home.
I resigned my position in both branches and sold the businesses. ! had no option as
they were losing money. I had no passion left to run them. I felt defeated. The stress
of the situation left me struggling with depression. It not only affected me, but my
family and those around me.
There were rumours in the community. I was afraid to face people. I was reluctant to
leave the house. I did at times turn to alcohol in an attempt to cope, and my health
deteriorated.
After losing our home we lived in a caravan for two years. We had to literally sell
everything. Even now we are still only able to live in rented property. I am an
immensely proud man. I made sure my debts were paid but finding out that these
were not my debts is hard to bear.
CONCLUSION
27.
I went from being a confident, outgoing, successful businessman with hopes and
ambitions to losing everything. I felt defeated and crushed. It has taken many years
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to start to slowly build up again, but I fear I will never reach the same position I
would have been in, but for the outright lies and cover-ups done by the Post Office
and their associates.
28.1 would like some closure on this. I want an acknowledgment of their wrongdoing
and an apology.
STATEMENT OF TRUTH
I believe the contents of this statement to be true.
22/o} 22.
Victor Price
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