Investment firm given no choice
Date published: 25 July 2013
DETERMINED: Tariq Mushtaq from First Choice Investments and (below) the First Choice Homes Oldham logo
A SHOCKED business owner is facing a legal battle to keep his company’s name.
Solicitors for First Choice Homes Oldham have told Tariq Mushtaq, who runs First Choice Investments in Lees Road, Clarksfield he must change his firm’s name immediately and hand over his website address — www.firstchoiceinvestments.co.uk — because the public could believe the two firms are linked.
Tariq, who set up the property investment firm two years ago, says the inspiration for his company name came from holiday firm First Choice rather than FCHO.
“I couldn’t believe it when I opened the letter from FCHO’s solicitors. I called them straight away and found them to be extremely patronising and bullying. They are demanding I change my name, but we have properties all over the place so changing the Land Registry details would be time consuming and costly. We have built up a solid reputation as First Choice Investments, so why should I lose all that?
“They say if I don’t they are going to take me to court. This would cost at least £30,000 — more, if I lost the case. It’s a risk I simply can’t afford to take.
“I have never advertised First Choice Investments, FCHO only know about me because I was mentioned in the Chronicle last month. There are no boards up anywhere and no business cards.
My logo and font are completely different and I really don’t think people would confuse my firm with FCHO.
“I run the company with my brother, Dr Shaid Mushtaq, and we are passionate about Oldham. We are not trying to rob someone else’s name; its not how we operate.”
A FCHO spokesman said: “First Choice Homes Oldham initiated the process of requesting First Choice Investments change its name to protect its intellectual property and reputation.
“We will pursue our case through litigation. We have strongly suggested First Choice Investments seeks independent legal advice.
“We have 12,000 properties across Oldham, over 20,000 customers, and multiple-partner organisations and contractors locally and nationally who work with and for us to build homes and communities in the borough.
“We want to resolve this matter quickly in order to avoid any likelihood of confusion. We have offered to meet with First Choice Investments to try and resolve this amicably, if possible.”
