We chose the two largest/most used companies and decided to see if they are legitimate or a complete con. What's the difference between legitimate tree-planting schemes and scams? Yes, it sounds stupid, but perhaps it is legit and a fun little gimmick. Scotland's overseas exports were worth 8.1 billion in 2022, according to HMRC's . It reminds me of those not-technically-scams where people used to sell stars and whatnot. It is giving me pause now as to whether this Katerina is truly investing the money into the land or not. Regional Labour MSP for the Highland and Islands. Ive been seeing a number of ads for one of these companies and was wondering what their deals were. Yes, our title packs are based on a historic Scottish land ownership custom where landowners have been long referred to as "Lairds", the Scottish term for "Lord", with the female equivalent being "Lady". Choice of Download or Post Packs. He certainly isnt impressed with Highland Titles! Scottish Widows 20,115 followers 1y Report this post Report Report. See the link below for more details. According to their website, Established Titles, a customer can "Purchase a personal Lordship or Ladyship Title Pack with dedicated land in Scotland," and "Our Title Packs are based on a historic Scottish land ownership custom, where landowners have been long referred to as 'Lairds', the Scottish term for 'Lord', with the female equivalent being 'Lady'. Anybody claiming otherwise and offering to sell you any of the mentioned, is operating a scam. Its a bottle of plonk thats had its lid off. The only people who would have a problem with this idea are the ones who were expecting prestige, or a way to make money off it. What Highland Titles / Peter Bevis are doing is in my opinion nothing less than a national scandal. I started crying when I realized what a lovely thing he had done. She loved it and now my family wants me to purchase this for them as well! Amongst webpages on Game of Thrones filming locations, Emerald Heritages mission statement claims that it was formed by Irish people in response to the deep emotional wrench of generations of landless Irish who, often forced by eviction, starvation, unemployment and discrimination, had to leave their home to seek a better future across the globe.. http://www.hallidaycampbell.com/2012/06/who-owns-souvenir-plot.html. You'll get a 'luxury' welcome pack. I paid up front and more than a month later, I have yet to receive what I purchased, novelty or otherwise. My son gave my husband and I our own plot of land for Christmas. It works. Furthermore, as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainable stewardship of this incredible part of the world, we are proud to plant a new tree in the area for every order we receive. The Registers of Scotland have stated "A real right of ownership in land (in the sense of a right that is enforceable against third parties) can only be obtained by registration in the Land Register or by recording a deed in the Register of Sasines as appropriate." The companys information such as registration and status as a charity seems to be legitimate. In short - you pay to 'invest' in the upkeep of that land. Established Titles Are Operating Illegaly Their website does not state the company registration number, nor state where the company is incorporated. As long as youre not stupid enough to actually think it makes you noble, call yourself Laird, Lord, Lady or whatever you want. The contact details seem real too and there is nothing suspicious about the social media pages either. If youve substantial real estate holdings in Scotland, you may be referred to as laird. And it seems you dont have to be rich to get a "laird" or "lord" title if you go through Established Titles. Established Titles and Highland Titles have similar operating models, in that they both offer titles to tiny plots or land with the goal of raising funds for nature protection programs, and they both target the tourist market. Your land ownership enables you to receive the title of Lord or Lady - so you can live your aristocratic fantasy and be treated with dignity and respect everywhere you go! "If you were to go to Scotland and try and claim your land or try and do anything with it really you would be laughed at because you don't actually own anything, Established Titles is still the landowner and may give you a worthless piece of paper telling you that you own land when under the laws of Scotland, you clearly do not," Shafer continued. In December 2014, another company by the same name - Highland Titles Ltd. - was registered in Scotland. Thanks so much! A personalized title certificate with your two names as the title holder. Google even suggests 'Established Titles Scam' when searching the company online. "The only thing established titles does is donate money to an actual tree planting company," Shafer said. Highland Titles business model - channelling international affection for the Highlands towards an environmental cause - is not limited to Scotland. Purchase a Lordship or Ladyship Title Pack and own land in Scotland. When Andy Wightman called the companies connections into question in a blog entitled Wildcat Haven, Bumblebee Haven or Tax Haven?, Wildcat Haven Enterprises tried to sue the then MSP for an astonishing 750,000. The very idea that anyone can simply buy the title of Lord is preposterous. Unfortunately land ownership by absentee or green lairds is for the most part damaging., In response to the major Scottish NGO workers comments that Highland Titles are not held in high esteem by the sector, Douglas Wilson said, Our conservation work is there for all to see. ", Later that same day, The Quartering made it very clear and wrote, "Cutting Ties With Established Titles.". The second is that they do not give you an official title. They have also used the brand names Northern Titles, Historic Titles and Esteemed Titles on identical websites, although two of these sites now show a 'coming soon' screen and one seems to have disappeared. We had so much fun with it! We aren't sure whether Katerina has any strong ties in Scotland yet, but the Established Titles website does mention that she plans to make Scotland her home one day. I did this for my grandma and she loved it! Asked if she considers herself Australian or Scottish, O'Neill told news.com.au: "Definitely a bit of both. All the details seem to be valid. If you've substantial real estate holdings in. Highland Titles is the company behind the scheme, which claims to sell small bits of the firm's estate - plus accompanying titles of lord, lady or laird - on customers. Buy a Lordship & Become a Lord. This big cat was native to Scotland more than 500 years ago: Could rewilding bring it back? Copyright content cannot be used in any way or copied without specific permission, terms & conditions apply, Lord Glencoe On The Highland Titles Glencoe Estates Scam, http://www.hallidaycampbell.com/2012/06/who-owns-souvenir-plot.html, http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2015/02/naughty-step-low-road-edition/, https://basedrones.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/highland-titles-scam/, http://lochaberhighlandestate.blogspot.com/2014/03/asa-rules-highland-titles-misleading.html, applyehic.org, Peter Bevis, and the real Highland Titles. Highland Titles has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. Certificate of Land and Title. So, does owning a 'souvenir' plot of land make you a Lord or Lady? Highland Titles purchased the 220 acres that would become its flagship Nature Reserve and in 2007 built a visitor centre where lords and ladies would be received. The website is highly-rated on TrustPilot with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Because "laird" is merely a courtesy title, it has no legal significance; there are no special privileges or protections under U.K. law for being a laird. But our off-record conversations with other environmental groups and individuals in Scotland point to the company having a hostile reputation. . Established Titles claimed a customer can "Purchase a personal Lordship or Ladyship Title Pack with dedicated land in Scotland.". I bought my husband a plot in the nature reserve for his birthday. * Our Title Packs are based on a historic Scottish land ownership custom, where landowners have been long referred to as "Lairds", the Scottish term for "Lord", with the female equivalent being "Lady". Like us, you may also be confused and what many may not be aware of is that when you purchase the land, you're not entitled to it in the same way as if you purchased land outright. We have a card each stating that we are entitled to be called Lady and Lord (or Laird) of Glencoe. Land ownership in Scotland is hugely culturally sensitive, shaped by the legacy of the Highland Clearances, and the patterns of rural depopulation and emigration that followed. A paid-for advertisement in the Irish Times last year makes reference to thinning the trees and digging a pond. What makes this all possible is a potential loophole in the Scottish Law of land ownership. It has been used 68 times. Scottland hosts many beautiful ecosystems outside of forests and its important those arent destroyed or neglected for the sake of artificial forests. Michael Yellowlees, partner and head of rural services at Scottish law firm Lindsays, told The Hustle they're very rare and currently run between US ~$120k-$130k or even more for Lordships, Earldoms, and Marquisates. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. The company name is mentioned as Highland Titles Limited. As you would find with any brief trawl through social media on the subject., A post shared by Euronews Green (@euronewsgreen). As an ecology student I am interested if their reforesting efforts are a good thing though. You are putting money into a pot that is used to maintain the land and improves the Scottish landscape/ wildlife. For the sake of balance, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. You can become a green Laird of Glencoe for 36, but is the scheme really saving Scotland? Gaelic-Irish titles of nobility. He also pointed out that they have just achieved a Guinness World Record for the worlds biggest bug hotel. Tag us on social media using the hashtag #scotlandtitles. It goes without saying that the term laird is not synonymous with that of lord or lady. There are a number of other companies and affiliates linked to the Highland Titles enterprise. Therefore, a cheeky suggestion that you're a Lord to encourage somebody to buy something, or give you a discount is fraud, and illegal. The very idea that anyone can simply buy the title of 'Lord' is preposterous. Under Guernsey law, no charity is obliged to make its accounts public, and Highland Titles Ltd has never shared its profits. The plots are small enough to be affordable, but they are owned outright like any property and can be passed on to the next generation through a will. ", YouTube content creator, Scott Shafer, published a video on Wednesday breaking down the scam and said all of their promised deliverables "from the buying of land to being given a lord title and even the planting of trees is a complete lie. Have Scottish heritage and want to be closer to your roots? Thank you for everything. So I got my brother and his wife this for his wedding present. The Facebook page data corresponds with the information given on the website. ", Sydney Watson reposted that message and wrote, "I will be doing the same. My husband got this for me for Christmas. But it is a legitimate transaction and you will own a sq foot of land it's classed a. Each Couple Title Pack includes: A dedicated plot of land measuring 2 square feet or 10 square feet. Established Titles, a company that sells certificates of ownership of souvenir plots of Scottish land with the accompanying laird or lady title, has been dropped by some YouTube content creators . Established Titles were established in 2020, and the website is operated by Galton Voysey in Hong Kong. You'll also get a welcome pack but some reviews mention it is poorly printed. A little fun with having a title seems like a fair trade. As the trademark holder, that then gives them the power to allow people to use their trademark, much like if Pepsi let you call yourself Pepsi or McDonalds let you call yourself McDonalds. Established Titles traded for at least 7 months (between April 2020 and November 2020) from a website with no company name. Without a doubt, Katerina's online presence is impressive - she is an exceptional entrepreneur. Scottish Barony titles are the only real titles on the market. We wanted to understand whether these are legitimate business people, or shadowy entities hiding from the spotlight. Updated: Mar 16, 2023 / 02:00 PM CDT. According to Scotland's 2012 Land Registration Act, a souvenir plot, "(a) is of inconsiderable size and of no practical utility, and (b) is neither (i) a registered plot, nor (ii) a plot the ownership of which has, at any time, separately been constituted or transferred by a document recorded in the Register of Sasines.". If this is true, and especially if they do the planting of trees (directly or through conservation efforst they sponsor), then theyre doing what they promised and Im okay with it. Highland Titles Limited was founded by retired English zoologist Peter Bevis in 2006 in Alderney, a small Channel Island under Guernseys jurisdiction, and a corporate tax haven. Highland Titles is the company behind the scheme, which claims to sell small bits of the firms estate - plus accompanying titles of lord, lady or laird - on customers. Market Realist is a registered trademark. "Ownership of a souvenir plot of land is not sufficient to bring a person otherwise ineligible within the jurisdiction of the Lord line for seeking a coat of arms," he added. Highland Titles is a Scottish land management and conservation company that allows people to own a piece of the Scottish Highlands. LA marketing company Distinctive Assets arranged the Oscars goodie bags, as part of "a marketing program for companies interested in connecting with celebrities. And then they blocked me on facebook when I asked for the same. Purchase your Scottish Title Pack now and bestow the ultimate gift on yourself or a loved one! Our nature reserve at Duror is an official 4 star tourist attraction and, according to Trip Advisor, one of the most popular nature reserves in Scotland. A Scottish Barony Title is the only title world-wide that is a noble title, officially recognised and available to purchase. Please read them here before buying. Land in a Scottish Highland Estate. A fantastic idea by some very caring and dedicated owners.would recommend as has just so many more benefits not just a title .too much to add on here.its worth checking their web page out..it's a great ethos. Reforesting has an important part to play in all our futures - but who does it, and how well, are recurring questions as more and more green lairds close in on the country. Thank you for the explanation. No, but thats probably a good thing, On the elevator to extinction: Scotland could soon lose these rare alpine plants. The idea was that they could use the title on nearly everything identification documents, correspondence, bank cards but "the only" thing. How climate disinformation is spreading after Elon Musks Twitter takeover, How Europes eco-friendly nations are not always what they seem. The company is officially registered in Scotland and is also recognized as a charitable trust. Right to use Scottish Tartan. A plot of Scottish land was given to winners and runners-up, including Beyonce, Benedict Cumberbatch andBillie Eilish. It's estimated that over 100,000 people from all over the . http://lochaberhighlandestate.blogspot.com/2012/02/is-land-i-bought-actually-mine.html. In April 2021 they were selling 17th-century maps of Scotland designed by mapmaker John Speed. ", In response to this, Highland Titles said that someone who buys a plot of land does obtain a personal right to the land and that this is a settled legal position.. In Scots law, a land owner is entitled, Laird - which is the Scottish equivalent to 'Lord'. Thousands of Americans (and many UK citizens) spend millions of dollars (and pounds) every year on becoming a Scottish Lord/Lady (they can even be purchased on Amazon), so we thought we'd do some digging. Articles have been written about how this is all just flim-flam, many, many articles. The UKs Intellectual Property Office lists Wilson as the representative of this OU - which translates as a private limited company. No contact details have been provided. Trust/integrity more important than dollhairs. Some day I hope to go over and visit it. We sell the plots as part of a Scottish Title Pack, which includes the small plot itself as well as a personalised title certificate featuring your name or the name of the titleholder. Dont buy ,its a scam , you dont get the title ,you dont get anything ,the title is not recognized.Its fake and gay ,dont buy. I consider greed and dishonesty to be the mostloathsome ofpersonal traits. Why would anyone omit this detail? The main objection is that 'you don't really own the land' - well, that is somewhat true. It was the BEST GIFT EVER for my boss! You don't get a title by owning land in Scotland, you don't get a meaningful title by calling yourself a descriptive name. Likely the opposite. Were independent and cant be cancelled. I do feel sorry for the thousands of well-meaning, trusting, generouspeople from all over the world who have been taken in by these very plausible tricksters and had their trust betrayed. http://lochaberhighlandestate.blogspot.com/2012/12/peter-bevis-on-bletherskite-part-2.html. Established Titles is a scam that will sell you a piece of paper proclaiming that you are a Lord/Lady of somewhere. Scotland is a popular tourist destination with a rich culture. . Lords and Ladies of Glencoe number over 300,000, according to the site. Glencoe is a ScottishNational treasure, a place of outstanding natural beauty with a long history and heritage to match. According to the promotional material, Established Titles would allow you to become a 'landowner' in Scotland. It is a legitimate and meaningful investment that you could proudly show off in your home. But the companys target audience is well represented on the TripAdvisor reviews it shares online. The domain registration date is in line with the statement on the About Us page that the company has been operational since 2007. Here at Scotland Titles, we can help you become a lord or lady by making use of the above facts. Highland Titles is a website that claims to be selling Scottish nobility titles. Drone footage showing the conifer plantation at Highland Titles' second 'nature reserve', near Invergarry. Rights to visit your land at any time. Scots with a wider cultural awareness find the whole proposition of selling titles ludicrous and insulting. We must ensure equitable sharing of the benefits of this investment with local communities and wider society.. Established Titles allows you to purchase a tiny little land in Scotland so that you can be titled as a Lord or a LadyWe also plant a tree for every order we receive Just head over to our website and start your lordship and ladyship journey#Scotland #giftidea pic.twitter.com/i5sPfpoMCF. However, it is simply a marketing gimmick by Highland Titles. https://basedrones.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/highland-titles-scam/, And now from the Office of The Scottish Charity Regulator we find this judgement against the Highland Titles Charitable Trust , On 3rd April 2014, OSCR issued a direction under Section 31(5) of the 2005 Act requiring Mr Peter Bevis to stop representing the The Highland Titles Charitable Trust for Scotland as a charity registered in Scotland., http://www.oscr.org.uk/media/472678/2014-04-03_s33_report_the_highland_titles_charitable_trust_for_scotland.pdf, Some newspaper articles taken fromhttp://lochaberhighlandestate.blogspot.com/2014/03/asa-rules-highland-titles-misleading.html, 2012 Lord Glencoe. Tripadvisor reviews it shares online have been written about how this is all just flim-flam, articles. Proudly show off in your home and conservation company that allows people to own a sq foot of land Christmas. 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