Two companies, two different paths.
In the automotive world, there are so many automakers, aftermarket companies, repair shops, and design houses. Similar names and designs are bound to happen, but sometimes it’s a little too close and others try to profit off of another brand’s reputation. One of those companies is EnKahnz, a Bradford-based automotive repair and upgrade shop whose owner has been the subject of an insurance fraud investigation, and have a name that’s all too similar to an entirely different and unaffiliated company such as A Kahn Design and one of its subsidiaries: Project Kahn.
Although the names are similar between EnKahnz and A Kahn Design, there is no relationship or affiliation between the two. However, this may cause the reputation of one to tarnish the other for the better or for worse. The way that Naveed Khan, the founder of Enkahnz, has spelled his company’s name and the fact that they are based in the same city as the Kahn Group of companies, is all too similar. The Kahn Group of companies and their world-renowned founder, Afzal Kahn (of no relation to Naveed Kahn), has been successfully in business for over 27 years, whereas EnKahnz is a relatively young company.
Naveed Khan was the subject of insurance fraud after he filed a claim and receiving a pay-out of £30,000 to cover repairs after his Ferrari was in an accident with an Audi Q7. Shortly after, insurance company, XL Catlin, began to suspect that the claim was fraudulent and began to amass evidence to support their case.
According to the insurance company, Naveed Kahn was associated with Kawaljeet Singh, the driver of the Audi, and Marc Coope, the passenger in the Ferrari. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Singh had previously worked for Sidhu and Co., who were the company accountants for Enkahnz and based in their offices, while Coope was a former EnKahnz employee.
According to the Yorkshire Post:
“In his ruling, District Judge Cahill said: ‘Catlin Insurance had begun to amass sufficient information to indicate that the claim was not all it appeared to be.’
‘They contend in their defense that the accident had been staged for gain and to that extent was a fraudulent claim.’
Mr Khan had alleged that Mr. Singh’s Audi drove into the back of his Ferrari on Low Lane, Clayton, on November 28, 2013.”
XL Catlin alleges that the three men were involved in a conspiracy in which Kahn would profit from the Ferrari repairs and then make a claim for £43,000 to a hire company to temporarily replace the super car.
According to the Yorkshire Post, ‘Mr Khan said in a statement: “All liability is denied, settlement was made purely for commercial reasons and we are actively seeking the return of monies from the defendants’.”
The three men all claim innocence to the allegations and are looking into possibly appealing the case. Kahn has since paid back the monies to XL Caitlin although any guilt is denied.
Cases such as this represent an issue that doesn’t just lend itself to the automotive world, but business as a whole. Sometimes companies will be associated with others that have no relation because of similar names and/or marketing tactics. While there are laws in place to help protect against things such as this, it’s always important as a consumer to research a company prior to doing business with them.
Source: Yorkshire Post, Facebook
