The group was founded and named UNHAV (UN-ited HA-lifax V-ictims) by Brian Hazlehurst, an ex-pat living in Rio de Janeiro. For a new picture of Brian at UNHAV HQ click here !

Brian learned that because his so-called "registered" address was in a so-called “non-permitted territory” he was excluded from the Halifax demutualization free share distribution. He was outraged, and started searching the Internet for chat rooms, ex-pat groups, or other possible connections which might lead him to other victims. He found out about a movement in England, the HALIFAX ACTION GROUP, which had vigorously opposed the demutualization, and he contacted them. Unfortunately, after a long, hard battle with Halifax, they had disbanded. Brian left his e-mail address with former campaign director, Serge Lourie, one of the founders of this group, and asked him to pass it on if others victims happened to contact him.

David and Clare Edwards, Canadians, were the first to do so. Shortly thereafter Judy Hatfield, from California, also contacted Brian. It was decided that a website was our best chance of locating other victims, and thus, with the aid of a website designer, the online cmapaign was born. From the moment our site went onto the air, there has been a worldwide response. We shared news from England; we prepared and learned of up-coming articles; we told our stories of deception, misinformation, and even rudeness, from Halifax.

Brian orchestrated what he called a “Noise Storm”, a writing, telephoning, and faxing campaign to Newspapers, the Building Society Commission, Building Society and Banking Ombudsman, MPs, and of course Halifax plc itself. The British Media have helped by publishing numerous articles which bring new victims into the group daily. Other categories of disenfranchised members were found, and they too are now fighting for their rightful shares. Unfortunately, Halifax has remained unmoved by all this. We have therefore decided that legal action is our only recourse.

Due to the large and growing number of UNHAV members, it is no longer practical to communicate en-mass by e-mail. We have therefore decided to use the website for news updates. Also, to keep our "non-wired" members informed, we have established a series of relays from the nearest members blessed with email .

Please check the website regularly, at least weekly, and contact your Regional Coordinator if you have ideas or information to help the cause. It is still of the utmost importance to keep writing to Halifax, to put on the record your claim for your rightful shares. We also need to spread the word to all ex-pat organizations throughout the world. This way we can locate many more victims, and keep reminding Halifax that we are still fighting to get the shares/cash to which we are all entitled.

Please help us by continuing the "Noise Storm" and placing letters or adverts/announcements wherever you think they may be effective.