“It will never end,” whispers a victim of the Indexia group. This September 30, at the Paris court, the civil parties are in shock after the revelations of the UFC-Que lawyer Choisir. Collected the consumer association testimonies from victims who say they have noticed new unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts in recent days.
An endless nightmare for the 1,600 people who formed civil parties in the titanic trial against Sadri Fegaier and his companies. Sfam, Hubside, Serena, Foriou and two other companies belonging to the former mobile insurance magnate were judged at the end of September for “deceptive commercial practices”. Direct debits several times a month, increasing amounts, with the impossibility of withdrawing from contracts… In this case, thousands of consumers believe they have been trapped by the contracts signed with Sadri Fegaier’s companies. “Some consumers lost more than 20,000 euros,” tells Me Rachel Nakache, the lawyer who represented just over 280 clients during the trial.
Despite the forced administrative liquidation of Hubside, Sfam and the Indexia group last spring, “the scam continues”, assure several victims. This is the case of Samuel Claus. Lured by the promise of a free battery, the 27-year-old let himself be lured into a Hubside store in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) in 2022.
“I took up the offers (monthly subscription that includes mobile insurance, a free scooter, a PlayStation 5 and the new iPhone every year), but when I realized that they were paying me several times a month, without benefiting from the promised services, I decided to end it. My bank advisor was understanding and cut off my payment orders”, he explains, confiding that he was charged around 300 euros in four months. Then you won’t hear about Sadri Fegaier’s companies again… until August 2024.
“I have never heard of this company”
At 2 am on August 31, the seller received an email from the Equestrian Cup company confirming his enrollment in the “Premium Pack”. Attached is a contract containing your personal data and in the “customer signature” box it is indicated: “Contract validated following call dated 08/30/2024”. “But that day I didn’t receive any calls, I had never heard of this company,” assures Samuel.
On September 6th the Equestrian Cup costs 54.99 euros, then 49.99 euros on September 13th. Knowing his situation, his bank immediately blocked the mandates and refunded him the withdrawn sums. Samuel Claus is not angry. “They took my signature and my personal data for a contract to which I gave no validation. »
The Equestrian Cup company is registered in Belgium and belongs to a certain Nicolas Deridder. For Samuel Claus the link between the company and Sadri Fegaier is beyond doubt. The way of proceeding, the subscriptions offered, the site, the contracts… «There are many similarities with Hubside and Serena», he assures. The Equestrian Cup webpage also features a customer review praising… Serena, a Sadri Fegaier company.
Very clear connections between Sadri Fegaier and Nicolas Deridder
“On my signed contract with Hubside there is a mistake in my street name. We also find the same in the Equestrian Cup contract,” explains Samuel Claus. According to him, Sadri Fegaier passed on his clients’ data, including bank details, to Nicolas Deridder. “We don’t see how else to explain it,” says Rachel Nakache cautiously, who denounces a “totally prohibited” practice. “Will there be an investigation?” he asks. If so, he will tell us. »
On social media the links between Sadri Fegaier and Nicolas Deridder are very clear. The two men appear to be accomplices and share the same love for horse riding. Under the name of “Hubside Jumping”, Sadri Fegaier organized show jumping competitions in his Haras des Grillons, near Valence (Drôme), but also in a stud farm in Grimaud, near Saint-Tropez (Var). Fairly well-known competitions in the sector. But, since October 2023, it is the famous Nicolas Deridder who organizes them through his company… Equestrian Cup. And since he has been in charge of these events, the problems have accumulated.
“He drives a luxury car, is well dressed and confident,” describes Romain Seriey, a motorized equipment rental company for the construction industry. “He came to rent me a telescopic forklift, he pulled out five black cards, this gives me confidence,” he says. But when he tries to collect the deposit, things get stuck. “I finally managed to get 1,000 euros split between two cards,” explains Romain Seriey. He assures that Nicolas Deridder never paid for his services, leaving him with a debt of 9,000 euros.
$18,000 paid for canceled event
On the competition front, complaints are multiplying. When contacted, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed to us that it had “cancelled five shows that Equestrian Cup Events were due to organize in June and July 2024 due to non-payment of athletes and officials during previous competitions”. One website was even created by a customer angry about paying $18,000 for a VIP table at a canceled event. Contacted several times, neither Nicolas Deridder nor Sadri Fegaier and his lawyers wanted to answer our questions.
Another name has been circulating on victims’ forums these days: that of Julien Bibard. Indexia’s former client manager heads SPVI, which specializes in theft and fire insurance. “This company took 44.99 euros from me in September,” says Manon, who was also taken by Equestrian Cup in August. However, he assures her, he never signed a contract with the latter two and did not provide them with his bank details. Except that, like Samuel, she is also a former client of Sadri Fegaier’s companies. “They exchange our bank details,” says Manon, who checks her accounts “three times a day.”
Sadri Fegaier risks eighteen months in prison, a fine of 300,000 euros and a ban from managing a company for five years. The sentence will be pronounced on December 17.
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Rachel Nakache, Lawyer and Advocate for Victims of the Indexia Group
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good afternoon, Rachel. Thank you for joining us today amidst such a complex and troubling situation surrounding the Indexia group and Sadri Fegaier’s companies.
Rachel Nakache (RN): Good afternoon! Thank you for having me.
TNE: Let’s start with the recent revelations at the Paris court regarding the Indexia group. The testimonies you’ve gathered from victims paint a chilling picture. Can you share what has been most alarming for you as their lawyer?
RN: Absolutely. One of the most alarming aspects has been the extent to which these victims are still experiencing financial harm, despite the forced liquidation of Hubside, Sfam, and the Indexia group. Many victims have reported new unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts just days before this trial, which leaves them in a state of confusion and anxiety. It feels like the nightmare is ongoing.
TNE: That’s shocking. It seems that the deceptive practices were not just a one-time issue. How did Sadri Fegaier’s companies operate in terms of these deceptive contracts?
RN: These companies employed very aggressive marketing tactics that lured consumers in with offers that seemed too good to be true—like mobile insurance bundled with free gadgets and subscriptions. However, once consumers signed on, they discovered multiple unauthorized debits and had an exceedingly difficult time trying to opt out. Many lost substantial amounts of money—some over 20,000 euros.
TNE: Samuel Claus’s case is particularly striking. Can you walk us through what happened to him after he thought he had ended his subscription?
RN: Samuel’s experience is a perfect example of the phenomenon we’re dealing with. Even after he thought he had closed his account and the payments ceased, he received an email confirming an enrollment in a new contract with a completely different company. It highlights a concerning pattern of unauthorized data usage and contract signing, suggesting that there’s potentially more systemic wrongdoing at play.
TNE: The Equestrian Cup seems to have drawn a direct connection to Sadri Fegaier. Do you believe that the exploitation of consumer data is a deliberate strategy?
RN: It is certainly suggestive of something much deeper. The similarities between the contracts and the way consumer data has been handled is alarming. Many of these victims share indicators that their personal information was mishandled or distributed, which is a serious violation of consumer rights and privacy laws. We’re currently evaluating whether legal action can be taken against those responsible.
TNE: With the evidence piling up, do you anticipate further investigations into these connections?
RN: There is definitely a pressing need for further investigation. In our view, the connections between Sadri Fegaier and others are clear. We have gathered sufficient evidence that points towards collusion, and it cannot go unaddressed. We’ll be advocating for authorities to take action until the truth is uncovered, and victims receive justice.
TNE: Many victims, like Samuel Claus, are feeling disempowered. What message would you like to convey to them during this turbulent time?
RN: I want the victims to know they are not alone; their voices matter. We are actively working to ensure their stories are heard and are pushing for accountability in this situation. It’s crucial that they stay alert, document any unauthorized transactions, and seek assistance from legal resources. Justice, though it may feel elusive right now, is a goal we are striving for on their behalf.
TNE: Thank you, Rachel, for shedding light on this distressing issue. It has been enlightening, and we hope for a resolution that brings justice to all affected.
RN: Thank you for the opportunity to share this important information. We will continue to fight for the truth and for the victims.