Checkaco Consumer News: hundreds of Everest customers lose their deposits after window company went bust again (and the signs were evident in April)
By Rupert Bridgwater: Ordering new windows, or door or a conservatory for your home entails an outlay of thousands of pounds which is fine when the work is complete. If however, the firm goes bust you have paid a small fortune with little chance of being fully re-imbursed. That is what happened to customers of Everest, the double-glazing firm whose slogan used to be ‘fit the best fit Everest.’
In April this year the company went bust for the second time have collapsed five years ago and rescued to continue trading under new owner Jon Moulton of Better Capital in what is known as a pre-pack which basically meant they could dump their debts and leave customers out of pocket but retain jobs at the company. Now it has happened again and it is consumers who are paying the price with insolvency specialist Re-Solve trying to find a buy for part of the business and settle some of the debts.
Around 1,500 customers have been left with unfulfilled orders, most having paid out thousands of pounds for windows, doors and conservatories that may or may not be fitted. The reason they may be fitted is that Resolve have contracted Anglian Windows to take over those orders – but there are strings attached. Firstly there’s no guarantee deposits will be repaid as Everest owes over £30 million pounds – something that a Checkaco credit check would have shown back in April before the firm collapsed.
Pervis Chapel of Checkaco said that it is highly unsatisfactory as people often spend their life savings on updating their property to maximise its value. He said: “Then they find they may not see any of the thousands they have forked out and have phone a helpline at Anglia in the hope they can complete the work. It has been made clear that Anglia may not be able to do the work and those properties where work was started could even see customers without windows in place after work suddenly stopped.”
Writing for Money Saving Expert website, Molly Greeves noted: “It's unclear if Anglian will fulfil ALL outstanding Everest orders – including those for doors and conservatories, alongside windows – we only know that orders will be fulfilled "where possible". If you don't hear anything within a few weeks or you have an urgent query, contact Anglian via email or phone 0800 876 6810. If your installation can't be completed as planned and you've been left out of pocket because you'd already paid Everest for some or all of the work, you can try to get your money back by registering with ReSolve as an unsecured creditor or filing a Section 75 or chargeback claim.”
Pervis Chapel of Checkaco said that a credit check for just a few pounds would have saved customers thousands. He said: "In April and before that in the weeks running up to the insolvency it was clear there were financial problems. They owed money left right and centre and a Checkaco report would - and indeed did - set off the warning lights."
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