Shocked Carpetright customers have fittings cancelled 'and no refunds' after collapse
Shoppers reacted with horror to the news of Carpetright's collapse with one saying they paid "£2,400 on Monday this week, but they then called me this morning to say the carpet was no longer in stock, and they cannot refund either."
Shocked Carpetright customers fear being left out of pocket after it was announced 200 stores would close following the firm's collapse.
Rival company Tapi has rescued 54 stores, though the firm has said it won't fulfil outstanding customer orders at branches that have closed. The stores Tapi saved are set to re-open on July 26.
It will also not be rehiring the 1,500-or-so employees made redundant by the move, BBC News reports. A total of 218 Carpetright shops will be permanently closed following the partial rescue deal.
Shoppers reacted with horror to the news of Carpetright's collapse on social media, with one writing on X, formerly Twitter: "I paid £2,400 on Monday this week, but they then called me this morning to say the carpet was no longer in stock, and they cannot refund either.
"So no carpet and £2,400 of very hard-earned money spent," they added.
Another wrote: "What day I've already had but then hear Carpetright has taken £1,800 off my mum for new carpet. Full amount up front. Cancelled fitting this week. Help!"
Sian Bowers, a mother-of-two from Dagenham told BBC News she had already spent £681 on new carpet for her home earlier this month, and fears she won't be able to get her money back.
Ms Bowers told the outlet she has already called the company and been informed that her order won't be sent.
"My bank have said that they cannot do anything because I paid [with] chip and pin,” she said. "I am not in a position to repurchase until I receive a refund.”
Ms Bowers said she had saved up money over two years to buy the carpet using part of the inheritance she received when her mother died from Leukaemia recently.
She says she now regrets paying the full cost upfront: “I knew it was a lot of money but I said 'just get it done'," he said.
DON'T MISS
Thousands rush to take advantage of Sainsbury's voucher issue [REPORT]
Simple switch could save you more than £1,400 [INSIGHT]
Martin Lewis warns Labour over four 'broken and unfair' tax and benefits rules [LATEST]
GMB: Martin Lewis on cost of living worries after election results
Carpetright saw sales slump earlier this year following a cyber-attack that took down its ordering system though the company had been seeing slowing consumer demand for a while before that.
Jeevan Karir, managing director of Tapi, which is taking over part of the company's operations, said on Tuesday he was "desperately sad" not to have been able to rescue more jobs and customer orders.
PwC administrators have confirmed that the majority of orders won't be fulfilled. This includes orders made online or at the 218 stores marked for closure.
Orders at the 54 stores bought by Tapi will go ahead, though customers will need to request a refund then place a new order with the new Carpetright company, The Sun reports.
Carpetright had ceased taking payment for orders until the day of fitting on Friday, July 12.
Some customers will be able to get a refund using card protections and should contact their bank about their potential options.
Customers who pay via finance will have to contact the provider directly. The company will also no longer accept gift vouchers.
Karir said: “Our goal, initially, was to try to save all of Carpetright.”
Though Tapi quickly realised that this was unviable, he said, adding: “The business has been materially loss-making for a number of years and it has significant debt held by the owner.”
