Householders across the region have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket by a York-based conservatory business.

David Richardson: firm has ceased trading

Customers paid over substantial deposits to Direct Conservatories UK for conservatories to be built at their homes.

But months after forking out between £800 and £3,525, they were still waiting for building work to start.

They say the firm, whose registered address is at Waverley Street, York, but which has a Harrogate trading address, gave them excuses about "circumstances beyond our control" and about complications over the submission of planning applications.

But now company boss David Richardson, who lives at Crambeck Village, near Malton, has told the Evening Press that the firm has ceased trading.

He added in a statement: "I would like to state that it was never the intention of the company not to install conservatories which had been ordered, and I totally disagree with any statement made to the contrary. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, and upon advice taken, the company has ceased trading."

He said he did not wish to say anything more, and declined to answer when asked if the company had gone into liquidation or if he had sympathy for people who had lost their deposits.

North Yorkshire Trading Standards say customers from Bradford, Sheffield and Hull have complained to their local trading standards departments after paying deposits but failing to see their conservatories erected.

Spokesman Richard Flinton said his department was concerned about the complaints and the business concerned. "We are collating the complaints and looking into it."

The complainants include Norman Reed, who says he paid a £3,525 deposit last September for a conservatory at his Darlington home, stipulating that the work must be done within four months, but nothing has been built.

Another is Claire Dixon, who says she paid a £1,200 deposit last November for a lean-to conservatory at her Bradford home. The original installation date of January 17 was delayed because of "circumstances beyond our control."

She was told the date was being put back to March 27, but this date also passed by without any sign of workmen arriving.

"It's absolutely disgusting. I'm a single parent and I have paid £1,200 for a job I thought would get done but hasn't."

York's trading standards chief Colin Rumford today advised people to negotiate to pay as little a deposit as possible when ordering items such as a conservatory. This way, if things went wrong, the consequences would not be so great.

But he also suggested people should pay by credit card. Then, if the total contract was worth more than £100 and less than £30,000, they should be covered and would get their money back if the firm subsequently went bust or ceased trading. He stressed that this would not apply with a debit card.

If you have lost cash to this company, please contact Mike Laycock on York 567132 or e-mail him at mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk

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