Door Store closure sparks fears among customers (From Gazette)

Door Store closure sparks fears among customers

6:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A DOOR shop in Colchester has closed, leaving customers worrying if they will get goods for which they have already paid.

Customers calling the family-run Door Store yesterday heard an answerphone message which simply says: “It is with regret we must inform you the Door Store South East has ceased trading.”

The firm’s directors are listed as Chris Ellis, 50, and Jane Ellis, 38, both from Canvey. Companies’ House records show the Door Store was supposed to file annual accounts by last December, but missed that deadline.

Martin Farmer, 63, from Dovercourt, paid nearly £400 for a door which has yet to turn up and fears many others may be in the same boat.

He said: “The annoying thing is I went in there on Monday, because my wife couldn’t get through on the phone. They said they were stocktaking.

“I thought it was a bit strange, in the middle of a working week, but the bloke promised to ring me.

“The next day, the wife kept ringing and got no answer, so I went down again. There was a hand-written notice saying they were no longer trading.”

Mr Farmer said he paid £383 for a door and fittings and was told it could take three weeks to arrive.

He added: “There are probably lots of people waiting for doors, unaware of what has happened.”

“Our biggest mistake was paying with a debit card instead of a credit card. I doubt we’ll be able to get the money back.”

Another customer, a woman from Braintree, who asked not to be named, said she was worried about £120 she had paid for a door.

She added: “I just want to know what’s happened to it.”

Directors Mr and Mrs Ellis could not be contacted yesterday.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)