Oldham residents out of pocket after company 'vanishes'

Gavin Hughes uPVC and Glazing Specialists LTD on Morton Street, Failsworth, has been operating in the borough for 12 years with what had been a good reputation.

However, concerned customers have told The Oldham Times they paid sizeable deposits for work to their homes in recent months which never happened.

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They say their attempts to contact the company have been "ignored" while an automated email says the office is "permanently closed".

Around six weeks ago, residents say Gavin Hughes' work vans also 'disappeared' from the area and to add to the confusion, the businesses' depot recently appeared trashed, with windows and doors stacked, smashed and broken up in the yard.

Mixed messages and rumours have also poured into the mix, as some customers were informed by email that Mr Hughes was "ill" whereas others were misinformed that another company, Cunninghams Upvc and Warm Roof Specs Ltd, had taken over.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Mr Hughes confirmed Cunninghams did not buy the business and is not involved as his company is in the process of being liquidated.

Mr Hughes confessed his company had money issues which grew into a "monster" and left him with no choice but to fold.

In his version of events, which can be read in full here, Mr Hughes said he admitted he was at fault and found the situation "heartbreaking" but had been advised by liquidators to "walk away" or risk homelessness. 

The depot appeared trashed (Image: Facebook)

He also said the depot hadn't been maliciously trashed but materials were due to be taken away by a skip company that the company couldn't pay for.

However, disgruntled customers are still left searching for answers and their money back, including Carl Greenwood who paid a £750 deposit for a new door in September last year.

Mr Greenwood said the installation was "delayed endlessly" and that the company had informed him there was an issue with the manufacturer - but then the manufacturer told him that they had "no record" of the order.

The last he heard from the company was on July 23 this year, after which he said they "stopped replying" until he received an email that Mr Hughes had "[fallen] ill" and had left the company "in a mess".

The email from the company's account said: "We don't think he will be coming back to work anytime in the future.

"We are working with another contractor and our suppliers to fulfil our orders.

"We will be in touch as soon as your order is ready with a fitting date.

"We know this will be a stressful and difficult time for you reading this email but please bear with us we will try to get there in the end."

Mr Greenwood said he was then contacted by Cunninghams who offered to pick up the pieces - but he remains sceptical.

He said: "It's disgusting.

"[Gavin] has disappeared with thousands of pounds of people's money, there's no sign of him returning or even telling us what has happened and now a new company has popped up with all the same staff and directing funds to the new company and it all seems very dodgy.

"At the heart of this, there are countless people who have lost thousands of pounds and Gavin Hughes and his former staff need to explain themselves, not hide away like cowards.

"They are not the victims here, no matter how much they would like to appear that way."

Gavin said the situation is 'heartbreaking' (Image: Facebook)

Business owner, Tom Cunningham, told The Oldham Times that he had worked for Mr Hughes for six years and had considered buying his former boss' business, but was deterred after finding money issues.

He explained that he stayed working for Mr Hughes for some time, adding: "We were doing jobs, all the lads were getting paid, customers were getting jobs done".

However, "out of the blue" Mr Hughes disappeared, so Mr Cunningham set up his own company with Mr Hughes' former staff and they have been offering to complete the unfinished work.

He explained: "The reason I'm trying to take these jobs on, is nothing for my own gain because there's no money there. The deposits have been taken. That's gone. I'm doing it purely so these people don't lose out on money.

"I was going out, organising the jobs, bringing the cash in and it was all me dealing with it [when working for Gavin], so that's why I feel like I need to get these jobs done because it's me that's gone round and promised them.

"And obviously for myself as a new business, it's a new customer.

"Some people aren't believing me - and I understand it. For all they know I'm involved with Gavin because I worked with him for so long and they think I'm trying to pull a fast one on them, but that's not the case.

"I'm a local guy, I'm never going to move from Oldham, why would I do that? Why would I bring trouble to my door?

"I'm being made out to be a conman, which is not me at all.

"I'm trying to build something for myself and my family and I'm being tarred with this horrible brush."

Mr Cunningham continued: "I've known Gavin for 20 years. He's always been great, he's always been honest, he's always been hardworking. I don't think he's done this maliciously.

"He's a right nice fella and it's a shame.

"All I want is my company name being cleared from all of this."

Mr Hughes also said he regrets what's happened, adding that he feels sorry for Mr Cunningham and his name being tarnished by association.

Rachel May is another former customer of Mr Hughes who is trying to get her deposit of £11,160 back which she paid in July after being quoted £37,000 for a renovation to her home.

Ms May said her family chose Gavin Hughes because "we thought we could trust him as he has done some things for us in the past".

However, she was also unable to get in touch with him and heard from his wife that the business had folded.

She continued: "I was in shock. I asked her about my deposit and she told me not to worry as another company had bought him out and was taking over - but I contacted Cunninghams and they said they had not taken over and had not had any money off him from our deposit."

She added: "I just want my money back."

Graham Taylor is in a similar position, having paid £390 in a deposit for front and back doors in July - but again never heard anything.

He said: "I am sorry for any company that is having problems in trading.

"When I saw their depot, I felt terrible. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"However, by all accounts, Gavin Hughes has taken our money when fully aware that he would not be purchasing and installing our new door.

"It's left us a bit shell-shocked because nothing like this has ever happened to us before."

Two other former customers said that work on their homes had been completed by Mr Hughes but had been trying to contact the company for fixes as per the 10-year guarantee. 

Another woman, who requested to remain anonymous, said Mr Hughes' disappearance while her home needs repairs has "made me ill" while Paul Jones and Wayne King also said they were promised a rebooking for work under warranty, but workers never came.

Two other families, who did not wish to be named, paid £5,400 and £2,700 deposits respectively for various home improvements.

One man said he never received a receipt and tried, unsuccessfully, to recuperate the funds from the bank.

He said: "I've been around a long time and I don't get duped.

"I've got to work a long time for that money, it's part of my wages which I put to one side. I thought I would treat myself.

"I feel a bit of an idiot. I was stupid. I fell in the trap. The first time I've ever paid a deposit and this has happened.

"I've got a bad taste in my mouth about having it done. You lose confidence in anybody, you don't want to go through that again.

"I feel sorry for everyone else."

The man said Cunninghams has offered to complete the job but the family refused his help.

He added: "[Tom] is a nice lad, but in a situation like this, you don't know. 

"I appreciated it. It was very good of him, but I'm not interested.

"I'm not pointing fingers at anybody.

"All I want is my money back."

Action Fraud has also been contacted for comment.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk