Rathwood Customers Advised to Act by June 12 for «Nominal Return» on Claims

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) advises approximately 7,000 Rathwood customers to take immediate action regarding outstanding refunds or deliveries. Rathwood, a Carlow-based home and garden store with over 100 employees, entered examinership earlier this year due to significant financial difficulties. The company faced CCPC action in March for failing to reimburse customers and was second only to Ryanair in consumer complaints last year.

Examiner Padraic Bermingham of Strata Financial has written to affected customers, stating that Rathwood records show a significant number of outstanding claims for unfulfilled orders or unpaid refunds. Customers must complete an online form included in the letter by June 12 to establish their claim. However, Bermingham warned that even with a valid claim, customers should expect «only a nominal return,» meaning a very small sum of any monies paid.

Customers with outstanding orders should also request a chargeback from their bank or card provider immediately if they haven't already. Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications at the CCPC, urged affected consumers to carefully review the examiner's correspondence and complete the form promptly. Examinership is a court-supervised process allowing financially distressed companies to restructure debts while protected from creditors.