Directors banned after brides left without dresses

[dutchman]

Two directors of a Nuneaton wedding dress company disqualified for a total of fourteen years after 76 pre-paid orders left unfulfilled



Christopher Howarth and Carol Howarth, both 49 years old and directors of C&C Wedding Company Limited, a bridal wear and suit hire business, gave undertakings last week to be disqualified as directors for seven years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. The disqualifications commence on 19 October 2011 and prevent them from in any way managing or controlling limited companies.

The investigation by the Insolvency Service, on behalf of the government, found that Mr and Mrs Howarth continued to accept pre-payments and deposits from brides and grooms for bridal wear and wedding suit hire, in the total sum of at least £35,976, despite the Company being insolvent and unable to fulfil these orders.Mr and Mrs Howarth failed to complete orders for the delivery of wedding dresses and other bridal wear to at least 76 brides, grooms or members of their wedding parties, forcing many of the brides to pay again for their wedding dresses.

Commenting on the disqualifications, Claire Entwistle, Director of Company Investigations North said:

“The undertakings signed by Christopher Howarth and Carol Howarth send a clear message to other company directors; if you run a business in a way that is detrimental to either its customers or its creditors you could be investigated by the Insolvency Service and as a result removed from the business environment.