It is said that a kitchen retailer collected a large amount of deposits but failed to deliver any kitchens. According to preliminary information from the police, there were 16 victims, but this was “certainly not the final result”. So far this amounts to about 300,000 euros.
The managing director of a kitchen retailer in Ansfelden (Linz-Land district) is currently being investigated for serious fraud. It is said that the man collected a large sum of money but did not deliver any kitchens. According to the first police report, there were 16 victims, “but this is of course not the final result,” a spokesman for the Linz public prosecutor’s office confirmed in a report in “Krone” (Wednesday edition) on Wednesday. So far this amounts to around 300,000 euros.
It is said that the kitchen retailer demanded a large advance payment, and in some cases customers even paid the full price for a discount. However, they did not place the order with the kitchen manufacturer, as reported by “Oberösterreichische Nachrichten”. Then the delivery dates were postponed, customers were turned away and the kitchen studio is now closed. There has been no response to inquiries and bankruptcy has not yet been filed, reported the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor, whose consumer protection department had been contacted by more than 50 affected people by Tuesday.
“Higher advance payments may no longer be possible in the future or may only be possible if they are secured. For all contracts falling under the Consumer Protection Act, a maximum of 20 percent of the order value should be required as a down payment, unless they are secured by a bank guarantee, insurance or a trust account,” says Andreas Stangl, chairman of the Upper Austrian AK, who is calling for legal regulation. (APA)