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Vance storms out after TV grilling
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 11 February 2010
Claim that he pushed a pen up presenter’s nose
CONTROVERSIAL kitchen tycoon Vance Miller featured on the BBC’s “Rogue Traders” programme — the day before Oldham taxpayers find out how much they will have to fork for the bungled court case against him.
And it is claimed that he stuck a pen up the nose of presenter Matt Allwright at the end of a fraught interview.
The consumer affairs programme last night threw the spotlight on the business man who operates from Maple Mill, Hathershaw.
Researchers ordered a kitchen after 350 complains from viewers claiming they had received shoddy goods with missing parts from his companies, which have included Maple Industries, Kitchens Direct Kitchens and Rock Solid Kitchens.
But they had to make around 100 calls and sit through three missed appointments to get it sorted after it arrived with the wrong worktop and cooker, defective doors and a missing fascia.
Other unhappy customers outlined their experiences and Matt said: “When I have drawn attention to this in the past he (Mr Miller) claims his wrongdoing is all history, but it’s not a thing of the past.
“Since then he’s been banned from being a company director until 2014 and faced numerous civil court cases.”
Mr Miller, from Ramsbottom, received a nine-month prison sentence after breaking the country’s first Stop Now order form the Office of Fair Trading ordering him to stop supplying substandard goods.
The programme also told how he has been in prison in a number of countries for crimes including smuggling diamonds, driving offences, assault and kidnap.
He was charged with fraud after a £3 million investigation by Oldham Trading Standards (OTS) — the largest of its kind in the country.
More than 130 police and Trading Standards officers raided Maple Mill and he was accused of passing off chipboard kitchens to customers as solid wood.
However, the 17-week trial collapsed in January when the judge threw it out, describing it as disproportionate and misconceived from the start.
Judge Jonathon Foster QC said that he could not rely on the evidence of OTS head Tony Allen, who masterminded the prosecution.
Mr Allen has been suspended by the council while and investigation is carried out.
Court costs were up to £2 million and Manchester Crown Court was today due to decide what the council will pay.
Mr Miller defended his company on “Rogue Traders”, saying 350 complaints equated to one customer in approximately 180.
He said: “If anyone has a problem with any kitchen that has been bought from me then I will deal with that complaint immediately.”
Throughout the interview, Mr Miller had three of his people filming the interview at Maple Mill.
At one point off camera, he was said to have put a pen up the interviewer’s nose before storming off. He was heard to say on film: “Do not let them out — lock this door until I have gone.”
The BBC crew eventually left the building but only after being stuck in a lift between floors for a short time.
Comments
Now this is the sort of thing that makes you wonder if the Parker-Sykes-Alcock combo were unwise and premature in not seeking to appeal the judge's decision
Not defending Miller in any way here, but that programme was a rehash of old news, with more recent bits added. There was never any footage of Miller 'assaulting' Allwright. Just goes to show what a cock up Oldham Council and it's senior officers made if Miller is as bad as it appears. Tony Allen is being made the fall guy when the blame for allwoing such a badly put together case to go ahead lies higher up.
Stewart Dobson will cover the top brass' backsides, wait and see. Only Allen pay.
Saw the T.V. programme and if it was truly factual then it is hard to believe that Oldham Council could not make out a proper case that would stand up to scrutiny in a Court of Law. The Council and their law advisers should be made to give a full explanation.
Vance was brilliant on Rogue Traders, came out with two classic lines. "When I threw the fire extinguisher, there was no one near or in the car" Classic! commenting on when he was supposed to have thrown a fire extinguisher at a reporter, and the best of all "I held the intruders who were in my mothers house a little longer than I should have". Again commenting on the alleged kidnapping. Absolute classic Vance, you're not afraid to tell the truth when questioned. Vance for MP I think.
Vance for MP? We have enough dodgy geezers in Westminster already.
Wow,what a guy!Alleged assault,smuggling and kidnap to name but three. And some people want this character for Mayor?
I would be interested to know how much the customers paid for their kitchens. The less you pay, the less customer service, quality control, etc. you are going to get, these things cost money. How many of the 350 customers have now received their kitchens and are happy with them, how many complained to trading standards, or were they 2found" by the BBC to make the programme more sensational. Answers please BBC!!!
I bought a kitchen off Vance and I have to say I have no regret in buying the kitchen. Every aspect of the kitchen was delivered and fitted as promised. To be honest, some hinges were missing but the company took care of that straight away. I think the programme was harsh on Vance and his company.
I can say that I have no regrets in buying a kitchen from Maple Mills. The kitchen was great! The programme is taking it all out of proportion
100 calls!? I think this is a bit extreme. i have to admit getting through to this company is tough but once you do they are really helpful. all I can say is great products, great guy. I would recommend to all my family and friends
that program was a cut , copy and paste project boring. show us something new not old
Have Your Say
Isn't the definition of the word 'NEWS'.... Information about recent events or happenings??
This article is just a cut and paste of previous reports. And anyone with half a brain knows that TV programmes are put together to shock and attract viewers and can and are edited to do so.
How do we know that they didnt buy 30 kicthens and found a problem with just 1????
TV programs are very selective in what footage and information they use. All that matters to them are viewing figures.
By laticsdave @ 11/02/2010 14:23:57