Wedding dresses seized by bailiffs

Brides left in tears as trader fails to pay her rates
Brides-to-be have been left in tears after bailiffs seized their gowns at a Chadderton wedding business for non-payment of rates.

Visitors at Amanda’s Bridal Company, at a unit in Falcon Business Centre in Chadderton, were shocked to find it locked and covered with bailiff’s notices as they arrived for fittings for brides and bridesmaids dresses.

The owner, Amanda Underhay, used to trade in Royton, then moved to Corbrook Road in Chadderton, before moving to the Falcon Centre around two months ago. Records show there have been three County Court judgements against her this year and Oldham Council bailiffs acted earlier this month after she failed to pay her business rates.

A Facebook site has several angry comments from disappointed brides who have been let down. Calls to her mobile are going unanswered.

One bride who was only four weeks away from her wedding found her bridal gown and bridesmaids’ dresses were still in Kent because they had not been paid for.

Kim Simpson (22), from Hollins, who gets married on August 28 at St Patrick’s Church, Oldham, had booked a £2,000 package including flowers, cake and photographer. She said: “We have had to pay again for everything.

“It is not just the money, it is the way Amanda has been going on as if it’s fine and continuing to trade and take money.”

Her mother Carol said: “I am so incensed. This has been booked for two years and we were paying £2,000 for a package which included the dresses, flowers, photography and cake.

“We had paid £1,250, and were due to pay the balance. Now we have had to pay the same photographer, florist and the cake maker again.

“We found out where the dresses came from and rang the company in Kent. They were there but they weren’t sending them because they had not been paid for. So we had to pay again for them, and the alterations.”

A family from Hathershaw was given the bad news 18 days before their daughter’s wedding on August 21, but managed to find the bride’s dress when bailiffs let them into the Falcon centre unit on August 3.

They also discovered the two bridesmaids dresses they ordered were still in Kent.

A spokesman for Oldham Council said the owner is co-operating with Trading Standards and the bailiffs.

Anyone who has paid for their goods or paid a deposit, or anyone with concerns, should call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506. Consumer Direct is liaising with Oldham Trading Standards and giving specialist advice to purchasers.