‘Rogue trader’ owes us £9,000

GED BARNES

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Families fume over unfinished work
FURIOUS families who claim a rogue trader left them thousands of pounds out of pocket have been told police won’t be able to help them.

Two couples say they paid a total of £9,000 to Royton’s Ged Barnes — who trades under the name Windows Direct Installations — last year, for building work on their homes.

The work was started but Mr Barnes — who has a history of unfinished jobs — has failed to complete it and hasn’t refunded any money.

The families turned to police for help earlier this month but were advised to cough up more cash to take Mr Barnes to small-claims court.

Scott Wade and Lisa Mulcahy, of Middleton, paid £6,000 last September for a new conservatory.

Scott said: “The police won’t come out because it’s not a criminal matter now, apparently. I just don’t know who can help us now.”

They have since had to take out a second loan of £5,000 to have their conservatory finished by another firm.

The couple paid in advance because Mr Barnes was a trusted friend of the family. He keeps promising he’ll give me the money back but I haven’t seen a penny.”

Rachael and James Clynes from Blackley paid out £3,000 but have only had £400 refunded.

A builder was contracted to do initial measuring but no more work was done.

Rachael said: “All we ever got was excuse after excuse.”

Both families are now looking into taking their case to the small-claims court.

When the Chronicle contacted Mr Barnes, he said: “They’re going to get their payments, definitely.

“It will be sometime in the next couple of days. It isn’t acceptable that they have had to wait a year for their money but in the current climate I’m owed money too.

“I’ve been trying to keep the company going to get the money back.”

Windows Direct Installations is not currently listed as insolvent.



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