Furniture shop ceases trading

5:50pm Friday 8th August 2008

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CUSTOMERS have been left out of pocket after a furniture shop closed unexpectedly.

Howard Tranter furniture store, on Chester Road, Walton shut last week after trading for almost 10 months.

Alarm bells rang for a Great Sankey couple when a £665 hi-fi stand they ordered in April did not arrive after the due date.

Brenda and Paul Heald paid for the item by cheque and expected it to be delivered 10 weeks later.

He was reimbursed by cheque but after paying it into his bank was told it had bounced a few days later.

He went to the shop on July 24 rectify the situation and saw a note explaining the shop was shut due to refurbishment.

Howard Tranter said: “We have closed the shop. We have not gone into administration. The customers will be dealt with.”

“The credit crunch has got us and we have had to cease trading. I am the father of two boys aged three and five and my wife is due to have a baby in October. It was the expense of the rent.”

Edwina Greenwood, from Trading Standards, said: “The trader said he is going to fulfil the orders and has assured Trading Standards that he will contact customers with outstanding orders.

“Trading Standards encourages people not to get into debt but to pay for orders over £100 on their credit card so they are protected.”

Any customers with outstanding orders should e-mail Mr Tranter on trustman69@live.co.uk.

The news of the store closing comes months after The House Shop, on Walton Road went into administration.