Furious customers are left thousands out of pocket as Carpetright boss says firm is no longer accepting refunds as it heads towards administration – see if your local store is on the at-risk list

Furious customers are set to be left thousands of pounds out of pocket after major retailer Carpetright said it is no longer accepting customer refunds as it heads towards administration. 

More than 1,800 jobs and 272 stores are at risk after the company filed a notice of intention to go into administration at the High Court today.   

Now, in a voice note to staff the Carpetright’s CEO revealed the company would no longer be accepting customer refunds, The Times has reported. 

Kevin Barrett, 54, warned this would likely cause a ‘lot of disruption and customers getting nervous’.

He added that Carpetright was committed to ensuring as few customers and staff are affected as possible. 

Nevertheless furious customers took to social media to express their concerns about the company’s intention to go into administration. 

David Wright posted on X: ‘I want a refund on my £1,500 carpet as I don’t trust you now you have gone bust. 

‘I need a company who’s still in business.’  

The firm has lined up PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as administrators as it looks to secure the long-term future of the company.

It comes after it was revealed earlier this week that Carpetright had been put up for sale. 

Today the company, which is one of the country’s biggest floor-covering retailers, filed a notice of intention to go into administration at the High Court.

This will give Carpetright ten days of protection as it continues to look for a buyer. 

Carpetright’s notice of administration comes amid the slumping of sales in the furniture and retail industry as consumers have been hit by the cost-of-living crisis. 

The company was also targeted by a ‘software attack’ in April which increased financial pressures, The Sun reported. 

Hackers targeted the company HQ in Purfleet, Essex, sending malware to gain unauthorised access.

Carpetright’s network was taken offline due to the cyber attack but bosses insisted that the virus was isolated before any data was swiped.

Staff and hundreds of customers were affected by the malicious virus with employees unable access their payroll information.

A source said at the time: ‘Some staff networks were taken down including the portals that workers use to book time off and look at payslips.

‘It happened abruptly and was worrying because customers couldn’t get through to helplines.

‘Everything at HQ was taken offline as that was the best way to stop the attack spreading to customer data.’

Carpetright was founded by Lord Harris of Peckham in 1988 and was taken off the stock market in 2019 by its biggest investor, Meditor.

Earlier this year, the company brought in restructuring experts Teneo to consider cost-cutting measures. 

Kevin Barrett, CEO of Nestware Holdings, said: ‘We remain focussed on securing external investment to ensure as few customers and colleagues are impacted as possible.

‘They are our main priority and we are taking all appropriate action to make sure they are informed and supported through this process. 

‘We have begun promising conversations with interested parties that are moving in the right direction, encouraging us that Carpetright has a viable future.’

A spokesperson for Carpetright said: ‘Whilst orders will continue to be fulfilled, Carpetright is unfortunately unable to provide any refunds. 

‘Alternative products can be offered and earlier deliveries arranged to ensure customers have peace of mind whilst awaiting the arrival of recent purchases.’