Rochdale firm found to have taken over £62,000 from customers

An investigation into Rochdale-based solar-energy firm SPWEC, has found that it took more than £60,000 from customers, most of whom never got what they paid for.

A winding-up petition against SPWEC was presented on March 15, an order placing the company into provisional liquidation was made on March 25 and the company was wound up by the High Court on 26 May 2010.

Investigators found that although the firm took deposits of £500 and payments from customers totalling more than £62,000, it failed to supply the majority of its customers with the systems and failed to install the goods supplied to at least six of its customers.

The court also heard that the company had failed to keep proper accounting records and failed to co-operate fully with the investigation and operated with a serious lack of transparency as to who controlled the company.

Alex Deane of the Insolvency Service said: “At a time when we are all looking for greener energy products, it is particularly regrettable that a business like SPWEC should use dishonest practices to exploit that demand for its own ends.

“The action taken on this matter sends a clear and simple message to company directors that if you run a company that deliberately sets out to cheat customers you will be closed down and further action may be taken against you personally.”