Dozens of families who forked out tens of thousands of dollars to buy their dream caravans have been left with nothing after a company took their money and collapsed.
Victorian-based Tango Caravans has been put into liquidation with 85 creditors owed significant cash – more than 60 of those are customers who spent their savings or got loans to buy caravans that they never received.
‘Our family’s dream was stolen by Tango Caravans, who left us $83,000 in debt with a five-year repayment plan and a balloon payment looming,’ Queensland woman Taisha Ellis told Daily Mail Australia.
Ms Ellis and her partner were told they would have their custom-built caravan within two weeks after putting in their purchase order but when it never arrived, they contacted the manufacturer used by Tango Caravans.
That company told them that they were already owed so much money from Tango they were refusing to build any orders, with Ms Ellis demanding to know where her money has gone.
‘What was supposed to be a new beginning for our family has turned into a financial nightmare,’ she said.
Andrew Yeo from Pitcher Partners has been appointed as liquidator of the business. The company’s website links to a notice to creditors saying the company’s finances are being looked into.
Sylwia Logan, who moderates the Tango Owners Australia Facebook group, said it has gone from customers discussing designs, models and where they would travel with their new purchase to ‘more than 40 people who are now in financial difficulty and desperate because of this company’.
Taisha Ellis and her husband Jaime paid for their ‘dream’ from Tango Caravans but said they have been left with no caravan and an $83,000 debt
Tango Caravans offered custom-built caravans which were constructed by a third party
Ms Logan explained that she ordered her caravan in December last year and was told in March that work had started on it.
‘In May I was told must I must pay the full amount because it was a custom caravan which I made fit-out choices for and it would be hard to re-sell.
‘Then after I paid they stopped communicating.’
Ms Logan said after repeatedly being fobbed off with excuses about delays, broken parts and that key staff were sick, she took matters into her own hands.
The week before the liquidation Ms Logan said she went into the Tango Caravan premises and told them wouldn’t go without a refund.
She said after ‘hours’ she was handed a letter in writing saying they would give her a full refund in a matter of days but then the business was placed under administration.
‘I paid a $15,000 deposit and took out $60,000 in loans and I’m now in this huge debt over something I won’t own.
‘I’ve got two kids and this was supposed to allow me to work part time, travel and do family bonding but now I’ve gone back to work full time and am spending less time with my kids.’
Customers have been told by the liquidator it is unlikely they will receive much, if any, of their money back.
The company’s liquidation has also left Sylwia Logan’s family (pictured) with no caravan and a sizable debt, with Ms Logan saying it’s clear via a Facebook group she moderates that dozens of customers have been affected
Ms Logan said she has called the police, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Consumer Affairs Victoria and her banks in attempts to recover her money without success.
She has now contacted the Australian Financial Complaints Authority which she said she hoped will lead to a better outcome.
‘They were still taking orders for caravans in July…. People might consider me as naïve but that’s easy to say in hindsight.’
Among the other affected customers is 41-year-old Ali Winter, her husband and their three children, who sold their house to travel around the country with their new caravan.
She said they took a short-term rental while they waited for their caravan and when that expired the family of five has been living out of their car while they waited for their home on wheels.
She said with Tango’s collapse they will now likely apply for a permanent rental property.
Sarah Horter is listed as the sole director of Tango Caravans and has been contacted for comment.
Sarah Horter is listed as the sole director of Tango Caravans which has been placed under liquidation
Liquidator Mr Yeo said according to his preliminary investigations Tango is not in a position to refund customers.
He said it appears Tango does not have any stock of caravans on site.
‘It may be possible that some caravans are presently being manufactured by external suppliers, and a partial resolution may be achievable,’ he said.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk