Comet relents and gives money back to Southend woman thanks to the Echo (From Echo)

New cooker for Southend woman thanks to the Echo

5:24pm Monday 31st December 2012 in Local News By Christine Sexton

AN ELDERLY woman who was left more than £600 out of pocket when Comet went into administration has thanked the Echo after being given a refund.

Joan Willson,(cor) 86, paid cash for a new cooker from the electrical retailer in Southend on October 27 – just five days before the company announced it was going into administration.

When the store failed to deliver her new cooker, Mrs Willson went to the store to complain. Comet had one of the cookers in stock but refused to give it to her.

She was also told she was unlikely to get back the money which she had saved for two years. However, Mrs Willson was surprised when Lloyds bank called her a week ago.

She said: “The bank said they acted for Comet and were going to refund my money I couldn’t believe it. I was so relieved because it is a lot of money to loose.

“Iv’e bought myself a nice new Hotpoint. It’s gorgeous and exactly what I wanted. My kitchen is looking a lot better now. “

Mrs Willson, from Southend, added: “I didn’t bother going to a store this time. I bought it online and had no trouble at all.

“I really want to thank the Echo because I think you helped a lot.”

Stores across the country shut their doors for the last time before Christmas, including branches in Southend, Rayleigh and Basildon.

Deloitte has been appointed as the administrator for the firm. No one was available for comment about Mrs Willson’s refund.