Extreme trade wrangle sparks inquiry by OFT

Rotherham PC builder and mail-order firm Extreme Computers is under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) following customer complaints and a failure to reach an agreement to change its conduct with the local Trading Standards Office.

The investigation comes at a time when Poppleton & Appleby is in the process of winding up the reseller after the liquidators were called in on 8 December by Extreme's directors.

While no figures were available, Extreme had previously forecast a turnover of more than #2 million.

In September, Trading Standards withdrew its support to mediate between the reseller and several complainants. A source at the organisation said for most of 1997 and 1998, it attempted to act as a go-between, but was forced to withdraw, because 'no reassurance of fair trading was forthcoming from Extreme'.

Trading Standards received more than 100 complaints in less than a year, ranging from non-delivery or partial delivery of goods, faulty machines and products, non-existent after sales contact with customers and a generally poor record of consumer satisfaction.

A representative at Trading Standards confirmed: 'We have referred Extreme Computers to the OFT which, if it finds grounds, will intervene. It is now in its hands and we will be liaising with it.'

According to Companies House records, the directors of Extreme Computers are listed as John Lee Cox, chairman and director; Suzanne Cox, sales director; Lee John McVann, general manager and director and Paul Cleary, secretary and director.