Debenhams shoppers with outstanding online orders are being told to claim their money back through administrators, after the chain was sold in a £55million deal to fast-fashion brand Boohoo on Monday.
Customers with missing or unresolved orders are being advised to raise a request online - in a move that will add them to a long list of 'creditors' that the business owes money to.
'Creditors' also includes staff and suppliers who are yet to be paid by the business which crashed into liquidation on November 30.
In a statement on Tuesday, the government's Insolvency Service, which oversees outstanding payments when a firm collapses, said a winding up order has been made against Debenhams PLC.
This is the process in which the court appoints an Official Receiver, in this case, administrators FRP Advisory, to liquidate all of the company's assets in order to repay creditors.
Creditors essentially means anyone the business owes money to. How much you receive will depend on how much cash is left in Debenhams' pot now that its been liquidated. There's no priority list and in some cases, you could receive nothing.
You will need to register as a creditor in the liquidation if:
- You have not been paid for goods or services you've supplied to Debenhams PLC
- You have paid Debenhams PLC for goods or services that you have not received since it went into liquidation.
To register as a creditor, you will need to complete a Proof of Debt form which you should then email to ORLondonSouthend@insolvency.gov.uk.
Are you a Debenhams employee or has your order gone missing? Get in touch: emma.munbodh@mirror.co.uk
Fast-fashion retailer Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand and website for £55million in a deal announced on Monday.
However, it will not take on any of the firm's remaining 118 high street stores or its workforce.
Boohoo said it was a "transformational deal" and a "huge step". But the deal means that up to 12,000 jobs at the department store chain are set to go.
A closing-down sale at 124 Debenhams stores began in December. Stores will now reopen after lockdown to clear any remaining stock.
"This transaction will allow a new Debenhams-branded business to emerge under strong new ownership, including an online operation and the opportunity to secure an international franchise network that will operate under licence using the Debenhams name," FRP Advisory said.
Get the latest money advice, news and help straight to your inbox - sign up at mirror.co.uk/email
Boohoo has already bought a number of fashion brands out of administration. It snapped up Oasis, Coast and Karen Millen, but not the associated stores.
Its executive chairman, Mahmud Kamani, said: "This is a transformational deal for the group, which allows us to capture the fantastic opportunity as ecommerce continues to grow. Our ambition is to create the UK's largest marketplace.
"Our acquisition of the Debenhams brand is strategically significant as it represents a huge step which accelerates our ambition to be a leader, not just in fashion ecommerce, but in new categories including beauty, sport and homeware."
What will happen to the Debenhams website?
Boohoo said Debenhams is expected to relaunch on Boohoo's web platform later this year.
In the meantime, Debenhams will continue to operate its website for an agreed period.
