To alert you if you have anything ordered from Debenhams?

[safariboot]

Debenhams may be set to enter a 'pre pack administration'. If this happens, anyone who's ordered and paid for stuff (like furniture) and waiting for delivery faces getting neither the goods nor a refund! Just like happened with House of Fraser last year.

If I had any Debenhams orders, I'd be cancelling them tomorrow for a cash-in-hand refund if possible.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47841236

Debenhams has a similar problem to the one that killed BHS (albeit on a smaller scale) - too big an estate with too many stores in unfashionable locations that haven’t seen an update in years. Even some of their bigger stores suffer from being way overdue a refurb. I remember working in Birmingham but living in Nottingham when the Bullring opened. The Bullring store was modern, well laid out and had a great combination of own brands and concessions. By comparison, the Nottingham store looked like a living museum for post-war department stores. I remember a friend admiring a top I was wearing and her disbelief when I said it was from Debenhams.

Debenhams tanked some time ago and this has long been expecting.

Mike Ashley is odious, but Debenhams's problems weren't caused by him. He is the vulture who waits in the wings to pick over ailing businesses. I am quite glad that they have so far managed to avoid selling out to him.

My understanding (limited) of pre-pack is that there is a hope that it can keep going in some form? Probably in a much slimmed down form? I'm still working that out.

Anyway, it is in the hands of its lenders now.

@Topseyt a pre-pack administration means the company enters administration (which means that someone else takes over the running - or administration - of the company) with a buyer already lined up. It means the business carries on, and does so without damage to trading or its reputation. For a company that enters a non-prepack administration, it may be put up for sale but of course everyone then knows that - suppliers may stop deliveries, customers may shop elsewhere etc, which damages the business. The longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to sell the company as a going concern. If the administrators can’t sell it as it is, it either has to be broken up in the hope of selling off the better performing/more profitable bits only, or the whole company will be put into liquidation and ceases to exist. Employees all lose their jobs.

Prepacks are good for the affected business and the employees but they are less beneficial to creditors (ie suppliers who’ve given goods to the company on credit) or lenders as the deal is usually done behind closed doors. This means they don’t get chance to oppose the prepack if they want to stop an administration happening.

I did a debit card refund tonight - anybody know if im likely to get my refund?

I always feel for staff in these situations and those with pensions.

Staff were told today it's business as usual essentially. Gift cards are still accepted.

Pretty sure you won’t PHO at the moment, it went into administration this morning so it won’t be up to Debenhams any more. I don’t know whether eventually you may? Fingers crossed.

One of the reasons Ashley's offers were refused was to protect pensions. And redundancy pay.

Pho have checked with DH, he says refunds should go through. Like I said, essentially business as usual.

I work there, I’ve got another thread running about being shit scared.

As far we have been told it’s business as usual for us, gift cards are still being accepted and refunds issued with no difference as yet.

My understanding (limited) of pre-pack is that there is a hope that it can keep going in some form? Probably in a much slimmed down form?

Is this an option for the monarchy? If we could put Charles and the rest into pre pack administration it could solve all our problems...

I hope debenhams survives, that's a lot of jobs that could go. That said, I've been nagging my mum to be careful ordering from them for a while. I have a horrible feeling dorothy perkins could be next.

We've been expecting this for the last ten years at least. They were asset stripped. Ashley talking the company down was really just hammering the final nail in

I know it’s been expected, I’ve worked there for many years, but when you have worked somewhere a long time you almost feel invincible and this has shook me. I have been employed there all of my working life and I genuinely don’t know what else I would do, I don’t know what I’m good at!
Plus there’s the small matter of bills and commitments!

I ordered about £100 of stuff online in their sale yesterday. Will it arrive?!

I used to work there, DH still is.

Pianobook - yes, it should. Business as usual atm.

It’s terrible, isn’t it? I was stung last year with a House of Fraser online order, so as soon as Debenhams started issuing profit warnings, I’ve avoided buying anything except make up from them, and that only in person. And of course, if lots of people did that, it will have led to lower sales and thus contributed to the inevitable.

StarlingsEverywhere and Ashley has made sure it stayed in the news with his shenanigans.

From what we've heard about House of Fraser we're relieved Ashley has been foiled - for the moment at least.

From what we've heard about House of Fraser we're relieved Ashley has been foiled - for the moment at least.

How, Ashley now has control of House of Fraser and he has decided to keep a few key operations open, there is no outside influence happening in his decision (his history should highlight that) it's purely economic which ultimately puts money in his pocket.

Ashley isn't foiled, he is making money from whatever scenario is played out.

John lewis won't last either

Like M&S their clothes are targeted at an ageing demographic.

I needed a hoover and washing machine, but ended up buying elsewhere as delivery was 5 days. AO deliver next day.

They are just not keeping up, IMO

"Ashley isn't foiled, he is making money from whatever scenario is played out."

For the moment at least pensions and redundancy pay are ok. If he gets Debenhams that won't be the case.

I did a debit card refund tonight - anybody know if im likely to get my refund?

It probably depends on the terms of the sale - technically the sold-on Debenhams will become a different legal entity and they aren't obliged to take on the debts of the previous legal entity (it will still look like the same company but it will have a different registered name (e.g. 'Debenhams Retail Plc' might become 'Debenhams Retail (UK) Plc') and a different company number). I've seen administrations where refunds weren't honoured, but Debenhams website suggests they are still going through. You've done the right thing in getting your refund request in asap :)

@PH03b3 and @Pianobook

Looks like you'll be OK: www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/04/debenhams-falls-into-administration---what-you-need-to-know/

To report i got my refund ah its sad i hope they find a way of getting through it

I received some of my Debenhams order today. Hope the rest arrives tomorrow.