Two former directors of a wedding dress company banned for a total of 14 years

19 Oct 2011

Two former directors of C&C Wedding Company limited have been banned for a total of 14 years.

Christopher Howarth and Carol Howarth, former directors of C&C Wedding Company Limited, a bridal wear and suit hire business, each begin director disqualifications for seven years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. The disqualifications start on 19 October 2011 and prevent them from in any way managing or controlling limited companies.

The investigation by the Insolvency Service, found that Mr and Mrs Howarth continued to accept pre-payments and deposits from brides and grooms for bridal wear and wedding suit hire, in the total sum of at least £35,976, despite the company being insolvent and unable to fulfil these orders.

Mr and Mrs Howarth failed to complete orders for the delivery of wedding dresses and other bridal wear to at least 76 brides, grooms or members of their wedding parties, forcing many of the brides to pay again for their wedding dresses.

Commenting on the disqualifications, Claire Entwistle, Director of Company Investigations North said:

“The undertakings signed by Christopher Howarth and Carol Howarth send a clear message to other company directors; if you run a business in a way that is detrimental to either its customers or its creditors you could be investigated by the Insolvency Service and as a result removed from the business environment.”