A RETIRED COUPLE shelled out more than £10,000 on a “dream garden room” which was only partially completed when they found out the conservatory company in Greenfield was closing down.

Window Outlet North West Ltd operated from Unit 12 at Boarshurst Business Park but, according to the landlord, the company has now left the premises.

Couple John and Margaret Seddon say the company has broken repeated promises to deliver materials for the job at their detached home.

John, aged 69, and Margaret, 65, say they have spent an additional £3,000 to another builder to supply and install the roof in order to make the 144 square foot conservatory weather-proof.

They say they became so frustrated at the lack of progress on the job that their sons Warren, aged 39, Craig, 42, and daughter Hayley’s partner Steven Hague, aged 33, installed the window frames and glazing themselves.

In new twist to the saga, the roofing materials were delivered on Monday this week, but the couple sent them back and are now trying to recover some of the money.

When The Oldham Times called the mobile phone number on the Window Outlet website it was answered by Gary Yates, a 51-year-old man listed at Companies House as a former director of the firm.

Mr Yates admitted there had been “a problem” getting materials to complete the job, but also said the company was “in the process of closing down” and that it was not operating from any address currently.

“Some of this stuff – about half of it – comes from abroad,” he said. “There has been bad weather. In effect the only thing we are guilty of is having a delay on the job of a few weekis.”

Gary Yates’ brother Robert Yates, aged 54, is registered as still an active director of the company.

He also said his own phone number should not be on the Window Outlet website.

The company’s registered address is Bank House, 71 Dale Street, Milnrow.

The Seddons paid a deposit of £1,000 in November, 2017 after agreeing to have the conservatory built by Window Outlet.

The company then hired a sub contractor to carry out initial building work. The brickwork was finished shortly before Christmas and the builder was paid £3,244 in cash.

“The builder then contacted Gary and told him he could get on with the rest of the project,” said Mr Seddon.

“Gary said he would be starting the rest of it at the beginning of January, and he would then order what was required to complete the build. He said it would be finished by the end of January, but he kept putting us off.

“On February 15 he called me to say he wanted to buy the roof and window frames, and asked us to pay him stage two of the cost, which was £5,800 via bank transfer.

“Although we paid him, he kept on delaying the delivery.

“Eventually, the windows and frames came and were put in the garage, but nothing for the roof. We were so frustrated by the inactivity my sons, Steven and I decide to fit them ourselves.”

Then the Seddons, who live in Droylsden, became worried that without the roof, the weather would damage what they had done, so they bought another roof and hired a builder to fit it.

According to the contract agreement, a final payment of £1,056 from the Seddons to Window Outlet is due, but the couple say they will refuse to pay it.

Mrs Seddon said: “This whole thing has been an absolute nightmare.

“It’s wiped out our savings and I am very upset about the way the company has behaved.”

Meanwhile, Gary Yates appears to be launching another company, Surefit Building Services Ltd, which according to Companies House, was incorporated on January 30, and of which he is the sole director. The address of this firm is 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU. A former company, Surefit Windows and Doors Ltd, incorporated in 1995, had Gary Yates listed as a director but was dissolved in January, 2014. The address of this company was Armit Road, Greenfield.

Both Yates brothers were also directors of Surefit Windows (Manchester) Ltd, which operated from Unit 3 Cheetham Street, Failsworth. It was incorporated in August, 2009 but dissolved in December, 2012.

Gary Yates said the Surefit companies closed because of “losses as a result of money owed to the companies”.