"Maelstrom games web site closed" Topic

Tried to go on Maelstrom games web site today as I am still oustanding part of an order and found that the web site was 'closed for maintance'

Looks like good bye Maelstrom, as I dont live that far away may pop over to the shop and see if I can get a refund if its still operating.

TMP closes for maintenance every day and I don't immediately think Bill has shut it down.

True but Bill isn't rumored to be almost 200,000 pounds in debt and taken orders on stuff they don't have in stock. Doesn't look good but we will see.

They were selling out their stock for some time, at huge discount.

I never had problems when ordering, but never ordered stuff that was not in stock.

Well, this week I got an email that an order had been split and the items in stock posted. Soudns like in business still.Might be the business move happening?

I received the same email as Grey Ronin yesterday.

They sent me an order about a month ago but an item was missing. I sent many emails to ask for help since then, but I got no reply. I am very disappointed. I have been buying almost all my gaming stuff from them in the past few years, now I am not sure I will do again.

@kehanubaal: I am in a similar position – an item that was obviously mentioned in one of their order confirmations was not shipped in the box with the rest of the order, and that order was *not* "split". I sent e-mails, too, with little hope that they would be heeded, but have not yet tried calling, although I gather that they have not been answering their phone, either.

Two other orders were "split", one despite my explicit instructions that they drop from my order all items that were not in stock.

I was going to give Maelstrom some time before contacting my cr. card company, but am now wondering if it may be too late…

They have about $40.00 USD of mine. I don't except to get that back. I reckon they will declare bankruptcy shortly.

I don't see how "Closed for maintenance" can be understood as "good bye."
I am on their mailing list and have received many e-mails about how they were selling off their "in stock" items to move to a new warehouse.
If anyone has firm information on this, it would help to clarify the matter. Thanks!

From Nick at North Star
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Looks like Maelstrom are no more, always sad when a company bites the dust for whatever reason
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I posted to this effect earlier, but I'll repeat for those who may not have trawled through everything. If you've paid Maelstrom directly using your credit card go to the credit card company and ask them to "chargeback" the outstanding amount. This isn't directly linked to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act so CAN be used on transactions under £100.00 GBP GBP The credit card issuer will reclaim the money from Maelstrom's bank, so it doesn't matter if Maelstrom have funds or not. You can do this on split orders too. Basically give the credit card issuer chapter & verse on the history of the order including any partial deliveries and copies of any emails etc. anything that can be used as evidence to support your claim. This should be a very simple, routine matter for your credit card issuer to sort out for you.

This was my job in a former life & I'm happy to give advice if anyone needs it.

Thanks, HH! Would one normally begin by calling the credit card company, and asking for an e-mail address?

Hi, sorry for the slight delay in responding. It very much depends on how your credit card issuer is set up. First port of call would be to call their customer services (press 1 if life is too short…) and try to get put through to someone who works in the chargebacks department.

Explain the situation and ask what evidence they want. Some will act on a 'phone call, some may need all of the details set down in writing (this isn't them being awkward, but they have to forward evidence with the claim). The process may also vary slightly if you used a MasterCard or Visa as it is those organisations that lay down the rules not the individual credit card issuer.

A good example of stating your claim would be something to the effect of;

"On XYZ date I ordered the following items from Maelstrom Games to the value of £ABC. To date the goods have not been received (or to date ABC items to the value of…remain outstanding). I have attempted to contact Maelstrom Games via telephone/email on … (copies of emails enclosed) but they have not yet delivered the goods and I have reason to believe that they have ceased trading and will be unable to fulfill the order. I therefore request that you chargeback the amount of…and refund this to my account.

Signed…"

Hope that helps.

A lot will depend on whether they were trading fraudulently… (from the Insolvency Act '86)

1) If in the course of the winding up of a company it appears that any business of the company has been carried on with intent to defraud creditors of the company or creditors of any other person, or for any fraudulent purpose, the following has effect.

2) The court, on the application of the liquidator may declare that any persons who were knowingly parties to the carrying on of the business in the manner above-mentioned are to be liable to make such contributions (if any) to the company's assets as the court thinks proper."

It will be interesting to see what the liquidator makes of the fire-sales, the 'phoenix from the ashes' of EotS and Maunsfield Games and the funding of their new figure lines while racking up around a half million quid of debts (numbers taken from their last accounts filed)