Dreams shattered as 140 Zone RV caravan customers' worst fears realised
Caravans built or near completion are being offered to customers while others miss out. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Josh Dye)
In short:
Administrators for Zone RV have told about 140 customers who partially paid for their luxury vans that they will not receive them.
A tranche of vans has been released to customers who had fully paid, with more expected by the end of January.
What's next?
The ABC understands there are several parties interested in rescuing Zone RV.
About 140 families who purchased luxury caravans are in shock after administrators for the collapsed company Zone RV confirmed their worst fears.
The Sunshine Coast-based firm plunged into administration on December 1 owing $42 million to hundreds of creditors.
Administrator Cor Cordis has now told about 140 customers who partially paid for their luxury vans that they will not receive them, leaving future holiday plans in tatters.
Some customers are more than $160,000 out of pocket, having paid about 80 per cent of the total cost in progress payments.
"We regret to advise the company is unable to fulfil its contractual obligations to you for the manufacture and delivery of the caravan," the letter from Cor Cordis said.
"As at the date of administration, the manufacture of your caravan had not yet commenced, and the company is without sufficient resources to continue manufacturing and deliver your caravan.
"We acknowledge this is distressing and disappointing news to be receiving and we thank you for your patience as we work through the position with respect to each customer's caravan order."
The letters included phone numbers for Lifeline and Beyond Blue.
Cor Cordis this week released about 20 vans to customers who had fully paid, provided they paid an additional 12 per cent fee.
The fee covered the cost of running the business on a skeleton staff and completing some remaining vans.
Another tranche of about 20 caravans, which had been fully paid for, will be completed and passed to their new owners by the end of January.
'Sickening feeling'
New Zealand couple Cade and Alexis Thornton had paid $168,000 towards their dream caravan, with a final instalment due before collection in February.
The family sold their business, rented out their home, taken the kids out of school and bought flights and a four-wheel drive to complete a lap around Australia.
The Thornton family from New Zealand face an uncertain future. (Supplied)
"We were braced for bad news, but it was still a sickening feeling receiving the official email to say our van hadn't even been started and our contract wouldn't be honoured," Ms Thornton said.
"We are trying to keep our plans alive — we have to because we have tenants moving in to our house next month, so abandoning the trip isn't really an option.
"We've started looking for a second-hand caravan.
"Zone may have taken our $168,000, but we're determined not to let them take our dream holiday from us too."
Only hope for unlucky customers
The ABC understands there are several parties interested in rescuing Zone RV.
Cor Cordis revealed last week Zone RV owed $42 million to hundreds of creditors including customers, suppliers, employees, banks and the tax office.
Delivering the 40 caravans to customers will shave off about $8 million from the creditors bill.
The only hope of a financial return for the 140 unlucky customers, whose prospects of getting their caravan have now evaporated, is if a buyer emerges to restructure the company.
They may recoup a fraction of their money if the company is liquidated.