Tech
Shopping channel Pitch TV has ceased broadcasting on digital satellite after parent company Pitchwell Group went into liquidation.
The channel was previously available 24 hours a day on Sky and Freesat, with viewers able to purchase a range of items. After the sales order line went out of operation on August 10, a message posted today on the official Pitchwell website confirmed that the company has gone bust.
In the statement, the firm claimed that this situation was due to "unreasonable steps taken from Lloyds bank which ultimately brought the business to a standstill".
It added: "From the beginning of August 2009, all payments received from customers for goods advertised by PitchWell were redirected out of the Pitchwell bank account and held by Lloyds. After several attempts to try and find a resolution with the bank and explain that without these payments, no orders could be fulfilled they refused to release the money.
"For a further three days, Lloyds allowed us to continue to trade, continue to redirect all payments and further took the decision that they would not allow us funds to pay DHL who despatch all of our customer orders. Pitchwell had every intention to fulfil all orders as stock was readily available.
"Lloyds further took the decision to refuse Pitchwell to process any refunds requested by our customers. This has meant that we have had to take drastic measures and on Monday, August 10, order lines at the call centre and website were closed and we ceased trading to avoid further customers being disappointed."
The company said it is "deeply sorry that this situation has arisen" and pledged to bring about "a speedy resolution for each and every customer that has suffered unnecessarily due the banks reckless disregard for Pitchwell's promise to their customers".
Any customers who placed orders but did not receive the goods are now advised to contact their credit card provider to request a chargeback from Lloyds as it appears that this is the only way to secure a refund. Anyone wishing for further information can contact the company's head office directly, with full contact details listed on the site.
There have previously been posts on Digital Spy's Broadcasting forum about members experiencing problems receiving ordered products or securing refunds from Pitch TV.
The channel was previously available 24 hours a day on Sky and Freesat, with viewers able to purchase a range of items. After the sales order line went out of operation on August 10, a message posted today on the official Pitchwell website confirmed that the company has gone bust.
In the statement, the firm claimed that this situation was due to "unreasonable steps taken from Lloyds bank which ultimately brought the business to a standstill".
It added: "From the beginning of August 2009, all payments received from customers for goods advertised by PitchWell were redirected out of the Pitchwell bank account and held by Lloyds. After several attempts to try and find a resolution with the bank and explain that without these payments, no orders could be fulfilled they refused to release the money.
"For a further three days, Lloyds allowed us to continue to trade, continue to redirect all payments and further took the decision that they would not allow us funds to pay DHL who despatch all of our customer orders. Pitchwell had every intention to fulfil all orders as stock was readily available.
"Lloyds further took the decision to refuse Pitchwell to process any refunds requested by our customers. This has meant that we have had to take drastic measures and on Monday, August 10, order lines at the call centre and website were closed and we ceased trading to avoid further customers being disappointed."
The company said it is "deeply sorry that this situation has arisen" and pledged to bring about "a speedy resolution for each and every customer that has suffered unnecessarily due the banks reckless disregard for Pitchwell's promise to their customers".
Any customers who placed orders but did not receive the goods are now advised to contact their credit card provider to request a chargeback from Lloyds as it appears that this is the only way to secure a refund. Anyone wishing for further information can contact the company's head office directly, with full contact details listed on the site.
There have previously been posts on Digital Spy's Broadcasting forum about members experiencing problems receiving ordered products or securing refunds from Pitch TV.
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