Hundreds of brides are left in the lurch
THE plans of hundreds of brides-to-be are in chaos after a bridal-gown store closed its doors.
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THE wedding plans of hundreds of brides-to-be have been thrown into chaos after a bridal-gown store closed its doors without warning.
Rodney Yohana, the owner of Leza Bridal Pty Ltd, trading as the Bridal Factory, shut his Wetherill Park store 10 days ago.
Many of Mr Yohana's customers, some of whom paid deposits of up to $1800, are unaware the business has closed down.
NSW Fair Trading has launched action against the company after receiving more than 60 complaints from upset brides reporting poor-quality dressmaking and gowns not finished in time.
The Sunday Telegraph has been unable to contact Mr Yohana, but his father Youbert, who founded the business 35 years ago before handing it to his son in 2007, said: "The business was a gold mine; I gave it to him and he ran it badly."
Bridal Vision, run by Frank Ostad, has taken over the store's lease and some of its stock after a request from Youbert Yohana.
Mr Ostad said he would refund many of the 300-odd Bridal Factory customers awaiting orders as an act of goodwill, which he expects will cost more than $500,000."I've walked into a war zone," he said. "But I'm happy to get them their dresses, and I'm doing it in good faith."
Fair Trading confirmed Mr Ostad was not legally required to refund customers or follow through with orders.
Sheenal Mani, 26, of Glenmore Park, got a refund last week after hearing that the Bridal Factory dress she had put a $150 deposit on would arrive after her January 5 wedding.
"I'm glad I got my deposit back, but I'm buying a dress off the rack to avoid the stress," she said.
Five months ago, Cheryl Tungul, 30, of Casula, paid an $1100 deposit for a dress for her October 29 wedding. But the dress was not due to arrive until October 28 - too late for alterations.
"Cheryl had to buy a new dress at three times the price," her husband, Nick Kyriakopoulos, said. The pair got a refund from Mr Ostad.
Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said: "This is disgraceful, and I've asked Fair Trading to investigate what can be done to bring the former owners to task."
