Tiny customers unlikely to see money back

According to a source at administrators Grant Thornton, customers with outstanding orders from Time and Tiny computers are unlikely to either receive their goods or get their money back. They will become unsecured creditors and as such, will be low down on the list of those waiting to receive payment.

Administrators of Granville Technology, which manufactures the Tiny and Time brands, have established a limited support package for customers, offering the continuation of warranty cover on a limited basis, repairs and customer support. Granville Technology went into administration on Wednesday with the loss of 1,500 jobs.

The volume of calls from customers and suppliers has also forced the group to set up a second helpline on 0870 830 3288 and an e-mail address, [email protected], to deal with queries.

Tiny and Time computers are used by over two million schools, businesses and households.

In an interview for BBC Radio 5, Martin Ellis, from Grant Thornton, said that customers who had ordered goods but not received them “should work on the basis that they will not receive them”.

He said that Grant Thornton would be investigating whether Granville Technologies had been trading while insolvent, as the company had been in financial difficulty for some time.

According to Mr Ellis, it was not possible to sell the business as a going concern because of the extent of losses and the nature of the business. The company had effectively ceased trading and its workers have not been paid for July.

The company’s difficulties are attributed to rising competition, falling demand and falling prices.