MicroDigital sought by bailiffs - RISC OS News, Software and Information

MicroDigital sought by bailiffs

Published: 11th Jul 2005, 15:17:27GMT Source: drobe.co.uk
By Chris Williams

Page 1 of 1

Not the best time to play hide and seek [Updated]

The exact whereabouts of MicroDigital remains a mystery after bailiffs told a county court that the company had ceased trading from its West Yorkshire offices. A MicroDigital customer obtained a warrant from Southampton County Court after successfully taking the hardware manufacturer to court in February to forcibly obtain a refund on a broken Omega computer.

When bailiffs arrived at MicroDigital's doorstop on Titus Street in mid-June, they reportedly found no sellable goods at that location. Further local enquiries made by the bailiffs failed to reveal any further information on the whereabouts of MicroDigital.

In November 2000, the customer says he, like so many other users at the time, put down a £250 deposit for an Omega, which was promised to be ready by Christmas that year. In September 2002, the Omega was still unreleased although the customer in question received a letter saying the computer was being manufactured. Six months later, MicroDigital requested full payment for the machine and in April that year, cashed a cheque for £1297 from the customer. In February 2004, the Omega still hadn't arrived, despite one reseller declaring he had cleared his backlog of Omega orders. After spending weeks chasing up MicroDigital over the telephone, the customer's Omega finally arrived in Cheltenham in March, although the customer had since moved to Southampton and had to travel back to Cheltenham to pick it up.

He told us: "On lifting the computer out of the box I could hear something moving around inside. Closer examination showed that the bottom of the front faceplate was unsecured and swung out when the computer was moved. Subsequently, it was found that most of the supporting pins for the front faceplate were snapped off.

"Because of the damage I didn't try the computer out to see if it worked, but it wouldn't have switched on anyway because the power lead wasn’t connected to the 'on' button on the faceplate. This lead had a barbed connector which should have secured it in a grille in the metal case, level with and opposite the 'on' button."

He added: "The fact that it was hanging loose suggests it was never properly connected up. Had it been torn out by an impact the plastic barb would presumably have broken.

"In addition to the damage, compared to the original specifications, this computer was lacking in several features and had been delivered with an external modem, instead of the internal modem it was advertised as having."

After days of phone calls, MicroDigital eventually agreed to pick up the damaged computer and fix it. The machine was finally collected at the end of March, however it had not been returned by the end of April, prompting the customer to demand a refund. Legal action followed, and after losing an appeal, MicroDigital were instructed to refund the cost of the Omega plus legal costs and interest to the customer. The bailiffs were drafted in when the company failed to pay back the money owed by the beginning of March 2005.

According to Companies House, MicroDigital are still trading at Titus Street. One Omega reseller said last week that he had not been informed of the legal battle and was oblivious to the bailiff's findings. Another reseller in Europe confirmed with us also that the affair was news to him, claiming that they received an email last week from MicroDigital saying development was continuing. Trading Standards officers were also said to have found it difficult to contact the Omega manufacturer.

The Omega computer was billed as a StrongARM powered computer that ran RISC OS 4 and would, we were told, at some point support an XScale second processor. Despite emerging from a lot of hype in late 2000, it eventually started shipping by around July 2003, although lacked several advertised features. MicroDigital could not be reached for comment.

Update at 15:56 19/7/2005
According to Julian Zimmerle, a MicroDigital support forum administrator, the microdigital.biz and microdigital.info websites are both up and running, despite the disappearance of microdigital.co.uk. Julian says the .biz and .info sites are owned by MicroDigital and should be considered official. Meanwhile, we've learnt that the bailiffs found MD's offices to be "empty" and assumed that they had ceased trading. Investigations continue.

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johnpettigrew (+5.0) 11/7/05 3:55PM	Sad day
flypig (+5.7) 11/7/05 3:58PM	I have a lot of respect for MicroDigital in producing what seems to be an impressive computer. But as John says, it's sad to hear about the trouble customers like this have had.
fylfot (+8.4) 11/7/05 3:59PM	Let's be honest, most people had given up on Microdigital already and have put their money into the IYONIX pc or are waiting for an A9home. It is a very sad, though, for those who have spent money on Omegas. I hope, as always, that Microdigital can turn the situation around to help those people.
jonix (+13.9) 11/7/05 4:10PM	It still amazes me how people can defend this company. I have seen nothing but an unacceptable track record from them.
Snig (+8.2) 11/7/05 4:32PM	I think it's sad that a customer had to resort to legal action. I'm amazed that Microdigital could provide such a poor quality of service in the first place. It is a shame that Microdigital are unable or unwilling to respond to this article.
jess (+1.6) 11/7/05 4:47PM	So I guess it's going to be fun trying to get a network card for a Mico then
TonyStill (+5.1) 11/7/05 4:48PM	It says a lot for the loyalty of the RO community that people, even after all this time, were willing to support MD. However, it may be best for the situation to come to a head; the Omega is (IMHO)looking dated now. Hopefully this will free up some sales for A6 or Iyonix instead. I do hope those with outstanding deposits are able to get their money back or this really will be a tragedy.
RickCB (+3.5) 11/7/05 5:05PM	Well . . . as I have just taken the plunge into hardware after years of emulation, I am glad I plumped for a Iyonix Panther in the end. It's such a shame though, when things come to such a head.
simo (+1.1) 11/7/05 6:12PM	*In reply to Jonix:* well said, to me MicroDigital are scum for doing this. Although with their track record, it might have been a bit foolish to pay for the computer in full....
dansguardian (+2.0) 11/7/05 6:51PM	I never got my deposit back but I wrote it off years ago as just an unfortunate thing. I ended up buying an Iyonix. Such is the danger of vapourware.
Snig (+8.5) 11/7/05 7:05PM	I don't agree with people writing off deposits. If you've paid for something and the product doesn't appear then you should get the money back. There is no point in trying to support a company by writing off your deposit when they themselves cannot forfill their own promises. By not claiming your deposit you are condoning their activities. It's your choice of course, but it doesn't make good business sense.
fwibbler (+2.0) 11/7/05 8:23PM	Thats true but it also depends on the amount paid and how much trouble you are prepared to go to to get it back. This varies from person to person of course.
blahsnr (+4.7) 11/7/05 8:47PM	Snig It is going to cost me as much in 'initial' debt collection agency costs just to start going after my two RS portable deposits as the deposits themselves. Even then there is still no guarantee that any monies will come back to me. Seems a bit pointless pouring good money after bad. Probably better to complain to the local Trading Standards Office and Chamber of Commerce about the company concerned (which I will certainly be doing very shortly). Tony Still IMHO it shows an insane degree of trust in companies that have proven time and time again to be, if not untrustworthy and reckless with other people's money, then unbelievably incompetent.
RickCB (+2.5) 11/7/05 11:16PM	It's such a shame that we are so divided by our common love for a platform . . .
arawnsley (-1.0) 11/7/05 11:24PM	*In reply to fylfot:* sadly I'm in the same boat as others on this thread who spent hundreds of pounds on stuff that never worked as it should. You live and learn, I guess.
leeshep (+1.0) 11/7/05 11:36PM	*In reply to arawnsley:* If you're Iyonix doesn't work properly (i presume thats what you mean) then speak to CTL who I'm sure would be more than happy to sort-out any Issues you may have, theres been many improvements to the Iyonix since the early models
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