February 13, 2001 10:35: A MANAGER from disgraced company, Simply Kitchens, has revealed the firm owes £2m, twice as much as originally thought.

The News Shopper finally managed to trace the bankrupt company to its Scunthorpe offices, after a former employee contacted the newsdesk.

So far seven angry customers have called in describing how they are owed cash by the company's Orpington and Catford stores.

The manager, who refused to be named, promised the money owed to them will eventually be paid out.

This did not reassure people like Steve McGuire, from Biggin Hill, and Christine Moody, 49, of Catford, who are waiting for their money.

The manager also pledged to shut down the company's website at www.simplykitchens.com, which says the firm offers "fast-reacting professional back-up every step of the way."

He said: "It will take some time to process the claims from the time we receive a customer complaint. That's not surprising when you take into account the receipts come to £2m."

Another employee, who worked as a sales adviser at the firm's Orpington branch for a year until it went under on December 22, said they were accused on BBC programme Watchdog of delayed deliveries and shoddy workmanship.

She said her sales team struggled to deal with "dozens" of complaints.

"We thought everything was going to be all right after the BBC programme and it was a total shock to us when we eventually went bust.

"It was one of the most stressful times I ever had, and we were so concerned for our customers.

The sad thing was the kitchens we were selling were really very good quality.

"But a lot of deliveries got mixed up and when the head office shut down, we had to deal with dozens of angry customers every day."

Mike Addelman