Customers of Alweather Windows and Doors, including Peter van Westen, have been left feeling cheated after the company failed to follow through on promised installations and instead announced a restructuring that left many customers out of pocket. Van Westen made a deposit of $1,350 for a window installation that never happened, and after demanding a refund, the company informed him to seek reimbursement from his credit card company. Despite attempts to recover his money, Van Westen was left frustrated and ultimately had to contract another company to install the window. Similar stories from other clients who lost deposits have also emerged, with one customer, Cynthia Kent, being out more than $10,000.
After an outgoing message on Alweather’s phone announced a temporary suspension of operations, Canadian Choice Windows & Doors stepped in to offer some hope to affected customers by expanding their operations to the Maritimes. While Canadian Choice did not purchase Alweather or get involved in the restructuring legal proceedings, they offered to take over the leases of the storefronts in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. They also hired former Alweather employees and offered to requote the work for customers who had lost deposits, allowing them to put the deposit towards an order with Canadian Choice as a credit.
Canadian Choice’s eastern manager, Charles Mamye, highlighted the company’s commitment to continuity and community by caring for the customers even though they were not originally theirs. The decision to offer a credit towards a new order for affected customers came from former Alweather employees who were concerned about the financial turmoil faced by their neighbors, friends, and family members who had lost deposits. Despite this gesture from Canadian Choice, some customers, like van Westen, are seeking refunds rather than credits and believe it is unfair that the company could take deposits and then leave customers in the lurch without any recourse.
Customers who are dissatisfied with the situation have the option of filing small claims cases to try to recover their lost deposits. However, for many, the process of seeking legal recourse may be time-consuming and may not result in a full refund of the money lost to Alweather. The company’s abrupt shutdown has left numerous customers in financial difficulties, and while Canadian Choice’s offer to credit lost deposits towards new orders is a step in the right direction, it may not fully address the frustration and disappointment felt by those who were affected by Alweather’s actions. The situation serves as a cautionary tale for consumers to carefully research and vet companies before making deposits for services.
