Expensive vanishing act
BUILDING suppliers say a Gold Coast business disappeared “overnight”, owing them thousands of dollars.
The Arundel-based glass supply and pool fencing business Robco Holdings Pty Ltd reportedly vanished mid-year, owing at least two creditors.
In August, Robco Holding changed its business address to a home at Hope Island while another company, FGS Hardware established itself on the Robco Holdings lot. FGS Hardware has no connection to Robco Holdings director John Coles Robinson.
FGS staff did however confirm they had purchased the assets from the still-listed Robco Holdings.
Mr Robinson has been listed as the director of Robco Holdings since November 2009. In May Mr Robinson was also listed as the director of a second company, Pacific Installations (AUST) Pty Ltd.
Molendinar company Building Connection Group has listed a payment default of $2395 against Robco Holdings for invoices due in February and March.
Its director Ben McEntee said the company had attempted to contact Robco Holdings more than a dozen times and had engaged a debt collector.
“First we were told they would ring back, then that dragged on for months,” he said. “It isn’t a huge amount of money, but we looked after them for a long time and didn’t have a margin on the product, so for them vanish overnight, with no contact wasn’t good.”
Mr McEntee said he had lost tens of thousands of dollars in similar situations.
“It is a fundamental problem in the Gold Coast construction industry when businesses rack up bills and then disappear,” he said.
Dave Balfe, who supplied pallets to Robco Holdings, said he had engaged lawyers and would be making an application to wind up Robco.
Mr Balfe is owed $1800 and has not heard from the company since April.
“It is really just disappointing for everyone, we are hoping to chase up what we are owed,” he said.
In December 2017, a windup order was submitted by the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation against Robco Holdings Pty Ltd in the Federal Court.
The matter was dismissed and Robco Holdings was ordered to pay the Australian Taxation Office $2546.
In May 2018, Robco Holdings again faced the Federal Court as part of a second winding up order, submitted by labour hire company, Workfast Marketplace Pty Ltd.
Robco Holdings was ordered to pay $7882.08, to Workfast Marketplace.
Workfast Marketplace submitted a Request for Enforcement in July.
The Gold Coast Bulletin has attempted to contact Mr Robinson on multiple occasions for comment, without response.