Owners of the award-winning Les Roches Spa in St Ouen have announced that the company has closed its doors for the final time after eight years, with the loss of around 12 jobs.
The company said that ‘poor economic conditions’ had forced their hand because Islanders simply do not have the money to spend on luxury services.
Since the announcement yesterday, Jersey’s Citizens Advice Bureau and Trading Standards have received more than 20 calls from concerned customers who have money tied up in the company in the form of gift vouchers – some worth more than £150.
And many more Islanders have taken to social media to express their concerns that they may not be refunded for the vouchers, which were still being sold in the days leading up to the closure.
Writing on Facebook, customer Donna Bisson said her sister had bought her a voucher days before the company ceased trading.
‘They are not answering the phones and their automatic email states that people with vouchers should post the original back. How do you then prove you had one in the first place?
‘I just don’t get why they would still be selling them Saturday if they were closing.’
Some Islanders who visited the spa yesterday to see if they could redeem their vouchers were offered beauty products in exchange.
Islanders who have gift vouchers were originally sent an email asking them to post or deliver the original copies of their vouchers to Les Roches. However, that information later changed and customers are now being told to keep their vouchers and send the details to the company by email.
In a statement, Catherine Cowley, the company’s director, who could notbe contacted by the JEP, moved to reassure customers that the business was not insolvent and a formal winding up process had begun.
She said: ‘Today is a very sad day for us, our clients and Jersey but the extended poor economic conditions has meant people simply have less money to spend on luxury services which we offer.
‘Unfortunately our staff, who are like our extended family, have been made redundant which has been a very difficult and emotional process given their loyalty and length of service.
‘I would also like to take this time to thank our loyal clients for their commitment over the years.’
Malcolm Ferey, chairman of Jersey’s Citizen Advice Bureau, said the number of people who had contacted them for advice was ‘in the teens’ but he feared that figure could rise.
‘Firstly we have to remember that staff have lost their jobs,’ he said.
‘The number of people who have called is in the teens but just by looking at social media I can see there are many more people who have been affected. The money paid for these vouchers is not small.
‘All we can say is that if a person has a voucher then they will have to just comply with the instructions. Let us just hope there is sufficient money so people can redeem them.’
Trevor Le Roux, head of Trading Standards, said they had also been contacted by concerned customers.
‘It is early days but at the moment there us no reason for us to believe that people will not get their money back and this situation will not be resolved.’
Islanders with any concerns should contact info@lesroches.co.uk.
My mum has just been up there with vouchers I bought her. She said the girl at reception has been in tears all morning as many of them found out through FB that they had lost their jobs!
Donna Bisson
I can’t believe this I brought my wife a voucher for mother’s day and she and her friend were booked in for next week. No one is answering the phones. Voucher also states they are non-refundable.
Andy Audrain
Why don’t the people with vouchers go up there today and refuse to leave, make a stand off! the staff can’t do anything until the owner appears because the owner will be there to lock it up, when the owner appears Voila! Confront them!
Stacy Winzar
That’s disgusting that the staff were not aware they had lost their jobs until they found our through Facebook and the fact that so many people had vouchers is ridiculous! I really hope everyone gets their money back but it’s highly unlikely if the company want the vouchers back or they are non-refundable. Shame on them!
Nikki Marie Grihault
I have just rang too but now they are saying to email voucher details rather than original voucher … Better not lose out on that treatment !!
Maria Castro
My hubby has just been to redeem a voucher I had and said it’s absolute mayhem there! If anyone can get there today they have to redeem your voucher with products, if not there was a police woman up there (to redeem a voucher) and she said you won’t get anything back otherwise because it’s gone into liquidation x
Jenna du Feu
I’ve got £150 voucher for Le Roche too to use in a couple of weeks?!? Got to be kidding
Alisha Faye Bush
What an absolute joke I’ve got 2 vouchers to be used!!!
Lauren Dunn
If you have paid by credit card you should contact the issuer and get a refund. Cash payments / debit card transactions won’t be so lucky.
Andrew Muir
Doors are shut, no one here, met some lovely ladies, all in the same boat. – citizens advice it is x
Alisha Faye Bush
This must be a very tricky and difficult situation for the staff and owners. Very sad as they have lost their business. At the same time, I am pretty annoyed that they allowed me to purchase a gift voucher on Saturday
