Rathwood Tops CCPC Complaints List for First Half of 2026 as 7,000 Customers Await Refunds
Rathwood, the garden and outdoor furniture retailer based near the Carlow-Wicklow border, has topped the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's complaints list for the first half of 2026 with 737 complaints — more than any other business in Ireland — following its entry into examinership in April. Approximately 7,000 customers with outstanding claims for unfulfilled orders or unpaid refunds have been warned by the court-appointed examiner that they are likely to receive only a "nominal" sum, with the CCPC advising affected consumers to pursue chargeback claims through their card providers.
Background
Rathwood is a family-run business that has operated for decades as a garden centre, furniture retailer, and leisure destination near Tullow in County Carlow. The business expanded significantly in recent years, adding a large furniture showroom and developing its online retail operation. But the loss of a primary furniture supplier created severe supply chain disruptions that led to persistent delays in product delivery and difficulties in processing customer refunds.
The CCPC first became aware of significant consumer complaints about Rathwood in 2025, when the company recorded 565 complaints — the second-highest total in the country that year, up from just 24 in 2024. The watchdog secured a legally binding commitment from Rathwood in March 2026 to reimburse customers, but the company entered examinership the following month, placing it under court protection from creditors and making it impossible to process refunds through normal channels.
The appointment of Padraic Bermingham of Strata Financial as examiner was intended to give the business an opportunity to restructure and survive, but the scale of the customer claims — estimated at approximately 7,000 outstanding orders or refunds — has complicated the process significantly.
Key Developments
RTÉ News reported on Monday that Rathwood's 737 complaints in the first half of 2026 placed it at the top of the CCPC's list, ahead of Ryanair and other businesses that have historically attracted high complaint volumes. The figure represents a significant increase even on the elevated 2025 total, reflecting the ongoing difficulties experienced by customers who placed orders and paid deposits that were never fulfilled.
The examiner has informed customers that they should expect only a "nominal" return on their claims, given the scale of the company's liabilities relative to its assets. The CCPC has issued clear guidance to affected consumers: those who paid by debit or credit card should contact their bank or card issuer immediately to initiate a chargeback process, which offers the best prospect of recovering funds. Customers who paid by other means — including bank transfer or cash — are in a significantly weaker position.
The CCPC has also emphasised that consumers who have not yet registered their claims with the examiner should do so as a matter of urgency, even if the prospect of recovery is limited. The registration process requires customers to provide order references and payment history, and the deadline for initial registration has passed, though the examiner's office has indicated it will consider late submissions on a case-by-case basis.
Why It Matters
The Rathwood case is a cautionary tale about the risks of paying large deposits to retailers in advance of delivery, particularly in a challenging retail environment. The collapse of Harvey Nichols in Ireland earlier this year — which left gift card holders exposed — and the Rathwood situation both illustrate the vulnerability of consumers when retailers enter financial difficulty. The CCPC has used both cases to remind consumers of the importance of paying by credit or debit card, which provides chargeback protection that other payment methods do not.
The case also raises questions about the adequacy of the regulatory framework for protecting consumers when businesses enter examinership or liquidation. Under current law, consumer creditors are treated as unsecured creditors, meaning they rank behind secured lenders and preferential creditors in the distribution of assets. This can leave consumers — who often have no way of knowing that a business is in financial difficulty when they place an order — with little or no prospect of recovery.
Local Impact
For the 7,000 customers with outstanding claims, the Rathwood situation has been a source of significant financial and personal stress. Many placed orders for garden furniture and outdoor equipment months in advance, paying substantial deposits, only to find that their orders were never fulfilled and their money was not returned. The CCPC's advice to pursue chargebacks is helpful for those who paid by card, but the process can be time-consuming and is not guaranteed to succeed in all cases.
What's Next
The examinership process is ongoing, with the examiner working to assess whether a viable restructuring plan can be developed for Rathwood. If a plan is approved by the court, the business may survive in some form, though the scale of the customer claims makes a full recovery of deposits unlikely. If the examinership fails, the company will enter liquidation, and the prospects for customer recovery will be even more limited. The CCPC has indicated it will continue to monitor the situation and to provide guidance to affected consumers.
