Smith’s To Release Purchases Customers Face Deadline To Claim Their Merchandise

Customers who paid for merchandise but didn’t get it from bankrupt Smith’s Home Furnishings may have a chance to claim their goods. They must act fast, though - the deadline is Nov. 10.

The Washington State Attorney General’s office announced this week that Smith’s court-appointed bankruptcy trustee in Oregon and the company’s corporate creditors reached a deal. Those manufacturers and finance companies agreed to give customers the items they paid for, as long as they have the exact make and model of product in stock.

“They are agreeing to release their security interests in specific items people have paid for,” said Owen Clarke, senior assistant attorney general in Spokane. “There will be no cash refunds, it will be specific items only.”

Nikolai Nikonchuk, who moved to Spokane from the Ukraine three years ago, said he would rather have the $4,500 he paid in advance for furniture Smith’s never delivered.

“If they deliver merchandise, why not money? It’s the same,” he said. “I hate this company, and don’t want to look at their furniture and be reminded of it.”

Customers who do want their merchandise need proof of payment, such as a receipt or canceled check. They also need to contact the manufacturer or finance company in charge of that line of merchandise directly.

The attorney general’s office set up a toll-free hotline for customers who need that information. Smith’s customers in Idaho can call that state’s toll-free consumer protection line.

Clarke said he has no way of knowing how many people were left without merchandise when Smith’s went under, but he guesses there are a lot. “We’ve already had 100 phone calls this morning,” he said, from customers on the West Side.

Janice Marich, a spokeswoman with the attorney general’s office, said Smith’s trustee also will run advertisements in major daily newspapers, including The Spokesman-Review. The ads will tell people how to claim their merchandise.

She said the ads were delayed by financial snags, but still are going to run before the Nov. 10 claim deadline.

The ads will list the addresses and telephone numbers for all creditors involved. All that information also is available from state attorney general’s offices.

Clarke said in Washington, callers will get a recorded message and will be asked to leave their names and addresses. A brochure listing the creditors and detailing claim procedures will be mailed to them. The brochure also tells consumers how to claim items left at Smith’s for repair before the bankruptcy and what to do about unfulfilled service contracts.

In Idaho, consumers will get an operator who can read the information to them.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONSUMER INFORMATION Washington - (800) 692-5082. Address: Consumer Resource Center, Attorney General of Washington, 1116 W. Riverside, Spokane 99201-1194. Idaho - (800) 432-3545. Address: Brian Nicholas, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division, P.O. Box 83720, Boise 83720-0010.