Wedding Photography Firm Goes Bust

A Bournemouth based wedding photography business that described itself as "The largest wedding photography company in the Southwest" has gone bust - leaving many people without their photos and unlikely to get their money back.

Mel Bouzad, the sole owner of H and D Wedding Photography (H&D) and former Director of the Limited company contacted Bournemouth Trading Standards to advise that he was no longer trading due to financial reasons.

The firm ceased trading on August the 4th. 

Mr Bouzad is currently contacting a large number of clients who have not yet celebrated their wedding so they can make alternative arrangements.

Earlier this year, Trading Standards received more than 40 complaints against Mr Bouzad's businesses including, non-delivery of wedding photographs, poor-quality photographs, or failure of the photographer to turn up at all.

Trading Standards instigated an investigation under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act. Mr Bouzad cooperated with the investigation and signed a Formal Undertaking on the 7 July this year.

In the undertaking he gave binding assurances that he would refrain from contravening provisions of the Supply of Goods and Service Act 1982.

Failure to comply with the undertaking would have resulted in Trading Standards taking court action. Trading Standards say that 'regrettably, Mr Bouzad was unable to sustain his business'.

Colston Nichols, Senior Trading Standards Officer, said:

“Our sympathies are with those who may have lost their money, and with those who had their big day and might not get their wedding photos.”

“It seems that many customers have little hope of getting their money back.

"However, some will have paid by a credit card or be eligible to get redress from the debit card charge back scheme. They may also have specific wedding insurance.

"Concerned consumers should contact Consumer Direct for more advice and guidance.”

Trading Standards officers say they'll continue to monitor the situation and work with the insolvency practitioner and other agencies.

Consumer Direct tel: 08454 040506.