Thousands of extended warranties on electrical goods bought at Myer and Big W stores across Australia are in limbo with the company responsible for them facing collapse.
Last month Myer and Big W ceased selling warranties with United Warranties after they were informed the company would soon cease trading.
It is understood Myer has received calls from about 500 worried customers in the past two weeks.
The department store has been selling United extended warranties to customers for four years across Australia.
Repeated attempts by customers with United Warranties contracts to contact the company and its principal, Vern Rickman, have failed.
Mr Rickman and his wife, Debi, were also behind a Gippsland restaurant called Archies on the Creek, which closed its doors in May.
The Sunday Herald Sun understands that Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigators have visited premises associated with other companies linked to Mr Rickman in recent weeks.
Complaints about United Warranties have also been lodged with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
One customer told the Sunday Herald Sun her $2300 television had been missing for seven weeks after going to United for repairs under warranty.
She bought the 147cm Samsung from Myer in December 2010, paying $239 for a two-year extended warranty.
The Sydney customer, who did not want to be named, said Myer's customer service team could not find her TV because it had lost all contact with United.
"It's just appalling," said the mother of two.
"Our TV could be in a store room with United or with a tradesman. There's no way to find out."
A spokeswoman for Consumer Affairs Victoria said it was making inquiries to confirm the status of the company.
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