Fury over company collapse as staff slam toxic work culture and customers lose up to $90,000
A former employee of a collapsed caravan company has slammed its toxic work culture amid calls from angry customers demanding refunds.
A former employee of a collapsed caravan company has slammed its toxic work culture amid calls from angry customers demanding refunds.
Melbourne-based Tango Caravans entered liquidation last month with at least 85 creditors owed an unknown amount of money.
Several customers have been left-out-pocket after putting down a full payment for their caravan - with some losing as much as $90,000.
Ex-employee Chris Ferreira, 37, claimed it wasnt just the business finances that were in dire straits but also its workplace environment.
Mr Ferreira spent just four months working as a sales consultant for Tango before he was driven to quit amid rising tensions as the company teetered on closure.
He claims he wasnt paid superannuation the entire time he worked for the custom caravan business and is owed roughly $5,000, news.com.au reported.
Mr Ferreira said he and other Tango workers were sold the fake dream and admitted he didnt realise its financial issue was to the extent that it was until it went under.
The closure of Tango saw dozens of customers lose tens-of-thousands of dollars with no caravan in return and little hope of getting their money back.
Former Tango Caravans worker Chris Ferreira claims the companys culture was toxic (pictured, a Tango caravan)
Dozens of Tango customers, including Taisha Ellis (pictured with her husband Jaime), lost tens-of-thousands of dollars when it collapsed
Mr Ferreira began realising the companys struggles when furious customers began appearing in-store to demand refunds.
He said his bosses noticed I can handle conflict and often shouldered him with the confrontations.
I didnt know whether I was going to be a sales consultant or a conflict consultant, Mr Ferreira said of his time at Tango - from December 2023 to March 2024.
Worsening his interactions with customers was the little clarity he received on whether they would be refunded or see their caravans soon.
I feel for all the customers of Tango Caravans, he said, adding he doesnt believe the criticism levelled at its workers was fair.
Only three of the eight staff Mr Ferreira worked with were employed by Tango longer than he was, indicating a possible high turnover issue.
Mr Ferreira recalled suffering a medical episode and having to be hospitalised while at a caravan sales show in Traralgon, two hours outside of Melbourne, on behalf of Tango.
Despite being on a work trip, he was told he needed to make his own way home and was forced to call his dad to pick him up.
He later heard workplace rumours accusing him of faking the medical emergency to get out of work.
Shortly after that incident Mr Ferreira found employment elsewhere and handed his resignation to Tango.
He offered to work his notice period but was told it wasnt necessary. He claimed he later had to fight the company over pay deducted for that time.
It was too toxic, Mr Ferreira said.
Sylwia Logan, 43, took out a $76,000 loan to buy her dream caravan.
She has not only been left without a vehicle but must also pay $14,000 in interest - meaning she lost $90,000.
The mum-of-two paid $76,000 and on top of that, she took out a loan to be able to afford her dream caravan.
Ms Logan is now paying $14,000 in interest for the five-year loan she took out for a product she will likely never receive.
Queensland woman Taisha Ellis last month told Daily Mail Australia she was left $83,000 in debt with a five-year repayment plan and a balloon payment looming by Tangos closure.
Customers were warned they have little chance of getting their money back (pictured, Sarah Horter - the listed sole director of Tango Caravans)
Ms Ellis and her partner were told they would have custom-built caravan within two weeks after putting in their purchase order but when it never arrived, they contacted the manufacturer used by Tango Caravans.
That company told them it was already owed so much money from Tango refused to build any orders, with Ms Ellis demanding to know where her money had gone.
What was supposed to be a new beginning for our family has turned into a financial nightmare, she said.
Andrew Yeo from Pitcher Partners was appointed as liquidator of the business. The companys website links to a notice to creditors saying the companys finances are being looked into.
Customers have been told by the liquidator it is unlikely they will receive much, if any, of their money back.
Liquidator Mr Yeo said it did not appear Tango had any caravan stock on site.
It may be possible that some caravans are presently being manufactured by external suppliers, and a partial resolution may be achievable, he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tango Caravans for comment via its liquidator.
