A website where people can sell second-hand luxury goods owes some of its sellers thousands of pounds, the BBC has learned.
The site – Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI) – lists designer clothes, bags and jewellery, taking between 18% and 40% of the sellers’ profits.
However, its owner HardlyEver Ltd, based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, has had seven county court judgements against it, including one claim for £27,000.
The firm said it had been having problems with its payments system since late 2024 and was undergoing financial restructuring.
James, a seller from London, told BBC Radio 4 You and Yours he was owed more than £5,000.
He said the website listed him has having been paid but he had received no money since December 2024.
James, who works in the fashion industry, said the site also failed to return his unsold goods which were worth £10,000.
He said: “I told them, ‘do not sell my items. I want them all back, all my stock, all my clothes and my jewellery’.
“This went on throughout June, right into August, and I still wasn’t getting any money.
“I still had about 20 items of stock with them, which they continue to sell – they’re still selling right now.
“I can’t get my product back, I can’t get my money back, they’re still selling items and I don’t know what to do.”
Another seller, Anne from Dubai, said she was never paid for 13 items that were sold on the website in March.
She said: “In August, I sent a statutory demand for payment through and within a couple hours received an email back from the CEO saying, ‘oh my goodness, we’re so sorry. There’s been a real backlog in payments. You’ll have your payment within 48 hours.’
“I felt like things were moving and the payment was going to come through, but it didn’t.”
Dozens of other sellers have complained in online forums.
In a statement, HEWI said: “HardlyEver Ltd acknowledges that we have experienced some operational difficulties with our payment system since late 2024 which have affected payment timelines to certain sellers.
“We are sincerely sorry for the distress this has caused.
“The company is currently in an advanced stage of recapitalisation to strengthen our position and support future growth. We expect this process to conclude shortly.
“We take all obligations to our customers very seriously and are committed to resolving outstanding matters as quickly as possible.”
