Shortly after the company’s bankruptcy was announced, there was an uproar over the Kika/Leiner vouchers, and some branches briefly refused to accept them. From now on it is clear that stores will no longer actually redeem vouchers. It’s getting difficult for customers now…
Anyone who still has outstanding vouchers and wants to get money back must register the outstanding amount as a bankruptcy claim. However, only the quota set in the procedure will be returned and not the full voucher value. It is still unclear what will happen to down payments for larger purchases such as kitchens.
Submitting a claim costs 25 euros
“No vouchers have been accepted since the bankruptcy,” the Kika/Leiner spokesperson said on Monday. Last week the Consumer Information Association (VKI) advised people to redeem vouchers as soon as possible, otherwise they would have to be registered as a claim and this would cost money. However, in some branches this was initially refused, leaving customers at a loss.
There are costs of 25 euros associated with submitting a claim. With small claims it is important to consider whether registration is worthwhile or not. Not least because customers will not receive the full amount back, but only the quota determined in the procedure, according to the VKI. Creditors can register claims until January 10, 2025.
What happens to deposits for kitchens, etc.?
It is currently unclear whether customers who have already made down payments for larger purchases will still receive their goods or whether they will also have to join the ranks of creditors. The curator must first decide whether he wants to enter into the agreement that has already been concluded or not. Upon entering into the contract, the customer is entitled to the entire goods for which the deposit has been made and pays the full price for them. If he does not do this, the down payment becomes an insolvency claim.
In the second case, competitor XXXLutz has already announced that it wants to “take over outstanding Kika/Leiner customer orders for customers as cost-neutrally as possible”. The company will provide a quotation for this.
Kika/Leiner has filed for bankruptcy for the second time
Last week, furniture store Kika/Leiner filed for bankruptcy for the second time in two years. The company became bankrupt as early as 2023, shortly after René Benkos Signa sold the Kika/Leiner properties to Graz Supernova and the operational furniture business to trading manager Hermann Wieser. As a result, 23 of the 40 branches were closed and 1,500 employees were laid off.
The remaining 17 locations are now at risk and the company currently employs 1,400 people. About 150 employees in the catering establishments in the Kika/Leiner buildings are not directly affected by the bankruptcy; they work in their own company.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
