Antique Sellers Plan Legal Action On Missing Furniture
The Age
Thursday October 19, 2000
Angry antiques sellers vowed to take legal action yesterday after finding their possessions had vanished from a closed-down Richmond auction house.
When Melbourne Antique Auction Rooms proprietor Les Bilham shut down and disappeared two weeks ago, leaving debts worth tens of thousands of dollars, many of his clients still had antiques and furniture in the auction room.
They were assured by real estate agents TCI Consultants that they could reclaim their goods once TCI re-entered the premises. But their frustration boiled over yesterday when the doors were opened to reveal a near-empty auction room.
Glenn Cotter, who said he had lost about $20,000 in art work, was furious.
A former employee said he had spoken to about 15 sellers yesterday whose property was missing.
Much of the frustration had built up over the past two months, as it became increasingly clear that Mr Bilham could not pay his debts. Some clients have said Mr Bilham sold their goods and then stalled for weeks before disappearing without paying them.
Glyn and Kerry Ransay had no idea where their $12,000 worth of missing furniture and antiques might be. The couple had asked Mr Bilham to sell $22,000 worth of antiques. He had paid them $10,000, but the rest was missing, including a $4000 Victorian bookcase. Mrs Ransay said they were determined to take legal action and were considering a class action with other clients.
Mr Bilham has previously refused to comment, and could not be contacted yesterday.
© 2000 The Age
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