Andrew Donnelly: Ex-Eagle businesses in strife as Commissioner of State Revenue pursues legal action

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Andrew Donnelly: Ex-Eagle businesses in strife as Commissioner of State Revenue pursues legal action

More businesses owned by ex-West Coast Eagle Andrew Donnelly and his wife Natasha are in strife.

The couple made headlines last year after their Factory Direct shed and patio business was accused by Consumer Protection of collecting more than $342,000 in deposits, without delivering the works.

Factory Direct Group Pty Ltd is currently being liquidated and remains under investigation by authorities.

Profounder Asphalt and Bitumen Pty Ltd, which traded as All About Bitumen And Asphalt and owes creditors more than $1.6 million, is also in liquidation after court action brought by the Commissioner of State Revenue.

Some other businesses that are part of the Donnelly family’s Profounder group of companies are also under threat.

The commissioner last month petitioned the Supreme Court to wind up Profounder Turfmaster Pty Ltd, which trades as Turfmaster Facility Management.

There are also pending court actions, brought by another party, to wind up Profounder Plumbing and Gas Pty Ltd and Collingwood Street Investments Pty Ltd, which the Donnellys own and control.

Camera IconFactory Direct WA specialises in quality patios, garden sheds, workshop sheds, garages, pool sheds, and room additions. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

The corporate regulator, ASIC, was in the process of deregistering Profounder Workforce Pty Ltd.

Meanwhile, Profounder Electrical Pty Ltd, of which the Donnellys own 30 per cent, entered voluntary liquidation on Monday.

The company, which ceased trading on November 1, was owed $120,000 by other Profounder companies, including Profounder Factory Direct Pty Ltd.

Profounder Alliance Robes Pty Ltd went to the wall last year owing 62 creditors $1.26m.

The Sunday Times can also reveal some long-suffering customers of Factory Direct were recently shocked to receive letters from the liquidator asking them to pay the balance of their contracts with the company, even though received nothing.

This was because they were wrongly cited as debtors, instead of creditors, in information supplied to the liquidator. The liquidator is now seeking to fix the errors.

Two WA schools were among customers let down by Factory Direct.

Consumer Protection urged the public to be wary of Factory Direct, given its shocking record of taking large advance payments and failing to deliver.

It accused the business of collecting more than $342,000 in deposits, without doing the works. The watchdog received more than 60 complaints between March 22, 2022, and June 29, 2023.

“Contracts entered into go as far back as October 2021 where works have not been completed and full or part payments have been accepted,” it said. “On occasion, consumers were given delivery dates for works to be completed, however, most dates were not adhered to by the business, with little to no communication provided to inform consumers why there were delays.”

While their business was under an avalanche of complaints, the Donnellys last year jetted off to Europe where they enjoyed a ski holiday at a premium resort in the French Alps,

Suppliers were also left out of pocket when Factory Direct Group Pty Ltd entered liquidation in September.

Before then, it reneged on promises of refunds to be paid to customers in monthly instalments.

Consumer Protection said its investigation into Factory Direct was ongoing.

The Donnellys were contacted for comment.

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