The international removals company, GMS Ltd, has gone into liquidation, leaving many customers without their personal belongings.
The Facebook page for Global Moving Systems Ltd shows a string of clients trying to locate their items but not able to reach the company by email or telephone.
James Wood, managing director of the company, said in an emailed statement: “It is with regret to say that I have no choice but to put the company into liquidation. I have been in touch with a firm in London and soon they will be appointed.”
Mr Wood blamed a string of problems including a break-in at the company’s office in Heathfield, East Sussex, and negative comments on social media for contributing to the collapse of GMS Ltd.
“Eventually my investors pulled out due to the bad publicity concerning the company,” he wrote.
He said that the British Association of Removers (BAR) and third-party shipping companies have arranged for customers to have their goods delivered.
The GMS Facebook page also had comments from people saying they had to pay twice because they had to pay the third-party firms.
Stephen Vickers, director general of BAR, said: “As far as we’re aware, GMS have stopped trading … it would seem they’ve locked up their premises and there’s no one there.”
He said BAR has "actively helped three dozen people" as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and the United States to track down their belongings.
For those who paid by cash or bank transfer, they will have to try to claim their money back from GMS, according to the trading standards department at East Sussex county council.
Payments by credit card could be reimbursed by the card provider.
BAR can be contacted for advice on consumeraffairs@bar.co.uk
