Window Select bankruptcy, filing Chapter 11 in late January
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - A Menomonee Falls window installer with hundreds of unhappy customers is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Window Select confirmed to Contact 6 that it has started notifying customers of its plans. In its message, Window Select said the reorganization process "is providing a means for most, if not all, contracts to be fulfilled."
Dimitrios and Mary Mavraganis in New Berlin are spending their second winter without new windows. They put more than $2,000 down in September 2021 for four windows. After that, they had a hard time getting information from the company.
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"We feel like we've been used. Not just us, but hundreds of people out there, too," said Dimitrios Mavraganis.
The family’s story about Window Select is a common one. The Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) got more complaints about Window Select in 2022 than any other business. The window installer vacated its Menomonee Falls headquarters with dozens of civil and small claims cases filed.
Window Select
Mary Mavraganis told Contact 6 that she’s "cautiously optimistic" about the Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
"But, we’ve had that feeling before," she added. "The promises turn out to be empty promises."
Ralph Anzivino is a professor of law at Marquette University. He said a Chapter 11 will allow Window Select to reorganize, while halting collection efforts and lawsuits. Anzivino said it’s good news for customers owed money, but the process could take a while.
"It might take up to 18 months to get a plan approved," Anzivino warned.
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Window Select’s interim CEO, Andy Parsons, tells Contact 6:
"We are confident that through the reorganization process, we will be able to continue to fulfill outstanding contracts for the customers of Window Select," said Parsons. "We are diligently working to fulfill customer orders, because we believe doing the right thing is what makes future success possible."
Michael Sugden in New Berlin is also waiting for an update from Window Select. He paid more than $10,000 to the company for two doors in May 2021. In August, Window Select finally installed his front door, but brought a rear door with the wrong measurements. Sugden is still waiting on his second door.
"I’m retired. I’m on a fixed income," said Sugden. "I just can’t go out and buy myself another door."
Window Select
Sugden said he’s frustrated and just wants to move on.
"I’m still holding out hope that something is going to happen," said Sugden.
Window Select plans to enter into Chapter 11 around Jan. 23.
The email for customers to reach out to the new leadership team is now info@windowselectbankruptcy.com.
"We are confident that through the reorganization process, we will be able to continue to fulfill outstanding contracts for the customers of Windows Select. We are diligently working to fulfill customer orders, because we believe doing the right thing is what makes future success possible. We understand this is predicated on regaining the trust of the customers by doing what we say we will do, so we are reaching out to each customer with a goal of ensuring their contract is fulfilled."
Window Select’s customer care message:
Dear customer:
I’m reaching out to you today as a part of a third-party customer service team working on behalf of Window Select. We are contacting all customers with an outstanding contract to provide you with an update on the current state of Window Select and confirm actions that Window Select is taking to fulfill its open contracts.
I’d like to provide you an update on the current state of Window Select. The reality is that Window Select is effectively beyond repair as a business entity regardless of all the efforts of its third-party business advisors over the last year.
Window Select and its advisors have been working to avoid Chapter 7 bankruptcy where the only beneficiaries, however slight, would have been the secured creditors.
Today I’m sharing news that Window Select is entering into a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to provide protection from creditors while the business is re-organized.
However, there is good news in this for customers with outstanding contracts: this filing allows us to bring in other investors to make sure there’s a path forward to fulfilling outstanding contracts. These investors can only put funds into the business if Window Select goes through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, otherwise, the funds will go towards creditors instead of customers. By entering into a legal reorganization process, Window Select is providing a means for most, if not all, contracts to be fulfilled.
Window Select and its advisors are still engaged with this effort to assist customers and address their challenges. In fact, every outstanding customer will receive a call in the next several days to inform them of this legal restructuring process and to work with them to understand options for fulfilling their contract moving forward.
It is expected that Window Select will enter Chapter 11 on or around 23rd January, 2023.
Your contract and options will be discussed with you during your call with a customer service representative over the next several days.
Shortly after the legal filing, you will receive an email detailing your options. We ask that you please submit a response within a 10-day period. Please note that contracts will be completed in the order that we receive your election form.