Dutch Police ask Angry VanMoof customers not to call anymore

Amsterdam police call on angry and concerned VanMoof customers to stop calling about the bankruptcy of the bicycle company. Customers are trying to report theft, but the police say there is nothing they can do.

VanMoof was declared bankrupt on Tuesday morning. The company made electric bicycles that people paid more than €2,000 for. The bicycle manufacturer had been losing money for years, and now the large number of repairs needed to be done finally finished the company off.

The company’s stores closed on Wednesday. This led to angry and concerned customers, who wondered if their bicycles could still be repaired, or if their newly purchased bicycles could still be delivered. Some of them had their broken bicycles still in one of the closed stores.

The Amsterdam police notice that the customers now want to go to the police. The operators receive “many reports and questions”, but a spokesperson cannot say how many there are. She guesses that it is about a few tens.

“Customers ask if they can report theft to the police or have already made an online report.” But the police is not for that, they emphasize on Twitter. It is not criminal law, but civil law.

The bicycle owners therefore come to stand in line behind other creditors, such as banks and the tax authorities. “The police, as frustrating as it may be, can for this reason do nothing for customers. Reports, reports and questions are therefore not processed.”

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