{"id":587888,"date":"2026-04-05T22:37:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T22:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587888\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T22:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T22:37:12","slug":"angry-customers-who-lost-millions-in-zone-rv-collapse-demand-asic-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/587888\/","title":{"rendered":"Angry customers who lost millions in Zone RV collapse demand ASIC investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Angry customers who lost millions of dollars when luxury caravan company Zone RV collapsed have launched a national campaign demanding ASIC hold the former director accountable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Sunshine Coast-based Zone RV <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-01\/caravan-manufacturer-zone-rv-collapses-into-administration\/106055816\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106055816\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">plunged into administration<\/a> in December, <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-10\/zone-rv-owes-40-million-collapse-creditors-meeting\/106121536\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106121536\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">owing $42 million<\/a> to hundreds of creditors, including staff, suppliers and customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The company was voted <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-01-15\/zone-rv-in-liquidation-as-police-confirm-fraud-investigation\/106227746\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106227746\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">into liquidation<\/a> in January, before a Melbourne-based rival <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-02-24\/essential-caravans-buys-zone-rv-customers-owed-millions\/106331548\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106331548\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">purchased<\/a> Zone RV&#8217;s assets to continue the brand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">But about 140 customers are still owed more than $10 million after paying up to $160,000 in progress payments for caravans that were not built.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">As unsecured creditors, the customers face walking away empty-handed and waving goodbye to retirement dreams.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Liquidators accuse former director David Biggar of multiple breaches of the federal Corporations Act and said he &#8220;failed to act in good faith by continuing to <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-01-09\/zone-rv-insolvent-trading-creditors-report\/106206468\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106206468\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">trade whilst insolvent<\/a>&#8221; for up to two-and-a-half years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Customers demand action<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Gold Coast resident Natasha Daley lost $160,000 and represents about 70 customers who say they are collectively owed nearly $7 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">She wrote a joint submission to ASIC on behalf of customers, pushing the corporate watchdog to &#8220;take some sort of action&#8221;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;I&#8217;m feeling disgusted and angry \u2026 there&#8217;s been significant consumer harm,&#8221; Ms Daley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"man and woman standing arms crossed looking stern\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/a6e265cd9a9e28545f8d34422383be2a.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Natasha Daley is leading a campaign demanding ASIC investigates allegations against Zone RV former director David Biggar.\u00a0 (Supplied)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;My husband and I had retired from our jobs finally and [were] planning a trip around Australia for a couple of years.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">That dream has now evaporated.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Retirement plans are on hold, 1775428628 back to work for 12 to 18 months to try and recover some of our funds,&#8221; she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Daley said customers want ASIC to investigate Mr Biggar after the liquidator&#8217;s allegations of insolvent trading.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He needs to be held to account,&#8221;  she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;There&#8217;s been so many mums and dads, retirees that will never get these funds back again, that need ASIC to do the right thing [and] investigate to the full extent possible.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Biggar did not respond to requests for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"man sitting in camp chair\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ef88ad260d4b5799aa6342772ca7466e.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Zone RV founder and former director David Biggar has not spoken publicly since the company collapsed. (Supplied: Youtube)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The liquidator Cor Cordis attributed the company&#8217;s failure to &#8220;poor financial management&#8221;, periods without leadership in finance and operations, and a reliance on customer instalment payments to fund Zone RV&#8217;s operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Biggar signed a loan agreement in December 2024 to personally provide Zone RV up to $10 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Despite the company&#8217;s struggles, Mr Biggar only loaned $2 million to Zone RV in June 2025, before repaying himself about $1 million in the weeks before the company collapsed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Perth-based customer Eduard Planken, who lost $154,000, is supporting the campaign for ASIC to investigate Mr Biggar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"group holding posters outside office\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8b7e5ccb5d6e6ccfae16bbe384ffa808.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Zone RV customers have been left angry and shocked. (ABC News: Steve Johns)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We want this exposed because these cases can slide through the cracks,&#8221; he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Everyday mum and dads get left behind &#8230; and it&#8217;s shameful.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;It&#8217;s blatant misuse of our funds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We&#8217;ve all been affected very severely.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Planken is one of many customers around the country lobbying their federal MPs to raise the matter in parliament.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">He joined other WA-based customers outside the office of Member for Perth Patrick Gorman, who was unavailable for a meeting and declined to answer the ABC&#8217;s questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Federal treasurer weighs in\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Zone RV case has caught the attention of federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who signalled his expectation for the watchdog to step up its enforcement action.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;My heart goes out to those caught up in this, especially the older Australians who had been looking forward to their retirement but have now been left out of pocket,&#8221; Mr Chalmers told the ABC.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"caravans in a row\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/98d2c4781357f2675a5887569dafce8c.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Cor Cordis delivered about 40 caravans to customers who had paid money towards their vans, but about 140 customers were not so lucky. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Josh Dye)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The treasurer said the government was arming the regulator with the resources to protect consumers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;The Albanese government is ensuring ASIC has the resources and leadership it needs to protect consumers and keep our economy strong and well-regulated,&#8221; Mr Chalmers said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;[In February] I appointed Sarah Court as the new chair of ASIC, who brings a strong track record of enforcement.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Media reports at the time highlighted Ms Court&#8217;s appointment as a positive sign that ASIC would step up its prosecution, after <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2024-07-05\/asic-failures-over-years-highlighted-in-senate-report\/104063824\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/104063824\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">widespread criticism<\/a> of the regulator&#8217;s enforcement record.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;ASIC secured $350 million in civil penalties in the second half of last year alone, demonstrating just how seriously it takes its role as corporate regulator.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Read more on Zone RV&#8217;s collapse<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson described Zone RV&#8217;s collapse as &#8220;distressing&#8221; and said the corporate watchdog was under-resourced.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We need a tough corporate cop on the beat,&#8221;  he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Wilson blamed Mr Chalmers for failing to adequately resource ASIC.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Misconduct reports surge<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">An ASIC spokesperson declined to comment on whether the regulator was investigating Zone RV, but urged anyone with information about the company to contact them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We will continue to consider any material updates about the companies and their operation, including information from the liquidators and reports of misconduct submitted by creditors and members of the public,&#8221; the spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;In the last five years, the number of formal investigations we\u2019ve carried out has increased by 129 per cent and we continue to take strong enforcement action against small and medium-sized businesses and directors who do the wrong thing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">ASIC recently disclosed a surge in the number of misconduct reports it received.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Between July and December last year, the watchdog received 9,686 complaints, compared to 7,561 reports in the first half of 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The number of tip-offs relating to corporate governance surged 37 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"people holding up placards\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2dad53f1abb41934431eda8e82767c0a.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Zone RV customers are demanding ASIC investigates the liquidator&#8217;s allegations of misconduct made against former director David Biggar. (ABC News: Steve Johns)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The watchdog receives more than 10,000 reports of misconduct each year but is only resourced to formally investigate a few hundred claims, with fewer still progressing to prosecution stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">A <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2024-07-03\/senate-committee-recommends-asic-overhaul\/104052584\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/104052584\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Senate inquiry<\/a> in 2024 found ASIC consistently failed to prosecute offenders and ignored most alleged reports of misconduct.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Former Zone RV chief financial officer Kim Hodgkins has <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-12-29\/furious-customers-asic-whistleblower-zone-rv-caravan-collapse\/106169334\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106169334\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">previously criticised<\/a> ASIC after the watchdog refused to investigate a whistleblower complaint she made against Zone RV in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Liquidator considering litigation<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Separate to any possible ASIC action, the liquidator Cor Cordis is investigating in preparation for civil litigation against Mr Biggar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Cor Cordis will provide a report to creditors later this month, which will provide clarity on customers&#8217; options to recover funds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The last report highlighted a possible claim of $21 million against Mr Biggar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Melbourne-based Essential Caravans <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-02-24\/essential-caravans-buys-zone-rv-customers-owed-millions\/106331548\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106331548\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">purchased<\/a> Zone RV&#8217;s assets in February to continue manufacturing caravans under the existing brand.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Essential Caravans has promised to offer old customers a discount on a new caravan, although many people cannot afford to pay again.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Daley said customers were &#8220;not willing to rest&#8221; until they saw accountability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We will fight this until ASIC do something,&#8221; she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s too many unanswered questions.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Angry customers who lost millions of dollars when luxury caravan company Zone RV collapsed have launched a national&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":587889,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[5799,64,63,287376,70900,99,181484,181487,251770,181482,180508,180506,180507,213446,251772],"class_list":{"0":"post-587888","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-asic","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-australia-caravan-industry","12":"tag-australian-securities-and-investments-commission","13":"tag-business","14":"tag-caravan-industry","15":"tag-david-biggar","16":"tag-essential-caravans","17":"tag-zone-rv","18":"tag-zone-rv-administration","19":"tag-zone-rv-caravans","20":"tag-zone-rv-collapse","21":"tag-zone-rv-liquidation","22":"tag-zone-rv-sale"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=587888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587888\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/587889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=587888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=587888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=587888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}