Missguided shuts down website leaving customers without orders and returns

I have 15 years of experience in the retail industry…
Missguided has shut down their website and app and finally stopped taking customer orders. Missguided website reads “Our maintenance pixels are currently working their magic on our site. We’ll be back with you soon…” with a Customer Care button that leads a broken link ‘404! page’.
According to insiders, Missguided had been dealing with issues fulfilling customer orders for the last few weeks, and kept providing customers the run around on why orders are not being receive. In addition to continuing to charge for one-day delivery fees with knowledge that they would not be able to ship the orders in time.
According to a BBC article, “Missguided Help” were telling customers who contacted them that orders were “not being processed and would be refunded if a customer contacts them placing blaming IT issues,” weeks ago. The company will not comment on whether it will clear the backlog of customer complaints, it still has not addressed these concerns with sending out orders/issuing refunds to any media outlet.
A customer awaiting her purchase, @veebanxx on Instagram sent us a screenshot from ‘Missguided Help’ today, with an auto-reply stating “If you have not received your order by the indicated dispatch date these are assumed to be “lost in the post”. You can make a claim in the Administration as an unsecured creditor of the company. You will not receive a refund for your goods. Please send details to [email protected] to make a claim for a refund in the Administration.”
Yet, last Friday Missguided promoted a 50% discount and were continuing to receive orders. A shopper said to BBC, “It’s disgusting how they’ve left so many women in the dark,” she added.
I have 15 years of experience in the retail industry including expertise in marketing, operations, merchandising, buying, shopping and technology. I am a speaker, consultant and former senior managing director of The School of Retailing, University of Alberta. My education includes a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from The University of Alberta in Marketing, Certificate in Real Estate and a Diploma in Fashion Merchandising and Buying from LasSalle College, a Canadian private school founded in 1959 by fashion designer Jean-Paul Morin.