More than 100 Canberrans are chasing refunds and some have half-finished tattoos, after the liquidation of a popular ACT tattoo studio.
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The Gungahlin-based Tatts On Tatts Off Pty Ltd went into liquidation on April 15, after closing without notice to its many clients.
Documents seen by The Canberra Times reveal 116 creditors are seeking refunds, mostly for tattoo deposits, with the company owing more than $22,000.
The sole director of Tatts On Tatts Off, Peter Bone, is also the founder of Survivors Ink, a non-profit charity helping create tattoo realistic nipples for breast cancer survivors that have had their breasts removed due to cancer treatment.
Attempts to contact Mr Bone were unsuccessful. The studio's Facebook page has been deactivated and Mr Bone's mobile and landline disconnected.
Braddon resident Kiet Ho put down a deposit of $350 for a sleeve tattoo in February, which was to be done in June.
In the days before its closure, Mr Ho visited the studio to change tattoo artists, and said it was less busy than normal.
"I was very confused. I came in the day before it closed and there were just two guys there [at the studio]. The place was empty," Mr Ho said.
"The studio was being run then like nothing was wrong."
After he found out about the studio's closure, Mr Ho said he tried to get in contact with the liquidators for his money back, but has been yet to receive a refund.
"Honestly, I have no idea if I'll get my money back, but whatever happens, I hope everyone gets reimbursed."
A similar situation happened to Gungahlin resident Jenna Fisher, who previously got three tattoos from Tatts On Tatts Off and has put a further two deposits down at $100 each.
Ms Fisher said she was in the studio the day before it closed permanently to get a piercing.
"I put a deposit down way back in January because the tattoo artists were booked out for a while," Ms Fisher said. "A bunch of artists started leaving the studio to work elsewhere."
She said the liquidators had told her the likelihood of unsecured credits being paid was low.