Disappointed Eddie Parsons fears he has lost out on thousands of pounds after waiting five years to cash in on a sales promise.

The Woodingdean man has spent months trying to trace the American company which ran the cash-back scheme he paid into in 1996.

Mr Parsons was one of 33 customers to take part in a sales promotional scheme at Countryman Home Improvements, in Hove.

He paid an extra £316 in addition to his bill and prepared to wait five years before he could claim back the full cost of his new windows.

He thought all he had to do was remember the claim date of April 2001, claim within 30 days and a cheque for £4,265 would be his.

But, since submitting his claim in April, Mr Parsons has heard nothing from the Mineral Acceptance Corporation, which operated the scheme in conjunction with retailers across the country.

Trading standards are investigating but Mr Parsons has been warned he has little chance of seeing his money.

More than 1,100 claims are believed to have been forwarded from Britain to the Mineral Acceptance Corporation in the USA, with five or six forwarded by Countryman Home Improvements.

The rest of the 33 customers who joined the scheme with Countryman did not remember to submit their claims.

Countryman manager Anthony Jones said his firm had acted in good faith.

He said: "We're just as annoyed as anyone else and I've contacted trading standards and been trying to find out as much as I can.

"We had to hand over money as part of the scheme too and obviously to no avail. It's scandalous especially for people like Mr Parsons who in good faith took it up.

"I don't believe we've got any liability but that's not the point. It was just a sales promotion we used to help sales for six to eight weeks but we believed it was a perfectly creditable scheme.

"These kind of schemes have been running in the USA for many years, they work on the basis only about ten per cent of people will remember to claim."

Mr Parsons, of McWilliam Road, Woodingdean, said: "We moved house last year and took on a bigger mortgage because we thought we would be getting more than £4,000 in April. We were relying on it.

"The money-back scheme was a significant reason for us choosing to buy our windows from Countryman.

"This American company seems to have disappeared - I feel we have been tricked.

"There's a principle at stake and now I'm starting to look towards Countryman to see if I can at least get my £316 back."

Trading standards officers at Brighton and Hove City Council have investigated a number of complaints about the scheme in recent months.

A spokesman said: "We have passed it on to the Department of Trade and Industry who are taking it up with the US authorities. There have been complaints from other parts of the country where the Mineral Acceptance Corporation has done deals with companies.

"Ultimately the company which offered the cash-back - in this case Countryman - is responsible, and if they do not offer to pay back the money our advice to people is to make a claim through the Small Claims Court.

"A similar claim involving the Mineral Acceptance Corporation elsewhere in the country has been successful."

Officers warn people to ensure safeguards are in place before signing up to similar cash-back schemes and if in doubt to contact them for advice.

Information and an advice sheet are available by calling the consumer information and advice line on 01273 292522.