Travel firm collapse hits 40,000 holidaymakers
Pastor Dale Morgan
Travel firm collapse hits 40,000 holidaymakers*
By Patrick Sawyer Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 22/12/2007
UK - Thousands of families are facing a dismal Christmas at home after
their festive holidays were cancelled when their tour operator went into
bankruptcy administration.
As many as 40,000 people have been hit after Travelscope Holidays citing
“cashflow” problems.
Nearly 10,000 were due to travel over the Christmas period and another
30,000 in the coming months. When the administrators began contacting
customers to warn them their holidays would not be taking place many
thought it was a practical joke.
Telephone lines at the Travelscope’s Gloucester offices quickly became
jammed as customers rang in for news of their planned breaks.
The administrators have promised that everyone hit by the firm’s
collapse will be refunded the full cost of their cancelled holidays.
More than 460 passengers currently on the cruise ship MV Van Gogh, due
to arrive at Falmouth on January 4, will finish their holiday
uninterrupted. But thousands still face having to make last-minute
arrangements to celebrate Christmas and New Year at home.
June Dolphin, from Stroud, said she and her husband were bitterly
disappointed to have missed out on their Christmas break.
“I paid £743 in cash, and I’ve no idea if I’m going to get it back. I’ve
had no information at all and I am gutted,” she said.
“We were going to have a sleigh ride on Christmas day and a steam train
ride on Boxing Day. We don’t like Christmas at home, it’s too lonely.”
Another of Travelscope’s customers, Wendy Owen from Hucclecote, was
booked to go to Bavaria for the New Year. She had gone into the office
last Wednesday with some insurance documents and there was no hint of
any problems.
“I was very shocked. The first I heard about it was on the radio.”
Ernest Roberts, of Deal, said he had only found out on Friday from a friend.
“My wife, myself and two friends were going on the 23rd to Germany for a
Christmas break and that’s all gone now. We only found out at 5 o’clock
on Friday afternoon,” said Mr Roberts.
“It is a very disappointing Christmas.”
A statement on Travelscope’s website said the Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) would pay all losses to air passengers.
Land and sea passengers would receive refunds from the Association of
British Travel Agents (Abta).
Travelscope’s managing director Richard Ford said he had held off
putting the business into administration until he had paid all the staff
their December wages.
A £6 million investment in a new building, combined with a delay in
moving and legal action over a cancelled cruise had landed the firm in
financial difficulties.
Mr Ford said: “I am desperately sorry for the staff many of whom have
been with the company for a long time.
“I also feel sorry for the customers who thought they would be going
away this Christmas or New Year and who will not be.
“As soon as I knew the money was in the accounts of staff, I was able to
call time. I remortgaged my own assets and put that money into the
business ten days ago.
“This is not about me but about staff, passengers and family.”
The Abta phone number is 01243 621500