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Original poster

Holiday Scam Help

94 replies

Asvan · 18/12/2024 20:39

Hi everyone.

Please be kind to me I know I have been very naive here.

In April this year I booked a trip of a lifetime for me and my family with a local travel agent. The package included flights transfers and hotels. The travel agent had been recommended to me by a friend who had travelled through them a few times before. I did my research and the travel agent had good online reviews etc. The travel agent told me that they were agents for ATOL holders.

I paid them 2 installments of 5k each via bank transfer in April and June. The money went to a business account. They sent me booking confirmation and an invoice and everything seemed legitimate.

Since then the travel agent has been in constant contact and answered all our questions etc.

I was due to fly out with my family this Saturday but I got a call from the agent last Tuesday to say that there had been an issue with our booking and our trip was cancelled. The reason he gave was that their UK based supplier had gone bankrupt and he can't give us a refund.

After that call he hasn't answered any of my calls and has blocked me.

Another family has got in contact with me and they lost 14k under similar circumstances with the same travel agent last year He point blank refused to pay them.

I did some fishing and there were no plane tickets or hotel reservations made in our names.

I am so gutted that our trip has been cancelled and now I stand to lose 10k. I have been saving up for this trip for nearly 3 years and I am just so angry at myself.

Please can anyone advise on what my next steps should be? Will the bank give me my money back? Do I have to report this to police? Are there any other agencies that I need to report this travel agent to? The whole situation has left me so anxious and I am so embarrassed that I have been a victim of something like this.

If I don't get my money back, what can I do to warn others about this scamming agent?

OP posts:
Oldandcobwebby · 19/12/2024 10:43

Out of interest, is this travel agent one of the working from home types under the "InteleTravel" franchise? I have a friend who is allegedly a travel agent with them, but it all sounds as dodgy as hell to me.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/12/2024 10:48

Oh op I’m so sorry. How devastating for you.

take a deep breath, go back over this thread and write down all the possible avenues of redress you have and systematically go through them all, one by one, so you feel you have a plan and some control back.

I hope you can get your money back from this scum bag.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/12/2024 10:49

Oldandcobwebby · 19/12/2024 10:43

Out of interest, is this travel agent one of the working from home types under the "InteleTravel" franchise? I have a friend who is allegedly a travel agent with them, but it all sounds as dodgy as hell to me.

I also wondered about this. I assume these things are a pyramid scheme ie a scam.

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 10:50

The travel agency is a small local business and it's registered on Companies House as still active. He has an office on the high street and everything. It sickens me that he is still advertising holiday packages.

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 19/12/2024 10:53

I'm so sorry, this is awful.

Definitely report to the police and call your travel insurance.

In future, you need ABTA protection and pay using a credit card, not bank transfer.

flubuggy · 19/12/2024 10:56

Have you been in to the office to get details of your alleged flight/hotel bookings, since he's ignoring your calls?

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 10:59

flubuggy · 19/12/2024 10:56

Have you been in to the office to get details of your alleged flight/hotel bookings, since he's ignoring your calls?

I've been in twice but he's refused to speak to me so I've given up on that front.

OP posts:
MadeForThis · 19/12/2024 11:06

That's exactly what small claims is for.

DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 11:08

Have you thought about contacting your local newspaper if you're OK to go public?

I assume this is a one man band kind of operation rather than a branch of a household name. You were able to be scammed because previous victims didn't make known what had happened to them, you could save the next person

Id be interested in whether some customers have been OK and you've been very unlucky or there are a whole host of other scammees

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 11:20

DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 11:08

Have you thought about contacting your local newspaper if you're OK to go public?

I assume this is a one man band kind of operation rather than a branch of a household name. You were able to be scammed because previous victims didn't make known what had happened to them, you could save the next person

Id be interested in whether some customers have been OK and you've been very unlucky or there are a whole host of other scammees

I don't want to go public because I am really embarrassed that I've fallen for this. I live in a small town where everyone knows each other so it's just going to cause me so much grief. However. I definitely do want to expose this scammer.

It is a local business run by 1 man, who seems to know that no one can touch him despite what he does.

From the picture I've got so far- some trips are genuine and do go ahead whereas others like me get scammed. I know of 5 other families who have been scammed in the last years and I am sure there are many others that I don't know about.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 19/12/2024 11:21

Asvan · 19/12/2024 10:28

Do you know how much this would cost? I don't have anymore money to lose.

Show quote history

If your claim is between £5k and £10k, it will cost £455. If it is more than that it will cost 5% of the claim. However, as you have travel insurance I would start by contacting them. That may be a quicker, easier way of getting your money back.

bigkidatheart · 19/12/2024 11:32

Does your confirmation not state who the supposed supplier was?

You need to contact the police, and of course your bank.

So sorry this has happened so close to Christmas

DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 11:36

Asvan · 19/12/2024 11:20

I don't want to go public because I am really embarrassed that I've fallen for this. I live in a small town where everyone knows each other so it's just going to cause me so much grief. However. I definitely do want to expose this scammer.

It is a local business run by 1 man, who seems to know that no one can touch him despite what he does.

From the picture I've got so far- some trips are genuine and do go ahead whereas others like me get scammed. I know of 5 other families who have been scammed in the last years and I am sure there are many others that I don't know about.

Show quote history

I understand not wanting to go public but sadly it sounds like that's what's allowing the man to keep stealing from folks

It seems odd that people know he's a scammer but others still book with him. Would it be wise if the mark to wonder if there's some kind of cultural reason on one is willing to speak up?

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 11:44

DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 11:36

I understand not wanting to go public but sadly it sounds like that's what's allowing the man to keep stealing from folks

It seems odd that people know he's a scammer but others still book with him. Would it be wise if the mark to wonder if there's some kind of cultural reason on one is willing to speak up?

Show quote history

You've hit the nail on the head here. I am South Asian and the travel agent is alsp South Asian. In our culture speaking up publicly about these things is just a no-go. Plus I live in a community where everyone knows each other so I cant face the publicity that it would bring, my mental health has already taken a battering.

The scammer is obviously aware of all this and is using it to his advantage.

OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 19/12/2024 11:50

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 12:07

Thanks for your advice everyone.

i have sent him a final message via mobile to let him know that I am taking this further and he needs to contact me within 24 hours. If no response I will be looking at all the advice on this thread and taking action accordingly.

I will post regular updates on here too.

I really hope that I can get my money back.

OP posts:
DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 12:12

Asvan · 19/12/2024 11:44

You've hit the nail on the head here. I am South Asian and the travel agent is alsp South Asian. In our culture speaking up publicly about these things is just a no-go. Plus I live in a community where everyone knows each other so I cant face the publicity that it would bring, my mental health has already taken a battering.

The scammer is obviously aware of all this and is using it to his advantage.

Show quote history

Was your planned trip a secret? If not what are you going to say to everyone about why you aren't going?

I have to say I find the concept of covering this up unimaginable in 2024

Winter2020 · 19/12/2024 12:23

Hi OP,
All I want to say is that you have no reason to feel foolish or embarrassed.

If you can't trust a travel agent with a high street presence that comes recommended to you by a personal acquaintance then I don't know how you could trust any business.

You have done nothing wrong.

Good ideas to speak to your travel insurance, the police/action fraud and look into small claims court. If the person needs to be ABTA protected as an agent perhaps you can contact them and get him struck off by them.

Sometimes home or car insurance offers legal cover that you can use for any issues you have so that's worth looking into if you have that too.

Good luck I hope you get your money back.

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 12:39

DreamW3aver · 19/12/2024 12:12

Was your planned trip a secret? If not what are you going to say to everyone about why you aren't going?

I have to say I find the concept of covering this up unimaginable in 2024

Show quote history

The trip was not a secret. We've had to tell everyone that the trip was cancelled by the travel agent and we are in the process of trying to get our money back.

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 19/12/2024 12:44

Omg do not let this man get away with this ! If I had time I’d be camping out in the office all day waiting for him to speak to him

I’d definitely try get more people who have had same thing happen and get them along too!

call the police, travel agents and please go public with this ! Local Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups etc

otherwise he will keep getting away with it

TiramisuCheesecake · 19/12/2024 12:52

LIZS · 18/12/2024 21:03

ATOL only covers packages with flights and situations like airline failure, ABTA is the bond covering travel agents.

Agree. ATOL would cover you if the airline went bankrupt. But in this case it doesn't apply as the tickets were never booked.

This isn't a scam - it's outright theft. This "travel agent" is none of the sort, and has stolen money from the OP under false pretences of getting a holiday. Of course you must go to the Police OP, or Action Fraud. And encourage anyone else who has dealt with this person to do the same. I hope you get your money back.

NeighbourHitMyCar · 19/12/2024 13:30

As PP have said, it will cost somewhere around £400 BUT you will get this money back as part of the claim as this seems very cut and dry. I cannot emphasise how easy it is to go through small claims. You just lay out the communication and evidence.

But as others have said, you may be covered via your post office travel agents. Is there a reason you seem reluctant to contact them?

Original poster
Asvan · 19/12/2024 14:09

I've not spoken to any authorities just yet because I want to give him 1 last chance to respond. If I don't hear back from him tomorrow I will contact police, my travel insurance and my bank. I'd rather he just pay me back without me having to do all this.

Does travel insurance usually cover scam holidays? I'm also a bit reluctant because I feel so stupid.

OP posts:
Peanutssuck · 19/12/2024 14:46

I wouldn't give him anymore chances to respond, you've given him enough. I would contact ATOL, travel insurers, and police.

I would also personally take up residence in his shop and not move, but I understand that's not everyone's cup of tea. So sorry this has happened to you. You're not the one at fault - he is

MixedCouple2 · 19/12/2024 15:23

Martin from Money saving expert has a link on his website for a platform that will run an check and do the initial chasing for you. I forgot the name but if you go onto his website and type in holiday fraud something similar you should find it.
I used it during COVID for flights that were cancelled and the platform sent out chaser emails and after the alloted time reported it for us and we got our money back. Worth a try.

I would report the company to trading standards and 101 police. I would contact your bank and see if they can step in. They may need a police report to do anything.
You can get your money back but you gotta do the leg work.

And for future never ever pay for holiday oe big stuff with bank transfer alqays use a credit card. You will have max protection. And you can pay it off right away to avoid interest. But you have the financial protection.
All the best