Holiday Scam Help

[Asvan]

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?

You should look through your travel insurance as a matter of urgency

So you can't face the fact you've been scammed but he can walk around in your community knowing he's scammed you.

Cmon OP break the chain of deceit.

Sit yourself down and don't move until he does.
Tell anyone who comes in that he owes you £10k and stand outside his shop as well if needed

OK so the plot thickens. I have set up a whatspp group as 2 other victims have approached me. There are now 5 of us in the same boat.

Some of them have already contacted:

Action fraud and been told that the more people that report the scam, the more likely they are to investigate.

Travel insurance have refused to pay because no bookings were actually made.

Banks have apparently said its a loophole scam and there is nothing they can do.

Also one of the victims has considered small claims court but apparently the scammer has no assets registered to his name so how will he pay anyone back?

I can't believe this guy is robbing people in broad daylight and he is still getting away with it.

I will be contacting all the above parties tomorrow but I am not feeling very hopeful at all.

One of the victims is going to the local paper about it and the rest of us will also submit our evidence so that should hopefully warn some future victims.

We have also named and shamed him on local social media pages.

One of the victims said she tried this and he reported her to police. Police got in touch wit the victim to tell her she could get charged for trespassing.

This scammer knows every dirty trick in the book and he is using them to rob people blind.

Is it a company the guy runs? Did you book via that or with him personally? Still worth making a claim imho.

I can't believe this guy is robbing people in broad daylight and he is still getting away with it.

He's getting away with it because people won't stand up to him, and publicly call him out.

Well done for starting the ball rolling, you may not get your money back but it might stop him.

Did you contact the journo who posted his details?

Yes I've made contact with him.

He runs a company which is registered on Comapnies House.

Now that I'm in touch with other victims we have spread awareness on social media and on of the victims is also going to the local media. I've also considered contacting BBC Watchdog if more victims come forward.

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

Sod that. I'd be camping out in his bloody office and making placards about his shenanigans to hold outside!

It might be the truth he's telling but the lie could be that he didn't have insurance.
I'd say take him to court, file with police also.

@NeighbourHitMyCar @Asvan
Small claims only recover a small amount- not 10k

I don't believe this fans under the heading of scam if he's a legit travel agent.

Small claims is up to £10k so absolutely the right place for OP to start

OP please do pursue it as if he doesn't pay then you can use the small claims ruling to instruct bailiffs. The act of doing this may prompt him into action

But I think your plan so far sounds great and I'm pleased you've decided to publicly shame him

I would stand outside his shop with a poster telling people what's happened. He will soon pay up.

Just seen he reported someone to the police for that, nonsense. They won't care.

He's relying on you being silent due to your culture.

The bank won't refund you and nor will your holiday insurance.

You're going to need to be brave, stick your head above the water with the other families he's stolen from and get your money back.

You can do it, please don't let him get away with it

Sorry no practical advice but you are getting some really good tips here. Just posting to say you are not foolish and it is not your fault, and well done for speaking up and making sure they don't get away with it and you get your refund. Dealing with insurance is a hassle at the best of times so patience and good luck!

Perhaps fraud...

Taking money by deception.

Were any payments made to them after 7th October? If so it might be worth checking with the Bank again if you are actually covered by the APP Scam protection Our new APP fraud reimbursement protections | Payment Systems Regulator

The sooner you get the small-claims court application filled out the more likely you are to get your money back. Better than after everyone else tries.

Will I get anything back if he has no assets to his name?

The accounts lodged at Companies House should give an indication of whether the company has assets. Honestly, I'd just get the paperwork into the court rather than trying to find out if he has assets or not.

There should be annual accounts lodged at Companies House. Depending on the set up he may be personally liable for debts and have other assets. If he didn't book the holiday he stated on the invoice he has stolen your money and used it for other purposes. He could be prevented from trading or being a company director. You seem strangely passive in accepting the loss.