Hi, I received this email yesterday from RMT ( 5th May) :
Morning Lara,
The directors were still trading the company up until they decided to commence insolvency proceedings and cease trading on 16th April 2009.
As far as we have been advised by the directors, all sales were bonded by either CAA or ABTA under different ATOL numbers depending on how they were booked.

The letter to all creditors will be sent out today and I will add you to the list of creditors. In the report there is a proof of debt form which you can complete and return to us to lodge your claim in the administration.
Regards

Emily Mitchell
Insolvency Administrator

So it sounds like we should hear something soon from them ( Prob just more forms though) Note the comment ref CAA or ABTA .... here we go
Lara

Started a facebook group but cannot post the link, pm me if interested
Maybe we can get this to apply pressure as well

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103734716419&ref=nf

my facebook link

All afternoon it would not let me post that link , would you believe it, its letting me now, go on join the group, sign the petition, fight for whats yours, come on

For those of you who still want this resolved ,I have my MP writing to the Chief Executive of ABTA highlighting his concerns and our problem.
Will let you know the outcome when I know the outcome.
Anyone got a ''letter'' from RMT yet?
I was promised but not got one yet.

Of course we still want it resolved - by asking that, do you think some folk have it resolved already!! If so how did they do that??
I havent heard anything from ABTA or anyone else for that matter, since last week - I have both my MSP and the Judge onto the case and as yet nothing.
forever hopefull!!

Didn't want to come across as you seem to have taken it, just it seems all has gone quiet, obviously no more news has emerged, yet earlier posts intimated that there was going to be something comming out this week from ABTA.

Well surprise surprise, Ive just had Hays travel on the phone asking if I would like to rebook my holiday, but unfortunatley not at the same price! Can you believe the cheek of these people ( and I dont blame the girls on the phone - they are only doing their job) not only have we already paid for a holiday, but they want us to pay again at a higher price! if it wasnt so bloody awful it would be laughable! Apparantly Lowcost beds are putting the price of the accomodation up - but no-one else is - so she said!!
She then went on to tell me my documents didnt have the £1 ATOl protection - which they do!!!
Would you pay for your shopping then before you took it home pay again at higher prices - I dont think so!

I think I am losing the will to live

There are plenty accommodation only providers out there, you don't need to rebook with Hays just because they have taken over the assets of Freedom Direct.

luci

Well ABTA have been having a bit of a battering over the way things have been handled in the latest edition of the TTG (newspaper for agents) yet they say that Freedoms paperwork was very complicated !!
Never mind the paperwork, how about the Agency Law that they supposedly have, is it law or just an optional "goodwill gesture" as it appears to be !!!
From the trade, agents etc have been angered and confused as to how it has been dealt with by ABTA and i am sure that many questions now have to asked and answered.

Be nice to hear some positive news from customers affected by the Freedom Collapse.

Thanks

I had flights booked through Freedom Direct with Thomas Cook.
Everything was sorted within the week just waiting for my airline tickets to be posted to me as we fly on 23rd May.
So no trouble only the initial flap on hearing of the demise of FD.

Gene

Ive just been told by ABTA that they are sending me a letter to send to the credit card company. They say it should be here by next friday - maybe now I can re-book - at long last!

Well i'm glad something is happening and that there is some good news on the horizon.

Jakejenn:
What we all ask though is why should you have to claim through your card company, at the end of the day the funds should be there somewhere in Freedoms Account, but obviously not and ABTA i doubt would be able to handle such a large claim for all this money that people have trusted in placing with this agency.

Anyway, lets see what happens and i hope that you are able to reclaim your money back asap and start to look forward to booking another.

Thanks

i agree, i shouldnt have to claim from my credit card, but after 3 wks, Im just happy to be able to do something - at least now there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel

I sent a claim form off to ABTA on Tuesday with all my paperwork hoping that ABTA would sort out my claim. In fairness to ABTA I got a reply from them this morning. Unfortunately not what I wanted to hear and no doubt others will get the same letter.

Basically is advises

"It appears that the hotel you booked cancelled the booking due to non payment. This is because the acconadation supplier named on your documentation, HOTELS4U only act as an agent on the hotels behalf, thus putting you in direct contract with the hotel"

In other words tough we are doing nothing about it as HOTELS4U are acting as an agent. How many people would know this unless they read all the small print. The travel industry really nees to make things clearer particularly now that many of us no longer use travel agents

They suggest I send a copy of the letter to my credit card company and chase a refund through them. I submitted a claim to them on Tuesday and to be fair to them they phoned me today asking for more info

I got a reply back from the JUDGE today as well advising that they will be taking the case forward. As soon as I hear anything I will advise, but not too hopeful

Stewart

smc4761:
Unfortunately, i think most accommodation suppliers work in this way and now only hold an "agent status" rather than a "principle" status, the latter, only one or 2 accommodation only suppliers hold this now.

At least your credit card company have been more helpful so fingers crossed.

Thanks

smc4761
When you initially booked your holiday and recieved confirmation from FD did it name Hotels4 u on the document or did their name appear at a later date ?

My brother paid for his hol by credit card and has been told all his money will be refunded within the month as it clearly states on his statement the money was paid to FD, the credit card company he used actually said they had been waiting for his call, he did not have to send them any letters or anything.
At least somebody got their money back !!!

Goldtrail were named on my confirmation as the flight supplier and Hotels4U as the accomadation provider. The credit card statement howevr shows payments to FD

Stewart

The CAA's advice to Freedom Direct customers is not travel if they have bought an ATOL protected holiday from the firm and to submit a claim for the cost of the holiday to the CAA, under the ATOL scheme. Freedom Direct was also an ABTA travel agent selling holiday arrangements for other travel firms, such as bed banks. These arrangements were not sold under its ATOL.

If customers, who have travel documents, decide to use all or part of the arrangements they will be doing so at their own risk. However, if they find that certain parts of their holiday need to be rebooked and require payment again then they can submit an ATOL claim, providing they are on a package covered by Freedom Direct's ATOL. It should be noted that the maximum amount that can be claimed is the original package price less the value of services that were used. Not all holiday arrangements sold by Freedom Direct were sold under its ATOL so its important to check before hand.

If a taxi transfer was part of a package holiday and is not provided when the customer arrives at the airport, the documentation for the replacement
taxi fare should be kept and submitted as an ATOL claim for consideration on the customers return to the UK.




Civil Aviation Authority
Phone: 020 7453 6026