Freedom Direct 'close to collapse'

casevlloyds · 16 April 2009 at 1:45PM

Looks like another travel company is on its way out..

http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=61139&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=2355966&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=2355966&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=2355966&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=2355966&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=2355966&articleTitle=Freedom%20Direct%20'close%20to%20collapse'

delwynshd · 16 April 2009 at 1:55PM

Just spoke to my boss and it looks to be true, I have noticed them running on very low margins on the holidays they are selling

Looks like a busy day for us if this happens this afternoon

Del

withabix · 16 April 2009 at 8:41PM

Their websites say:

Unfortunately, Freedom Direct Holidays Ltd has today ceased trading (as of 16 April 2009).
Passengers who have booked a holiday with Freedom Direct Holidays Ltd are fully financially protected. Freedom Direct Ltd operated as a full member of ABTA (F5038) and ATOL 9740.
All customers who have booked a package holiday with Freedom Direct Holidays Ltd are bonded under ATOL number 9740, and are advised to contact the CAA on the following number 020 73797311.
All customers who have booked a flight, accommodation or a package holiday with any ATOL bonded company, with an ATOL number other than 9740, are advised to contact ABTA on 01243 621500.
Freedom Direct Holidays traded under the following online brands:

Freedomdirect.co.uk
Freedom-direct.co.uk
Snowdeals.co.uk
Holidaysyoulike.co.uk
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers and to thank the many people who have booked holidays with us over the last 12 years.
Yours sincerely
Martin Jones
CEO
Freedom Direct Holidays Ltd

NAR · 17 April 2009 at 12:46PM

Really disappointed to hear that they have "gone under." I booked through them last year and everything went very smoothly. Compared to other holidaymakers we spoke to at our hotel we saved over £200pp thanks to the bargain they provided us with.

Marky123 · 17 April 2009 at 1:07PM

I have a holiday booked with them. We are supposed to be going away on 22nd May. It has been booked since last July. If anyone out there gets anymore info please let me know. Likewise I will post any info I receive.

delwynshd · 17 April 2009 at 1:15PM

if yous need any help just ask

you need to contact ATOL in order to get anything back

I would happily try and help yous find something else just give me a shout if you need to rebook

luci · 17 April 2009 at 1:23PM

A colleague is booked to go to Majorca with them a week on Sunday. She has spoken to the CAA who said that her flights are OK as she has an e-ticket for them. Regarding the accommodation, she was told to contact them direct and if they didn't have her booking (paid for I assume) then she would have to put in a claim.

mmcgill · 17 April 2009 at 1:30PM

marky 123.

I like you have booked a holiday with freedomdirect for the 05th may this year. I have spent all morning trying to find out some details.

If you check your booking confirmation it will probably have the airline on that. Your flights are more than likely paid for, contact your airline and inform them of the change. You will probably have to rebook your accomodation, through freedomdirect our accomodation was booked through lowcostbeds.com, good chance yours may be too. You may have an accomodation voucher, have a look at that. I have just had to repay the cost of the accomodation. Have asked Lowcostbeds to supply a copy of the cost so that i can claim back from the CAA.

hope this helps

Mark

Marky123 · 17 April 2009 at 1:44PM

Thanks for all of the advice so far. The flights to Majorca are with Jet2. Do you think these will be ok. The hotel vouchers are through Medhotels. Maybe I should give them both a ring.

mmcgill · 17 April 2009 at 2:04PM

marky.

Phone JET2 it was my experience that freedomdirect had to pay the airline as they will not reserve your seat without payment.

However the accomodation is another story, Lowcostbeds stated that they had not been paid for some time by Freedomdirect. It appears that they had their ATOL was not renewed for April.

If your flights are okay then its just a matter of rebooking your accomodation. I know that this is extra cost, but hopefully it means you can still have the holiday. As you know where your booking is phone and see if it is still available, that way you can book the same accomdation. so in effect your holiday hasnt changed ( other than having to pay again).

but at this late stage in the day, you just want your hols right. ( didnt fancy telling my two young kids aged 3&4 that they were not going on holiday)

good luck and let me know how you got on.

mark

r18rws · 17 April 2009 at 2:15PM

Anyone booked on 1st April 2009 and later may need to do womethign entierley different as the ATOL was not renewed and so CAA will not cover your booking.

Freedom Direct 'close to collapse'

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