Help please! Travel agent in Administration...

heylyla1

Hi- Not sure if this is the right forum section really as it would have fit in most of them tbh, but here goes....

My girlfriends friend agreed a deal with a local travel agent for a holiday in Greece, for approx 5 friends, including my gf and her. The holiday has been paid for in cash installments (no visa protection) over the past 8 months or so, for a total of about £2k altogether between them. The friend went in to pay the last installment the other day and was informed that the systems were down as the company was entering administration, and that she would not be receiving the money or the holiday.

The company involved is 'Lets Go Direct', a fairly small firm. I looked on companies house and it does not mention anything about the company being wound down, and their branch was open and staffed so they appearto be trading still but maybe the staffknow they are about to enter administration?

My question is obvious really, what can we do?
I will be going in myself to speak to them tomorrow but would appreciate some advice before I do.

Thanks in advance...

KonkyWonky

Check if the holiday is ATOL protected. If not then it doesn't sound good......

wannaberichbtch

If you have a look at the recent threads on this site following the collapse of Freedomdirect and xscapewithus it will give you some idea of what you are up against. It's a complete lottery, as to whether you get your holiday or a refund, or end up with nothing. If you go into the shop tomorrow try and get something in writing confirming the situation, that's your starting point.

ferf1223

it can take a little time for the administration info to appear at Companies House...though it does appear that Let's Go Direct Limited is listed as a dormant company and has been for some time which may or may not be worrying.

The company's registered address is with an accountant (not uncommon)...maybe call them stating that you see that the company's registered address is with PKF and you're trying to get some more info about Let's GO Direct Limited...if they are far enough along in the process of going into administration, they will surely give you the administrator's details.

http://www.pkf.co.uk/

Personally, I would try calling first to see what info you can get before going into the branch.

BillTrac

I know it doesn't help your girlfriend in the slightest and it is no help to say this after the event, but why,oh why don't people pay at least £100 on a CC for protection?

The way things are out there you need all the help going.

I really wish your girlfriend (and her friends) the best of luck

heylyla1

Thanks for all the replies.

Check if the holiday is ATOL protected. If not then it doesn't sound good....

I checked the ATOL website and could not find any record of them. But after a fair bit of googling I found articles saying that their parent company 'Lets go Travel' are.{LINK TO ARTICLE}
I could not find them on the ATOL search either though lol. But then their (LGT) website is down... maybe they are both going into admin?

If you have a look at the recent threads on this site following the collapse of Freedomdirect and xscapewithus it will give you some idea of what you are up against. It's a complete lottery, as to whether you get your holiday or a refund, or end up with nothing. If you go into the shop tomorrow try and get something in writing confirming the situation, that's your starting point.

Thanks- I'll look through those. Point noted about the written confirmation too... will do!

it can take a little time for the administration info to appear at Companies House...though it does appear that Let's Go Direct Limited is listed as a dormant company and has been for some time which may or may not be worrying.

* ah of course, typical isnt it the faster our comms get the slower things actually happen...

The company's registered address is with an accountant (not uncommon)...maybe call them stating that you see that the company's registered address is with PKF and you're trying to get some more info about Let's GO Direct Limited...if they are far enough along in the process of going into administration, they will surely give you the administrator's details.

http://www.pkf.co.uk/

* Thanks I'll do that too..

Personally, I would try calling first to see what info you can get before going into the branch.

* The premises is just down the road from me, and I figured there would be a branch manager at least to throttle information out of. In a nice way of course lol. But then it may help, yes, I may as well.

I know it doesn't help your girlfriend in the slightest and it is no help to say this after the event, but why,oh why don't people pay at least £100 on a CC for protection?

* I know, I know, I was pretty annoyed with her, she agreed to it all and started paying without telling me so I didnt have much say. We live together and share bills rent etc.. so usually share info like that....The thing is it was all organised by her friend whom my GF just gave the cash to, and she would just take it all into the shop and hand it over.

The way things are out there you need all the help going.

* Every living being does- [STRIKE]I'm not special[/STRIKE] Im as special as you

I really wish your girlfriend (and her friends) the best of luck

* Thankyou!

Janie2008

I don't know if this is the same company but I know Harvey World have been put into administration (it says somewhere that Let's go were sold to them at some point). They apparently went into administration as their ABTA membership was withdrawn. I think you should be Ok as you probably had ABTA membership at the time of booking. If you booked with them it suggests phoning ABTA. Have read you are OK if you booked before May 21st.

bagand96

Are "lets go direct" the travel agent or the tour operator?

If they are the tour operator, and the local travel agent is still trading, then any agent worth their salt should be able to offer advise on this matter, and advise if the holiday was ATOL protected etc and how to take further steps.

Alan_Bowen

Lets Go Travel was a trading name of Hrvey World Travel, the original owner sold to HWT some time ago, hence it appears to be a dormant company at Companies House. HWT has indeed gone into administration but your contract will be with a tour operator, she should have a confirmation invoice from the tour oerator itself, maybe someone like Olympic Holidays, get her to phone them and they should be able to confirm that the holiday is safe. The only risk is cash paid after 21st May ( I think that is the correct date) when they were thrown out of ABTA and the tour operator should have told your girlfriend to make any remaining payments direct to them, but I would keep quiet, produce the receipts to show payments have been made and then enjoy the holiday