Farepak in administration: What to do? (Merged Thread)

zsazsa_3

grilli wrote:

My mum has lost a smaller ammount of money than most have posted on here, she wants to know how she goes about getting anything back. Are there any letters already setup like there were with the bank charges?

If you go to https://www.farepak.co.uk the website will update you on what you have to do re submitting a claim. i think most people are telephoning in their claim now but you can email, fax or send recorded delivery.

Also this link might help you http://www.unfairpak.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=7ed8ff7a4ec0bb5e3a9c6dfc2bb45846

zsazsa_3

emilyj wrote:

I do not know much about how the Farepak business worked, but from this forum it looks as if some people play "catch-up" in September/October so they pay in all the money by the closing date.

Is this true?

Have any agents "made up" payments for customers who could not afford all that was due, with the intention of receiving it back when the vouchers arrived?

The reason I ask is that, the more I think about it, the more concerned I become about the role of HBOS.

Why did they not say in mid-August, when the shares were suspended, that they had no intention of increasing the borrowing facility?

Seems to me they callously waited till Farepak had collected as much cash as possible to make sure they got all the money that was due to them - no matter who else lost out.

The Findel deal was obviously sitting there in the wings, as is came into operation the same day as the Administrators were appointed. So those with full access to information had a pretty good idea the bank was not going to come up with the extra facility.

Maybe if it can be proved that the bank deliberately allowed Farepak to continue accepting money just so they could get their money it would encourage the Government to find a way to return more money to customers.

I think quite a few people are playing "catch-up" come late September into October. I know for one I certainly was - thankfully for me my last payment of almost £300 was going to be submitted the week beginning 16 October and I knew then they were in administration - so I managed to salvage something for myself and customers.

ambercfc

Hi. I have lost out also thanks to Farepak...
I'm just wondering though, they went "bust" on Friday (unfortunately I didn't hear about it until Monday 16th, evening) surely the accounts they had with Natwest should have been closed straight away? I went into Natwest on Monday morning & paid in £460 which they allowed me to do. I feel that this is totally wrong & so does everyone that I have spoken to about it. I've tried to get the money back from Natwest but to no avail. The "customer services" guy had an awful attitude towards me & said "there's nothing I can do about it, I won't be accepting any more payments as from today. I didn't even know about the company going bust until last night. You'll have to get on to them about it". Baring in mind Farepak's website states that no payments will be accepted, why was mine??

sandfacer

the last payment u paid in will have been put in a seperate account as the administraiters ring renced all payments recieved after fri so u should gett it all back

zsazsa_3

ambercfc wrote:

Hi. I have lost out also thanks to Farepak...
I'm just wondering though, they went "bust" on Friday (unfortunately I didn't hear about it until Monday 16th, evening) surely the accounts they had with Natwest should have been closed straight away? I went into Natwest on Monday morning & paid in £460 which they allowed me to do. I feel that this is totally wrong & so does everyone that I have spoken to about it. I've tried to get the money back from Natwest but to no avail. The "customer services" guy had an awful attitude towards me & said "there's nothing I can do about it, I won't be accepting any more payments as from today. I didn't even know about the company going bust until last night. You'll have to get on to them about it". Baring in mind Farepak's website states that no payments will be accepted, why was mine??

any payment received after the 13 October will be ring fenced and sent back to you.

kez_s

For all of you who have been affected by Farepak, you may be interested in sending your message in a hamper which is being sent to the directors of Farepak via the Swindon Advertiser

the link is

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindoncampaigns/farepakfiasco/

there is also further information about the on-going situation on the site.

Enjoy writing your messages - I did!

ljones60

hi

I have just found out about farepak. I have paid £180 for vouchers which i probably won't ever see again.

Ive been reading the posts and can't believe the amounts that have been taken from some ppl. i hope the MD's rot in hell for what they have done.

I bought my vouchers in february but i didn't hear anything for about a month and a half. As i had mentioned it to other members of my family they were interested in saving for vouchers as well. As i hadn't heard anything i ordered the vouchers for family members (£800) with family hampers.

Could someone please clarify that family hampers are unaffected?

I was lucky that I just lost out and my family members' christmas hasn't been spoilt. Luckily for me i can still afford to pay for christmas however the vouchers would have made it easier.

I hope that something good happens soon to help all the families that have lost so much.

zsazsa_3

ljones60 wrote:

hi

I have just found out about farepak. I have paid £180 for vouchers which i probably won't ever see again.

Ive been reading the posts and can't believe the amounts that have been taken from some ppl. i hope the MD's rot in hell for what they have done.

I bought my vouchers in february but i didn't hear anything for about a month and a half. As i had mentioned it to other members of my family they were interested in saving for vouchers as well. As i hadn't heard anything i ordered the vouchers for family members (£800) with family hampers.

Could someone please clarify that family hampers are unaffected?

I was lucky that I just lost out and my family members' christmas hasn't been spoilt. Luckily for me i can still afford to pay for christmas however the vouchers would have made it easier.

I hope that something good happens soon to help all the families that have lost so much.

I think Family Hampers were bought by the Park Group earlier this year and are therefore okay - I am sure they have had their name changed though as I am sure they did fall into administration but very early on in the year. I would just give them a ring and check but as I say I am 99% sure they are part of Park Group.
Suzy

Plasticman

ljones60 wrote:

hi

I have just found out about farepak. I have paid £180 for vouchers which i probably won't ever see again.

Ive been reading the posts and can't believe the amounts that have been taken from some ppl. i hope the MD's rot in hell for what they have done.

I bought my vouchers in february but i didn't hear anything for about a month and a half. As i had mentioned it to other members of my family they were interested in saving for vouchers as well. As i hadn't heard anything i ordered the vouchers for family members (£800) with family hampers.

Could someone please clarify that family hampers are unaffected?

I was lucky that I just lost out and my family members' christmas hasn't been spoilt. Luckily for me i can still afford to pay for christmas however the vouchers would have made it easier.

I hope that something good happens soon to help all the families that have lost so much.

Family hampers are still trading so no problems there. Not sure that all of the hamper companies will still be trading next year though after all this bad press!

kez_s

I wouldn't touch one if they offered 20% interest on what I was paying. They do think by next year those companies not affected will be by next year as 1000's will no longer use hamper companies, so they will in turn lose money and hence could end up going bust. Plus if shops do end up refusing all vouchers where does that leave everyone? Most affected by this have purchased the vouchers and not hampers so if vouchers become useless they don't have much of a business any longer.

How many on here who have lost money would use a hamper company again, be interesting to know if anyone would be brave enough to.