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

katierose

I regret to advise that Joint Administrators have been appointed over the assets and business of Farepak Food and Gifts Limited on 13 October 2006.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO FURTHER MONEY SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY. ANY DOCUMENTATION SHOULD BE RETAINED AT THE PRESENT TIME AND NOT SENT TO THE COMPANY.

It is the intention of the Joint Administrators to use this website as a way of updating all customers and agents affected by the Administration. The website will next be updated on Friday 20 October 2006.

Please see below for answers to certain questions you may have.

1 Will I get my hampers/vouchers/gifts and if so, when? The Company is unable to deliver any orders for hampers/vouchers or gifts.

2 Will I get my money back and if so when and how much? The Joint Administrators are working to realise the assets of the Company. You will have a claim against the Company in Administration and the Joint Administrators will be writing to the agents about this as soon as possible. At the present time, I can advise that you may receive back some money (but not all) and this will not be for many months.

3 I have collected money from my customers but not yet paid it in. What should I do? The Company is no longer accepting money from its customers and it should be returned to your customers and their payment book signed to show the money has been returned.

4 I pay by Direct Debit. What should I do? Do I need to cancel the instruction with my bank? Yes, please cancel any instruction to pay by Direct Debit.

5 What should I tell my customers? Your customers will need to be advised that Farepak will not be supplying any hampers,vouchers or goods which have been ordered or were going to be ordered.

6 Will I get my commission? You will have a claim against the Company in Administration in respect of your commission and the Joint Administrators will be working to calculate this claim. Please see 2 above.

7 Why has this happened? Why now? The Company is insolvent, it is unable to pay its suppliers for goods and as a result, the goods cannot be supplied to you as an Agent or your customers.

8 I've still got some choice vouchers.. What should I do? Again, these will form part of your claim (see 2 above). They will not now be honoured.

9 I've still got vouchers left from last year. Are they still ok to spend? The Joint Administrators understand that any vouchers, other than Choice vouchers, which you hold will be valid and can be used.

10 I ordered a gift item last year and it is now broken. What should I do? This will form part of your claim against the Company in Administration. Please see 2 above.

11. I am a customer of a Farepak Agent. I have paid money. What should I do? In the first instance, you should ensure that your payment book is up to date. You should NOT give any further money to your Agent as the Company is not accepting any further money. If your Agent still holds your money, it should be reurned to you and your payment book amended to show you have received it.



This is now on their website

Jabberwock

Farepak have now updated their website and it now contains info regarding their demise:
http://www.farepak.co.uk/

I really hope that you all get your money back, to me this is tantamount to theft and I'm just so bl**dy angry that this has been allowed to happen.
Good luck to each and everyone of you.

Optimist

felix65 wrote:

how do u make a claim against the Company in Administration and the Joint Administrators

You get in touch with the admistrators, however you will be an unsecured creditor and there are lots of people ahead of you in any claim on the assets of a company in administration. Inland revenue, Staff, Banks etc

jazzyjustlaw

This is on the Kleeneze Website


Find out how the retail mechanism works
Access the Farepak website

Farepak developed from the traditional Christmas club whereby customers contributed weekly sums in exchange for meat and grocery foodstuffs, which would be delivered before Christmas. The product range has been expanded to include frozen food, drink and confectionery hampers and also a range of gifts, jewellery, household items and shopping vouchers, which cover a broad spectrum of high street stores.

The business operates two brands:




Farepak Food and Gifts.



Home Farm Hampers, which operates under a joint venture agreement with Findel plc: Findel holds 60% and Farepak 40%. Farepak's interests are safeguarded through an agreement, which puts both parties on an equal basis as regards policy decisions. The business principally targets Findel’s customer database and mailing lists. Farepak has responsibility for day to day operations while Findel controls marketing.


Sales are made through agents who distribute catalogues to relatives, friends and work colleagues. The Farepak catalogue is the biggest in the industry offering the widest selection of products. It is produced in September for the following year’s Christmas season. Agents are then recruited through a marketing campaign, which commences in November. Our agents are typically women aged 35-50, looking to earn a little extra. Customers generally place their orders during the first three months of the calendar year and make their payments over a 45-week period commencing in January. They settle their accounts by the first week of November and goods are usually despatched in November and December after full payment has been made.

In July, product ranges for the following year's Christmas season are determined. At this time suppliers provide indicative prices and these are confirmed during the first six months of the following year. Hamper packing commences in August. The business also supplies hampers to third party customers such as Marks & Spencer, Provident and Littlewoods Retail.

Trust is a critical element of the Farepak system. We promise to help our customers to save up for a great Christmas, whether it’s a feast for the table or gifts round the tree. For over 30 years we have consistently delivered on our promise. Rigorous quality control, a no quibble guarantee and the support provided by our Service Centre are important elements in ensuring that this trust is not broken.

Farepak is based in Swindon. It employs 130 staff and up to 150 temporary packers during hamper production, which totals almost 400,000 units. The business also has a mechanised voucher handling operation, capable of processing over 9 million vouchers in a 4 week window with great precision

ticketmaster4868

My mum called me at work this morning to break the news about Farepak. £700 down the drain and I'm gutted. I've already rang family and friends to say that I cannot afford to buy Christmas presents this year.
I've had a tough year anyway and now this - one thing after another.
I've also gone onto BBC Watchdog so lets hope they can do something.
100% depressed and gutted about this.

clareandlee

I am an agent and just found out about thi when I went to their website to pay the last payment. I have a lot less that most people on here - £250 for myself, £200 for my parents and £200 for my nan. I feel heartbroken, we were all counting on these vouchers, how can a company be allowed to do this, they obviously carried on taking our money even when they knew they were having trouble - Funny how we all find out bout this just as we are due to receive the vouchers! I am really hoping that we can get some money back, surely there is a way to go about it.

felix65

Should All Get Together And Get Down To Swindon .take What U Can

clareandlee

I just found this website - it may help some people understand all this a bit better!

http://www.stockport.gov.uk/content/business/tradingstandards/consumeradvice/whatiftradergoesbust?view=TextOnly&a=5441

devizes18193

this is what the swindon newspapers have to say http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/swindonnewsheadlines/display.var.970495.0.food_hamper_firm_closes_after_37_years.php

swindon_gunner

I used to work for Farepak - Farepak also supplied vouchers for - Homefarm,studio, Freedom, they packed M & S Hampers as well as Hamper for the above