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

Mum_on_a_mission_2

Apologies if this has already been posted.

I'm a civil servant and found the following on our staff website.

Are You or Your Colleagues Affected By The Farepak Collapse?
Some of you reading this article may be affected by the recent collapse of Farepak, the Christmas savings club which went into administration last month. If you, or a colleague, have lost money and face financial hardship this Christmas as a result, please be aware that The Civil Service Benevolent Fund might be able to help. Thousands of former, current and retired civil servants and their dependants are helped with advice and financial assistance each year by the Fund. We treat all applications in the strictest confidence. If you need our support
Contact: 0800 056 2424 or check the CSBF website

HTH someone,

MoaM

michjoe

The farepak response fund deadline has been extended to the 29th of November, there is a list of companies that have donated on the website https://www.farepakresponsefund.org.uk

curlytop_3

Well I followed advice to make a chargeback claim as I paid 75% of the payments on my Visa Debit card. I rang my bank, the Alliance & Leicester who told me no way can I claim as I paid through the Post office. I have written to the MD of A&L with a formal complaint as to the refusal stating quite clearly that the payment was to Farepak NOT the Post Office and all the the receipts confirm this as have Post office themselves.

Today I received a letter from A&L saying their answer is still no as in their eyes I paid through a third party and as far as they were concerned the matter is now closed. Well A&L, shame on you, I won't be giving in on this one, Farepak were the beneficiaries of the money not POL and I shall continue to complain until it reaches the Ombudsman.

Has anyone else met with this problem?

Beattie_2

Hi,
Sorry if this question has already been asked but has anyone had any luck with chargeback on payments to Farepak made with a HSBC Debit Card (Maestro). As an Agent I paid just under 1/3rd of payments this way (approx £900) so a refund would make quite a difference to the friends/family from whom I collected.

karren

HI, thanks to martin for the donation.

ReportInvestor

Times - Farepak took £20m cash in the months after its bank, HBoS, knew of its troubles

It was in April that the "final desperate measures to save the company were put to its bank".

"Frank Field, a former Labour minister, accused HBOS of playing a pivotal role in Farepak’s collapse. He called on the bank to give savers the £30 million it received from the sale of the company’s assets."

kataz

hi folks

I'm new to all this ! Just thought I'd mention I had saved £300 with Farepak :mad: - however, because I listen to Jeremy Vine, I had heard Martin mention the chargeback thing...anyway, my agent applied and got everyone's money back because she had paid using her Visa debit card ! (:T )
However, I would never, ever save this way again and more importantly, although I am well pleased I got my money back, I feel really bad for those folks who won't be as lucky...:o

michjoe

The fund total is over £5million now :T

ARCK

My sister paid with Lloyds debit card at the Lloyds bank counter.
She has been told this is classed as a cash payment and therefore is not refundable.
Surely by using the card irrispective of where, the card has been used!!
Anyone any comment?

KIND REGARDS

PAUL

kethry

Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but i'll post it anyway, it might help someone:

our local paper is running a story, a local businessman is willing to offer £500 to 10 "worst-hit" familes of the farepak disaster. This ONLY applies if you're in north or east manchester, though. (sorry, but it might help someone).

if you're in the area, get someone (a neighbour) to write to: North and East Manchester Advertiser, 17 Chaddersley Walk, Beswick Shopping Centre, Beswick, M11 3SW, telling them why you think they are a deserving case, by 30th Nov. all nominations will then be passed to the businessman concerned who will pick out the 10 most needy/deserving.

Unfortunately the story isn't up on their website yet but it shouldn't be long before it is, if anyone wants to read it... the general news site is here. If i find a direct link i'll edit it.

Hope that helps someone..

keth
xx