Some Farepak Help

LookingAhead

I'm kind of shocked with some of the responses I have read in this thread.

The media do wind me up, they know how to sensationalise a story and Farepak's demise does not take away from the bucket loads of other companies that go into liquidation every year. Take the media with a ladel full of salt!

Not every one of the 150,000 people affected by this is standing there with their hand out waiting for the British public to donate. When they heard of this news their hearts no doubt sank into their boots - I doubt that they started to think about public donations to bail them out.

Someone somewhere in the business world decided that business could help out (see Tiff's link for clarity) and if they want to do that, that's fine.

But no-one is asking you to put your hand in your pocket and give one penny. And you are no doubt right not to want to - in the grand scheme of things, of course there are worse off people out there.

I've seen posts of here that seem to attack the notion that someone who has put away £2000 is somehow doing something wrong. How does that work exactly?! What has that got to do with us?

Again not every one of the 150,000 people who used Farepak will be low earner (though I suspect the majority are) so if they find it useful to salt away £200 a month then good luck to them! Maybe they were planning to have the family over from Australia - how do we know?

The point is, the way things work in this country, businesses can go into liquidation after taking people's money and because they are not paying for a financial product, you're lucky if you get *any* compo.

That to me is so so wrong and that is what the anger and negative feeling should be directed towards.

Please think before you give every one of Farepak's customers with the 'hand out' label and launch into some sort of mini tirade about what Christmas really should be. This is not the real issue - the real issue is, people are being legally ripped off - and you never know, one day it might be you.
Is anything 100% safe these days?

Cumbrian_Male

Farepak who are part of European Home Retail knew they were having cash-flow problems in June and suspended their share listing in August.

If you google farepak the first link in the sponsored links to Martins Farepak Crisis Guide

Nelski

LookingAhead wrote:

But no-one is asking you to put your hand in your pocket and give one penny.

Just to clarify i think they were isnt that what the op is saying? not lets think kindly of these poor people but and I quote from Op

"If you want to help, go to the website, and check out the options. I have next to nothing but it breaks my heart to think of all these families sitting there watching all the TV adverts for "The Best Christmas Ever" when they've even had the food taken from them.




with a link:mad:

well sorry if im being thick but that says "please put your hand in your pocket" to me. and then its posted on numerous boards

If you feel sorry for people who have ""invested"" their money in the wrong company then yes dig deep I personally will be giving my money to much worthier causes than this - sorry its tough but thats the way business works - many have lost thier pensions over business loss , do we do a fund for them NO

lynzpower

The only thing I offer is that spending 2k on a Xmas is absolutely hairraising.

I dont know what farepak do, but TBH from one of the "hampers" Ive seen in the back of a catalogue, looks like predominantly low brand frozen food and a few packets of cheap biscuits and a frozen turkey for 150.

Shall I set myself up in business charging 130 for the same thing, Id make at least 80 profit on that from wizzing round icelands or farmfoods.

These sort of schemes do appeal to the less savvy among us, and to a certain degree Id bet that these are those least likely to be able to "afford" this rip-off scheme.Personally feeling - the less there are of these companies the better.

I refuse to buy into the child watching other people on telly having the bet Xmas ever while hes missing out on a fairpack hamper tears running down his face. If thats how a child is raised, then my personal feeling is that it owuld do thiem good to go without the "luxuries" if hes that spoilt.

LearningToSave.

astonsmummy wrote:

I feel for these people but some are coming out with some right tripe! One woman said ''we cant give them anything for xmas, not even an xmas dinner'' now excuse me if i'm wrong but xmas is just over a month away, so she's saying in that month she wont be able to afford to pop to iceland, asda, wherever, pick up a bit of meat, spuds, and veggies etc?
I can understand these children crying, geese you wat all year for xmas!
I would of been the same.

i agree on that about the xmas dinner!!!! iceland even do a 'christmas dinner' package deal for £10 in december!

Tiff_2

Hi Everyone
Hoping all of you are well on this Sunday.
TBH, I feel like I should be living in that Argentinian hotel with the Farepak chairman! It seems to have gotten very chilly on this thread for Tiff suddenly. Here's my offending post...

Good Evening Guys
I know those of us who come on this thread are DFW and so I'm probably going to get a DFW smack on the wrist for this, but while out in the supermarket today, I saw that an appeal for donations to help victims of the Farepak Fiasco.
I saw the chairman enjoying his holiday in Argentina last night and I saw an 8 year old boy dissolve into tears this mornning at the thought of no Christmas.
These people tried to spread the cost of Christmas over a year and will probably end up with around 4p for eveery £1 invested. This is a DFW principle and while we are all in need of help, these people tried to help themselves and nearly a million people are estimated to have been affected. I hope that's why I'll be forgiven for posting this suggestion here.
I'm in no way connected with Farepak or a victim - I just think word of mouth can work miracles.
So with your permission, the address for the Farepak Responce Fund is:
www.farepakresponsefund.org.uk.
If you want to help, go to the website, and check out the options. I have next to nothing but it breaks my heart to think of all these families sitting there watching all the TV adverts for "The Best Christmas Ever" when they've even had the food taken from them.
Sorry if someone else has posted this:o Look after each other
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

I am sorry that you're offended so much by my post. I had literally gotten back from Sainsbury's and jumped onto the PC to let people know what I'd seen. Anyone who knows Tiff, on this thread & others, will know that I only ever try to help. I'm very sad at some of the comments made, if I'm honest.
I fully support the MSE ethos - one reason I made that post. Surely the outrage at yet another company taking money from those who can least afford it and leaving them with nothing is what's important? That's why I posted on different boards - was that wrong? Am I only allowed to post here? I posted on other boards to spread the word about this link & hopefully reach a few Farepak customers with the info. I hadn't read MSE Martin's weekly email at that point.
I was upset at seeing the tanned chairman & the young lad that day so I'm sorry that I mentioned that in my post but it tugged at my heart. Yes, just as the media means it to. And yes, I feel bad for any child in poverty, pain or abuse - just as I do for any adults losing jobs, pension funds and more. Farepak is just being shown at the head of the list by the media right now & that's why I posted. If I came across any info that helps anyone in a bad situation, I'd post that too after checking it. I said "If you want to help, go to the website, and check out the options." It wasn't an order or an endorsement.
I get equally frustrated with the advertisers showing their plush Christmases & virtually marketing to children. Judgement on how people save for Christmas or for anything else, is undeserved. Christmas is about love and families (ironically, it's my birthday Christmas Day!:rolleyes: ) and a Christian celebration, including the ethos of loving your fellow man, imho.
Wasn't any DFW a Farepak customer? It wasn't very long ago that I posted my experiences with the door-to-door loan shark companies & received positive feedback from quite a few people. To me, these 'hamper' companies are the same animal as those.
Yes, we should pay into savings accounts (probably exactly what Farepak customers thought they were doing!) and have everything balanced out ready for Christmas and isn't hindsight and knowledge a wonderful thing? Who are we to judge? It's a shame that these people's trust was abused & that's what's so terrible.
Like any other day, the 25th will turn into the 26th but that doesn't mean I shouldn't care. If it was me, I'd save like mad to get one gift for the child and have a fantastic meal and with any money there is, I'd hit the January sales like a tornado, getting double what I would on 24th December. But it's not me this time, thank God.

I posted this with the best of intentions - I should have known that the wonderful MSE Martin had already done the job. :T
He's put together yet another fantastic fact sheet for people who are victims. The true spirit of Christmas has been echoed by some vast companies making huge donations and support from politicians - well done!
And guess what? Our fantastic MSE Martin :A ALSO posted a link to the site! I'm sure you'll be letting him know your opinion on this too.....
Much Love
Tiff xxx

louise30_2

I'm not a big fan of Christmas savings-type clubs, but then again I have never been in a situation where I felt I needed to use them.

Regardless of the politics and rights and wrongs - my heart goes out to a family who live in the area near me.
I understand that the dad of the family has died. He was found in a local river a few days ago. His family had been Farepack customers. His wife believes he took his own life.

My heart goes out to her and her three young children and my deepest sympathies are with them.

rose07

ok i need a rant

i have read through this thread, and i agree with some of you, but also some of you wrote posts which were upsetting, and there were no need for it!!! :eek:

Of course the kids will still have a christmas, and i agree there are places or people alot worse off, but it all depends on what circles and places we live in, people can have it all or people can have nothing. These people from the sounds of things were poor to start with, most likely like your good selves, just trying to get by, and saving up to try and make christmas special for their kids.

It upsets me to see the kids upset, it totally doesnt matter about material things, but what does matter is seeing a child smile, when they open a present. knowing they have been waiting all year, so while in one respect we know that its not all about presents and material things, it is about being happy and part of that esp for a child is to see something they have wanted. BUt i do agree with what someone said about how it depends what a child knows, if they know that as long as you are well, got a roof over your head and food in your tummy, then thats all thats matters then thats will be what they know, but if they are taught that material things is what matters, then they will know that way, its what we teach them.

Yes christmas is about, families, friends, love, and celebrating christ. totally agree. being with people we love and sharing a time where we can all come together.

The reason we are all here, is due to money problems, so while you all say as long as you got a roof, food, and health, you all know money matters, we need money to get by, to pay bills, to look after ourselves. i hate money because it controls soo much.

it really gets to me when i see people suffer. ok so they arent dying, or in major poverty. but they are in pain, and hurting, and they are only human.

This site is all about getting one over (as it were), on those mega companies, that like to do us in, and why most of us are in debt, struggling financially or just at our wits end , so lets keep fighting them

Thank you to Martin for this site, as it has soo much that helps people, and while there are all those companies doing us in, as long as we keep fighting them, then we have a voice and it will be heard.

So lets fight them instead of each other
xxx

Tiff_2

louise30 wrote:

I'm not a big fan of Christmas savings-type clubs, but then again I have never been in a situation where I felt I needed to use them.
Regardless of the politics and rights and wrongs - my heart goes out to a family who live in the area near me.
I understand that the dad of the family has died. He was found in a local river a few days ago. His family had been Farepack customers. His wife believes he took his own life.
My heart goes out to her and her three young children and my deepest sympathies are with them.

Hi Louise,
Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking story. I send my deepest condolences and best wishes out to that family. God bless them and you, hun.
Much Love
Tiff xx

lynzpower

Now I certainly agree with this

Thank you to Martin for this site, as it has soo much that helps people, and while there are all those companies doing us in, as long as we keep fighting them, then we have a voice and it will be heard.

So lets fight them instead of each other

:T :T