Fraud - help !!!

aj9648

Hi

We planned a large family holiday in August - it was going to cost £14000.  We booked through a local travel agent who I have used many times before and not had an issue with.  They asked for a deposit of £6000.  I paid half of it via AMEX and half of it via BACS transfer on HSBC.  

Recently I have had no communication with them so went down to their office and they were not there and despite many email / calls etc they seem to have disappeared.

I spoke with AMEX and they said they will raise a dispute for the £3k and I should contact HSBC for the other £3K.  When I spoke to HSBC they said they cant do anything as it was sent to a personal account not a business one and I should ring the police.   What can I do?? I thought I would be covered by section 75 for the whole holiday?

Please help - really stressing me out at the moment !!

km1500

Assuming your Amex is a credit card, then S75 covers you for the whole amount

Forget HSBC - claim the whole £6000 from Amex.

Zanderman

km1500 said:

Assuming your Amex is a credit card, then S75 covers you for the whole amount

Forget HSBC - claim the whole £6000 from Amex.

But do check that your Amex is a credit card.  Not all Amex cards are. Some are 'charge cards' if I recall correctly..

[Deleted User]

Not sure why Amex would pay back £6000. £3000 possibly. 

Do you have a bill or anything? You could send it to Amex and hope for the £6000

km1500

[Deleted User] said:

Not sure why Amex would pay back £6000. £3000 possibly. 

Do you have a bill or anything? You could send it to Amex and hope for the £6000

Because even if you pay part of the cost by credit card you are covered for the whole amount.

[Deleted User]

km1500 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Not sure why Amex would pay back £6000. £3000 possibly. 

Do you have a bill or anything? You could send it to Amex and hope for the £6000

Because even if you pay part of the cost by credit card you are covered for the whole amount.

I did not know that, neither do Amex it seems or they are hoping the customer doesn't find out. The CS agent should have advised the OP of this in that case.

born_again

S75 does not cover fraud.

So you need to rephrase this when you speak to Amex. As this is a dispute for non receipt of services. But they are going to want proof that the company are no longer trading. So look on your paperwork & see if there is a companies reg number to check on companies house.
Or ABTA/ATOL reg number & contact them to confirm they are not trading anymore.

TheBanker

As far as I can work out, the OP paid £3k to the company via Amex and a further £3k to someone's personal account. I'm not sure a S75 claim would cover the £3k paid to a personal account as it's a different entity to the business. 

aj9648

[Deleted User] said:

Not sure why Amex would pay back £6000. £3000 possibly. 

Do you have a bill or anything? You could send it to Amex and hope for the £6000

Yes I have the bill and emails etc showing this 

aj9648

[Deleted User] said:

Not sure why Amex would pay back £6000. £3000 possibly. 

Do you have a bill or anything? You could send it to Amex and hope for the £6000

Yes I have the bill and emails etc showing this 

sheramber

if you  give the company name someone may be able to find out what the position is.

S75 will not  cover a payment to a personal bank account.