Thousands of customers hit by the liquidation of a travel company will be refunded the full cost of their cancelled holidays, administrators say.
Thousands of customers hit by the liquidation of a travel company will be refunded the full cost of their cancelled holidays, administrators say.
A statement on Gloucester-based Travelscope Holidays' website said as many as 40,000 people were affected.
A statement on Gloucester-based Travelscope Holidays' website said as many as 40,000 people were affected.
Christmas and New Year breaks have been cancelled with immediate effect. Some 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday have been told they cannot.
Christmas and New Year breaks have been cancelled with immediate effect. Some 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday have been told they cannot.
More than 200 people are expected to lose their jobs.
"All passengers will be refunded," said joint administrator Paul Clark.
"All passengers will be refunded," said joint administrator Paul Clark.
'Staff magnificent'
A statement on Travelscope's website said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would pay all losses to air passengers.
A statement on Travelscope's website said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would pay all losses to air passengers.
Land and sea passengers would receive refunds from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).
Land and sea passengers would receive refunds from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).
The administrators are Menzies Corporate Restructuring.
The administrators are Menzies Corporate Restructuring.
'Staff magnificent'
"In terms of passengers... some 10,000 Christmas period passengers will not be able to take their Christmas season holidays, with more than 30,000 who were due to travel next year," said Mr Clark.
"In terms of passengers... some 10,000 Christmas period passengers will not be able to take their Christmas season holidays, with more than 30,000 who were due to travel next year," said Mr Clark.
He said about 80% of the 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday had been contacted to confirm they would not be permitted to travel.
He said about 80% of the 854 passengers due to travel on Saturday had been contacted to confirm they would not be permitted to travel.
"The 1,859 due to travel on Sunday will be contacted tomorrow," he said.
"The 1,859 due to travel on Sunday will be contacted tomorrow," he said.
OTHER TRAVELSCOPE TRADING NAMES REGISTERED WITH ABTA TSI Business to Business)Travelscope SportsTravelscope SchoolsTravelscope PromotionsTravelscope HolidaysTravelscope for GroupsTravelscope Air HolidaysTravelscopeStudy the WorldRiver Cruise Collection Reader TravelReader HolidaysOcean Cruise CollectionJust FriendsTSI
Mr Clark added that the company's 270 staff had been "magnificent".
Mr Clark added that the company's 270 staff had been "magnificent".
"They have been very co-operative in very difficult circumstances, given that many know that they will be made redundant."
"They have been very co-operative in very difficult circumstances, given that many know that they will be made redundant."
He said administrators had received several expressions of interest, but given the time of year, discussions had developed slowly.
He said administrators had received several expressions of interest, but given the time of year, discussions had developed slowly.
'Very sorry'
Travelscope blamed a cancelled cruise for the firm's financial problems.
Travelscope blamed a cancelled cruise for the firm's financial problems.
Managing director Richard Ford said the ensuing litigation saw the ship's owner put a charge on Travelscope's building on the Gloucester Business Park.
Managing director Richard Ford said the ensuing litigation saw the ship's owner put a charge on Travelscope's building on the Gloucester Business Park.
"I'm very, very sorry," he said.
"I'm very, very sorry," he said.
OTHER TRAVELSCOPE TRADING NAMES REGISTERED WITH ABTA TSI Business to Business)Travelscope SportsTravelscope SchoolsTravelscope PromotionsTravelscope HolidaysTravelscope for GroupsTravelscope Air HolidaysTravelscopeStudy the WorldRiver Cruise Collection Reader TravelReader HolidaysOcean Cruise CollectionJust FriendsTSI
"I had tried hard to speak to the administrators before about continuing the company into the New Year but we were advised this wasn't an option."
"I had tried hard to speak to the administrators before about continuing the company into the New Year but we were advised this wasn't an option."
'Very disappointed'
Travelscope Holidays Limited was established 15 years ago and provides worldwide escorted tours.
Travelscope Holidays Limited was established 15 years ago and provides worldwide escorted tours.
In its last accounts filed with Companies House, the firm reported a turnover of more than £75m in 2006, with a pre-tax loss of almost £2m. It owed some £20m.
In its last accounts filed with Companies House, the firm reported a turnover of more than £75m in 2006, with a pre-tax loss of almost £2m. It owed some £20m.
A company spokesman said the most recent annual turnover for the business was £80m.
A company spokesman said the most recent annual turnover for the business was £80m.
One of Travelscope's customers, Wendy Owen from Hucclecote, was booked to go to Bavaria for the New Year.
One of Travelscope's customers, Ann Hughes from Gwynedd, told the BBC: "We were going on holiday to Germany today but the first that we have heard about it was on the news, nobody from Travelscope has been in touch with us.
She went into the office on Wednesday with some insurance documents and said there was no hint of any problems.
"We are very disappointed."
"I was very shocked. The first I heard about it was on the radio."
Lynton Mason, from Staffordshire, said he expected the cruise he was booked on in the New Year not to go ahead.
Another customer, Ernest Roberts of Deal, said on Friday that he had found out only via a friend. He said he had spoken to the liquidators who said they would ring him back, but had not.
He said: "My wife and I are booked on the Van Gogh for a round-the-world cruise with Travelscope leaving on 4 January.
"My wife, myself and two friends were going on the 23rd to Germany and we only found out at 5 o'clock this afternoon - the 21st," said Mr Roberts.
"As of now we haven't heard from anyone although we are in no doubt, with what has happened, we will not be travelling."
"It is a very disappointing Christmas."
The Abta phone number is 01243 621500
The Abta phone number is 01243 621500
Have you been affected by this story? Has your holiday been cancelled? Send us your comments using the form below.
Have you been affected by this story? Has your holiday been cancelled? Send us your comments using the form below.
