A complaint has been made to police following the collapse of Travellers Cities, an operator which has allegedly left several indie agents thousands of pounds out of pocket.
TEB Travel, based in London, made a honeymoon booking to Hawaii through Travellers Cities which mainly offered European short breaks. The agency was asked to pay by bank transfer as the operator would not accept credit cards.
TEB’s business travel consultant, said the booking had been made because the fare was £500 per person cheaper. TEB is now owed £5,000.
“We got an invoice, but no booking reference or receipt. We eventually found the booking had been cancelled because the option had expired. We were preparing to go to the Small Claims Court but then found that the company had ceased trading.”
Travellers Cities, based in Westerham, Kent, was run by Clive Allard, brother of the All Leisure Group chief Roger Allard. The two had no professional connection.
“Allard pestered us everyday for a booking. When we gave him one he continually avoided us,” said the consultant.
TEB contacted police and is waiting to see if it can make an Atol claim.
In August, another agent, Roger Cook of Alan Cook Travel, paid £3,385 for a booking to Nagoya at the start of October but received no tickets despite contacting the CAA.
“He never confirmed the booking,” said Cook. “I’m double the amount out of pocket because I had to spend £4,000 to rebook as they are good clients.” Cook is awaiting CAA advice and may consider legal action.
Travellers Cities was not an Abta member. Its 40 forward bookings and the few clients overseas will be covered by Atol.
The CAA said: “As with any Atol failure the focus is on looking at what the situation actually was and the impact on passengers. We are still in the process of doing that. If we are asked to assist with any investigation, then we will.”
Travellers Cities’ annual accounts show it made a loss of £46,000 in the year to May 2011 and another of £35,000 the previous year.
TTG was unable to contact the company.
