Police probe Bristol-based internet travel firm
Police are investigating a Bristol-based internet travel firm that has allegedly taken money but failed to book flights.
Passengers who have booked flights to Pakistan through www.cheapflightsuk.info say they have arrived at airports to find they are not booked on flights. Six people have complained to police in 24 hours.
Some spent thousands of pounds on travel arrangements and arrived at Heathrow Airport to find no bookings had been made. One couple paid for return flights but are now stranded in Islamabad because only a single flight had been booked by the company.
Police are looking into the firm, which has offices in Fishponds Road and Baldwin Street in Bristol. Officers say they have not been able to find anyone from the company at those addresses.
Police say inquiries have revealed that the company is not ATOL-accredited. They say many of the payments were through bank transfers rather than credit cards, which means there is unlikely to be any security or protection.
The customers include a 27-year-old security officer from Cricklewood, London. He was due to fly with five members of his family to Dubai and then Islamabad where he is to get married in November.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: "My father saw an ad on TV for cheapflightsuk.info. He rang the travel agent and was quoted £500 per ticket.
"He didn't book immediately but shopped around a bit and then rang a few days later. The woman said if he didn't book then the price would go up the next day."
The Londoner paid £2,700 in total which was transferred from his NatWest branch to a Barclays account. The family received print-outs of electronic tickets complete with reservation codes but one of the names of the passengers was wrongly spelled.
There was no response when the family emailed the company and on Tuesday when they telephoned, the line was dead. When they emailed, pretending to ask about more tickets, there was an immediate response.
Police have been liaising with trading standards officers in Bristol. Anyone who thinks they have a booking to Pakistan through this firm is advised to contact directly the airline they believe they are booked on to verify if their seats are booked and paid for.
Detective Constable Greg Brunt said: "The company appears to have been advertising on various television channels, and we think they've been targeting Indian and Asian travellers during Ramadan. We don't know at this stage whether this is a case of a company going out of business, or whether there has been any potential fraud or deliberate deception."
The company's website has no telephone number, customers are invited to book online.
10 Comments
by Humza, london
Saturday, September 05 2009, 3:05AM
“Also from what i hear this company was a well advertised and well established company until they decided to turn to these conways. And they were ATOL bonded. Also you cant blame the punters in looking for a bargain, doesn't everyone?”
by Humza Khan, London
Saturday, September 05 2009, 2:55AM
“Government agencies such as company house who actually register companies should have proper procedures in place, to carry out identity checks on people looking to setup business.
Its so easy to register, and ive actually been told by someone working for company house that they "take paperwork and documentation in good faith". Well these unprofessional procedures are leaving us consumers vulnerable to frauds such as these. The government must act fast and have proper regulatory procedures in place!”
by Martin, Miles Away
Friday, September 04 2009, 3:58PM
“Who would want to go to Internet anyway. I went once and there was nothing there.”
by Troy, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 11:06AM
“'They say many of the payments were through bank transfers rather than credit cards,'
Well that sounds just so suspicious in itself. Didn't these folks have credit cards?”
by Troy, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 10:37AM
“Here we go again yet another story about people hoping to get something for nothing, and save a few quid by using a cowboy operator that no one has ever heard of.
I'm off on a visit to the Far East next week. I've got the sense to book though a well known reputable travel agency, which I know is ABTA and ATOL bonded. I know better than to use 'El Cheapo Flights UK' or whatever these people call themselves.
@Michelle, Surely the travel agency you booked the flights through would give you a refund, or get you home if you where already abroad. Most airlines are ATOL bonded as well.”
by Colin, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 9:26AM
“Don't worry,give it a couple of weeks,and this company will re open under a new name,how much longer is this scam going to be allowed to happen?”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Friday, September 04 2009, 9:13AM
“There will always be a risk in everything we do, but the larger and more reputable the organisation, the more that risk is mitigated.”
by michelle, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 9:05AM
“Alex the last holiday I went on I booked with the airline and then the airline went bust.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Friday, September 04 2009, 8:46AM
“How many more times are stupid people going to get caught out just to save a few £s? If you have not heard of the company before, don't use them! Go to a reputable agent (Flight Centre are fantastic and will match any offer on flights, for holidays use Thomas Cook or similar) or book direct with the airline. It is just not worth the risk.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Friday, September 04 2009, 8:46AM
“How many more times are stupid people going to get caught out just to save a few £s? If you have not heard of the company before, don't use them. Go to a reputable agent (Flight Centre are fantastic and will match any offer on flights, for holidays use Thomas Cook or something) or book direct with the airline. It is just not worth the risk.”