Bristol coach firm 'has ceased trading'
Karamel Events based at the Easton Business Centre in Felix Road prided itself in specialising in European coach tours encompassing some of the continent's most beautiful cities, including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
But the Evening Post was contacted by a social club in the Midlands complaining a trip for 30 members to Amsterdam had been cancelled leaving them £5,000 out of pocket.
An email sent to Hinckley DC Social Club in Leicestershire from company director Melanie Base that has been seen by the Post, states: "I regret to inform you that Karamel Events Limited has ceased trading. Unfortunately the trip that you have booked will not be taking place.
"Please be aware that all monies paid are insured. You will be notified shortly of the next steps of action to take. Apologises for any inconvenience caused."
The Post visited the company's address in Easton and left messages on the company's answering machine.
No response was received and a number for the company's mobile telephone is no longer recognised.
However the company's website appears to be still operating and offering Christmas breaks. The company is also described as "active" on Companies House website.
Sue Leeson, treasurer of Hinckley DC Social Club, said she had to battle to find out what was going on with the holiday after getting suspicious things were not right.
She told the Post: "We go on lots of trips to Europe but it was the first time I had booked with Karamel Events.
"I was starting to worry that everything was OK because when I was ringing the company the woman on the phone seemed to be very evasive about our booking.
"She would tell me things were being sent in the post but they would never arrive.
"By then I was really worried so I rang the hotel in Amsterdam who said there was no booking for us.
"I rang Karamel Events back and they said it was a different hotel but I rang that one as well and they didn't have a booking either.
"I told them that I was not going to have 12 people standing outside early in the morning waiting for a coach that was not going to turn up.
"Later I received an email saying that Karamel Events were no longer trading and that the trip we had booked would not be taking place.
"They say they are insured but I have been told until they sort all the paperwork out at their end we won't get our money back.
"The company owes us £4,900.
"I have given all the members their money back from our own funds but I need to recoup that on behalf of the club."
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