HOLIDAYMAKERS who were stranded abroad when their travel agent failed are still out of pocket after the latest attempt to revive the company collapsed.
Builder and former nightclub promoter Wayne Almond began operating out of the former World Choice Travel shop in Wanstead High Street three weeks ago after it suddenly ceased trading earlier this month.
Some holidaymakers who had booked through the firm found themselves stranded abroad with their flights cancelled but Mr Almond, a friend of the branch's manager Keith Patterson, re-named it Clockhouse Travel and pledged to refund all those who had been affected.
Customers who spoke to the Guardian said they were still waiting for their money.
Wanstead resident Tony Hunter who was left stranded with his wife and two young children in Spain said: “The whole thing's been a nightmare. I'm more than £1,300 out of pocket and I had also booked a holiday for 12 people to Florida before it all happened, and I just don't know what's going to happen now. It has been quite upsetting to say the least.”
Now Mr Almond has closed the shop again following what he described as complications with the lease, but he said that customers would still be refunded.
He added: “There have been some problems and we've been going round in circles so we've had to close it. But I've paid out to a lot of people already and I hope to give out the rest of the refunds soon. People are still going to get them. Everyone is going to get every penny back.”
Julia Bathie's family, who had arranged their holiday through the World Choice branch, had a shock when they realised they had no tickets home from Spain. They had to spend an extra £300 getting a transfer flight from Fuerteventura via a stopover in Madrid.
She said: "It was just a nightmare. My partner's mum and stepdad still haven't got any money back and I don't know if they ever will.
"Some people save up all year to go on holiday and really look forward to it, but when something like this happens it's just terrible."
Neither World Choice Travel's former owner Keith Patterson nor his representatives have been available for comment.
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