A PENSIONER has been left more than £1,000 out of pocket after the collapse of UK hamper company Farepak. And her 32 customers, many of whom had paid hundreds of pounds each into the scheme, now face a bleak Christmas. An agent for 20 years, the 76-year-old woman from Watchet, who asked not to be named, estimated the West Somerset families on her books had lost somewhere in the region of £9,000. "I feel so bad for all those good people who have been paying me money, but I've lost £1,000 in gifts and commission as well," she said. "The thing that makes me so angry is that I paid £700 to Farepak at the beginning of October and no-one said anything about being in trouble - these things just don't happen overnight." Farepak suddenly ceased trading this week with the loss of 20 jobs and the warning that no-one would be receiving any hampers or vouchers for Christmas, despite paying thousands into the firm's coffers. The company was set up in 1969 and had an estimated 35,000 agents nationwide. Customers would pay the agents monthly instalments towards the cost of food hampers and vouchers for the festive season. But there will be very little Christmas cheer for many this year, with the Watchet agent estimating some of her customers had lost upwards of £300 and £400 each. "I'm so annoyed and upset that Farepak just let me go ahead and send money in knowing they were in trouble," she said. "I had 32 good friends and family on my books from the Watchet and Minehead areas and they've lost the lot. "I've heard nothing from anyone at Farepak. My customers have been very good about it, but it's been very hard and I still feel bad." She only found out about the collapse of the company when her hairdresser phoned her on Monday to ask if she had heard the news. She said several of her customers were unaware that the company had folded as they were away on holiday, others had rung her to ask if it was true and she had personally visited many. A notice on the company's website from administrators BDO Stoy Hayward said Farepak would be "unable to honour its commitments to make deliveries of any vouchers, hampers or other items" to its tens of thousands of customers. Shagun Dubey, joint administrator and business restructuring partner at BDO Stoy Hayward, said: "We have conducted an immediate review of the Farepak business and it is with real regret that it has been necessary to cease trading." Customers' only hope will be to put in a claim for compensation from any assets which are realised in Farepak. Nationally, Farepak agents holding customer payments that have not yet been paid to the firm have been told to return them to consumers, while customers who paid by direct debit have been told to cancel the orders with immediate effect. Anyone who has a claim against the company should write to the administrators at Kings Wharf, 20-30 Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3EX; or by e-mailing customer.claims @farepak.co.uk.
